Impressive Leftwich still pays the price
Byron Leftwich threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score but was sacked four times in the first half against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Fred Taylor ran nine times for 37 yards to help Jacksonville to a 29–18 victory in Jacksonville, Fla.
Chris Simms was 9 of 14 for 77 yards for Tampa Bay and Mike Alstott contributed with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Browns 20, Bills 17: At Orchard Park, N.Y., Braylon Edwards showed he isn’t afraid to make catches in traffic. Better still, Cleveland’s receiver proved his surgically repaired knee is sturdy enough to take a few big hits. There was good news for Buffalo, too. Receiver Peerless Price can still go deep, catching a 56-yard touchdown. It wasn’t enough, though, as Cleveland won when Jeff Chandler hit a 35-yard field goal as time ran out. Rookie Jerome Harrison led the Browns with 70 yards rushing.
Cowboys 17, 49ers 7: At Irving, Texas, Drew Bledsoe continues to remove any doubt he’ll start the opener, going 12 of 17 for 200 yards and a touchdown. He completed his last nine throws and left at halftime with Dallas leading 17-0. The Cowboys would’ve scored on all four of his drives had Shaun Suisham made a 35-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
Terry Glenn caught four passes for 98 yards, showing he’s more than ready to be the No. 1 receiver – with or without the injured Terrell Owens.
Falcons 20, Titans 6: At Nashville, Tenn., Jerious Norwood needed only one play to show why Atlanta no longer needed T.J. Duckett. The rookie out of Mississippi State replaced Warrick Dunn on the third series, then scored a 62-yard touchdown on his second carry to help in the victory over Tennessee.
Patriots 41, Redskins 0: At Foxborough, Mass., Tom Brady completed 17 of 30 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown to Benjamin Watson and led the Patriots to five scores on seven possessions before leaving after the first series of the second half with a 27-0 lead. In his other two games, Brady completed 18 of 24 passes.
Chiefs 16, Rams 12: At Kansas City, Mo., Trent Green directed two scoring drives and Kansas City snapped an eight-game preseason losing streak with a lackluster victory over St. Louis.
Green and most of Kansas City’s first-team offense played only the first two series and got a touchdown and a field goal.
The first-team offense of St. Louis failed to score a touchdown for the third straight game, although one TD pass was brought back because of left guard Richie Incognito’s penalty.
Colts 27, Saints 14: At Jackson, Miss., Peyton Manning delighted a crowd of 58,228 in a state where his family holds royalty status, picking apart the New Orleans defense during three early scoring drives to lead Indianapolis to a victory over New Orleans.
Reggie Bush finished with 22 yards rushing on five carries and 20 yards receiving on five catches for New Orleans.
Vikings release Robinson
Wide receiver Koren Robinson was among eight players cut by the Minnesota Vikings, 10 days after he was charged with drunken driving and fleeing police. Robinson made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner last season and signed a three-year, $12.7 million contract extension in March.