Sanchez directs Jets to 5 scores

Mark Sanchez led the New York Jets on five scoring drives in three quarters in an up-and-down performance in a 37-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night in East Rutherford, N.J.

Sanchez, trying to fend off rookie Geno Smith to keep his starting job, threw a touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland, but also was intercepted at the goal line and cost New York an early scoring opportunity. Smith sat out with a sprained ankle suffered in the preseason opener at Detroit.

Blaine Gabbert led the Jaguars on two scoring drives and might have secured the starting job before leaving with a sprained thumb. Gabbert, competing with Chad Henne, was 13 of 16 for 165 yards and a touchdown before the injury.

Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 9 yards and had a 20-yard catch in his first game action since suffering a foot injury last October.

Packers 19, Rams 7: Aaron Rodgers got Green Bay on the scoreboard for the first time in the preseason, but settled for six points after three productive drives in a victory over St. Louis in St. Louis.

Sam Bradford had only himself to blame for putting up nice numbers, going 8 for 12 for 156 yards, with nothing to show for four possessions. His highlight throw was a 57-yarder that hit Chris Givens in stride to the Packers 4, but Bradford fumbled away the snap on fourth-and-goal from the 1 late in the first quarter.

Both Packers starting wide receivers are out with injuries, so Rodgers leaned on tight end Jermichael Finley while going 10 for 12 for 134 yards.

Cardinals 12, Cowboys 7: Dallas committed six turnovers, five in the first half, and Arizona sputtered past the Cowboys in Glendale, Ariz.

Jay Feely kicked field goals of 25, 53, 40 and 22 yards for the Cardinals in the home debut of coach Bruce Arians.

Tony Romo completed 7 of 10 passes for 142 yards for Dallas.

Arizona’s Carson Palmer was 7 of 15 for 66 yards.

Texans 24, Dolphins 17: Matt Schaub had a touchdown pass and backups Case Keenum and T.J. Yates both added a score to help Houston beat Miami in Houston.

Schaub found tight end Owen Daniels wide open in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass on the Texans’ third series.

Ryan Tannehill looked sharp, throwing for 141 yards and a touchdown for Miami.

Bengals 27, Titans 19: With All-Pro receiver A.J. Green watching again, Cincinnati’s offense had an impressive first half in a win over Tennessee in Cincinnati.

Rookie running back Giovani Bernard carried seven times for 37 yards and a touchdown, and turned a short pass into a 22-yard gain, giving the Bengals the diversity they’re seeking out of the backfield.

The Titans failed to get a touchdown out of their starting offense and their kickers missed three consecutive field goals.