TAMPA, Fla. -- The new-look Baltimore Ravens were tough, physical and opportunistic, all good signs for a team seeking another run to the Super Bowl.
Joe Flacco was sharp in his preseason debut, second-year pro Bernard Pierce scored on a 20-yard run, and a revamped defense forced four turnovers in a 44-16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw a pair of TD passes, including a 21-yarder to LaQuan Williams, who also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone (see full recap).
Broncos smother Niners
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco 49ers committed three first-half turnovers, four in all, and missed a field goal in a sloppy 10-6 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night in the teams' exhibition opener.
Shaun Phillips scooped up D.J. Harper's second-quarter fumble and returned it 9 yards for the game's lone touchdown. Mike Adams added a timely interception as the Broncos began anew following that stunning double-overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional playoffs last January.
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With the star quarterbacks on either side -- Broncos veteran Peyton Manning and third-year pro Colin Kaepernick -- playing all of one series each, it was impossible to gauge how good their given offenses will be. Everybody realizes if these teams were to play a meaningful matchup it could really be something, though (see full recap).
RG3-less Redskins edge Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Robert Griffin III handled the coin toss, and Kirk Cousins picked up where he left off last season filling in at quarterback, throwing for a touchdown as the Washington Redskins edged the Tennessee Titans 22-21 Thursday night in their preseason opener.
The Redskins sat eight starters, including Griffin, who warmed up and was on the field dressed. Cousins looked sharp in Griffin's place, completing six of seven passes for 52 yards and a TD for a 137.2 passer rating in two series for the defending NFC East champs.
The Titans showed off their revamped run game as Chris Johnson scored on a 58-yard burst. Tennessee had 92 yards rushing and a 14-7 lead after the first quarter; Shonn Greene added a 19-yard TD run.
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Pat White scored on a 9-yard TD run with 2:23 left and found Emmanuel Ogbuehi for the 2-point conversion to avoid overtime (see full recap).
Bernard's TD run helps Bengals beat Falcons
ATLANTA -- Giovani Bernard ran for a touchdown, Josh Johnson directed two second-quarter touchdown drives and Cincinnati cruised to a 34-10 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.
Bernard, a second-round pick from North Carolina competing for a significant share of the Bengals' carries, played behind returning starter Benjarvus Green-Ellis and had 10 carries for 28 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run. He added three catches for 16 yards.
Johnson, up against John Skelton for the backup job behind Andy Dalton, made big plays with his arm and legs. Johnson passed for 100 yards, including a 21-yard score to Brandon Tate, and ran for 64 yards (see full recap).
Weeden lifts Browns past Rams
CLEVELAND -- Brandon Weeden threw a touchdown pass and led Cleveland on two scoring drives, and Travis Benjamin returned a punt 91 yards for a TD as the Browns won coach Rob Chudzinski's exhibition debut, 27-19 over the St. Louis Rams on Thursday night.
Weeden finished 10 of 13 for 112 yards, which should help end any talk of a quarterback competition in Cleveland. Chudzinski has not yet chosen Weeden his starter, but the second-year QB did everything he needed to secure the job.
Weeden hooked up with running back Dion Lewis, starting for Trent Richardson, for a 2-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter (see full recap).