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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NFL exhibitions: Packers defeat Browns despite missing key players

Associated Press

Even without Aaron Rodgers and several other key players, the Green Bay Packers started their delayed preseason schedule with a 17-11 win over the Cleveland Browns on Friday night at Green Bay, Wis.

The Packers also played without top receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers as they held off the Browns, who are starting anew with Hue Jackson as coach and Robert Griffin III at quarterback.

Mason Crosby booted a pair of 54-yard field goals, and undrafted rookie Joe Callahan threw a touchdown pass as the fill-in for Rodgers.

Griffin, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner who signed with the Browns after being dumped by the Redskins in March, went 4 of 8 for 67 yards with an interception in a quarter of action.

Vikings 17, Bengals 16: Andy Dalton was sharp in his return, leading Cincinnati into field-goal range on his only drive during visiting Minnesota’s victory.

Dalton’s season ended at Paul Brown Stadium last Dec. 13 when he broke the thumb on his passing hand while making a tackle during an interception return. In his return, he completed his first four passes for 32 yards. He threw too high for A.J. Green on a third-down play, and Mike Nugent was wide right on a 48-yard field-goal attempt that ended the drive and Dalton’s day.

Raiders 31, Cardinals 10: Carson Palmer directed a 73-yard drive for a field goal in his one series before Oakland backups dominated their Arizona counterparts at Glendale, Arizona.

Dolphins 27, Giants 10: Ryan Nassib had a big chance to show everyone what he could do as New York quarterback with Eli Manning getting the night off. He blew it after a good first quarter.

Nassib was consistent in leading a game-opening touchdown drive and cashing in on an interception in staking New York to a 10-point lead. But his three second-quarter turnovers led to 17 points in visiting Miami’s victory at East Rutherford, N.Y.

Lions 30, Steelers 17: Chris Boswell briefly put Pittsburgh in front with a 37-yard field goal, but Dwayne Washington, a seventh-round pick, gave visiting Detroit the lead for good with a 96-yard kickoff return.