CLEVELAND (AP) -Brady Quinn’s pro debut was nearly picture perfect.
With flashbulbs popping all around the stadium, Quinn threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in his first NFL exhibition game and looked better than any Cleveland quarterback in the Browns’ 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.
The former Notre Dame star entered with the Browns down 23-7.
As No. 10 jogged onto the field with 9:20 remaining, Cleveland fans welcomed Quinn with a roaring ovation, and many of them stayed on their feet after Quinn hit Chris Barclay on a screen pass that went for 30 yards on his first play.
Quinn completed five passes in a row before his first miss. On second-and-3 at Detroit’s 4, he calmly rolled to his right and drilled a TD pass to rookie Efrem Hill, who got open near the sideline.
The next time Cleveland (1-1) got the ball, Quinn drove the Browns 92 yards in 1:52, hitting Jerome Harrison with a 6-yard TD pass with 18 seconds left.
Quinn, who missed 11 days of training camp before signing a five-year, $20.2 million contract, didn’t play in last week’s win over Kansas City.
Quinn finished 13-of-20 – with three spikes to stop the clock – for 155 yards.
Playing the entire first half, Jon Kitna finished 12-of-16 for 137 yards and hit Shaun McDonald with a 14-yard scoring pass just before halftime for the Lions (2-0).
Packers 48, Seahawks 13
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Brett Favre was 7-for-12 for 74 yards and a touchdown, leading Green Bay (2-0) to 17 points in its first four drives.
Favre connected with receiver James Jones for a 16-yard touchdown pass to begin the second quarter, and Jones also caught a touchdown pass from backup Aaron Rodgers later in the quarter. Jones, a third-round pick out of San Jose State who is solidifying his spot as the Packers’ No. 3 receiver, caught four passes for 58 yards.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren sat quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and both of his starting offensive tackles. Hasselbeck had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in January. Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander played less than a quarter, carrying only three times for 3 yards. Seattle dropped to 1-1.
49ers 26, Raiders 21
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Oakland newcomer Daunte Culpepper passed for 75 yards and threw touchdown passes to John Madsen and Zack Crockett, but San Francisco rookie Thomas Clayton scored on a 1-yard plunge with 47 seconds left.
After a lost season in Miami, Culpepper is hoping to regain his Pro Bowl form with Oakland (1-1). He was 6-of-8 and even scrambled 13 yards for a first down.
Alex Smith, the third-year pro and former No. 1 pick, again showed poise and maturity while playing the entire first half for San Francisco (1-1), going 8-of-12 for 106 yards and throwing a beautiful 19-yard TD pass to Delanie Walker.
Texans 33, Cardinals 20
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Matt Schaub was 9-of-12 for 108 yards and ran 5 yards for a score and Houston beat Arizona in Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt’s home debut.
Matt Leinart, who coincidentally wears No. 7 for Arizona (0-2), went 7-for-7 for 70 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Edgerrin James.
Texans rookie Jacoby Jones returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and backup Sage Rosenfels threw 40 yards to Charlie Smith for another score to help Houston (1-1) dominate the third quarter. Rosenfels was 8-for-13 for 125 yards.
Jaguars 31, Buccaneers 19
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Byron Leftwich was 6-of-12 for 81 yards for Jacksonville, but was sacked once and nearly half his yardage came after a missed tackle.
Leftwich was 2-of-6 for 12 yards in three series against Tampa Bay’s first-team defense. He played long after most of the Buccaneers’ starters were lifted and took advantage of the mismatch. Jacksonville (1-1) scored on all four drives against Tampa Bay’s backups in the first half.
Jeff Garcia gave Tampa Bay (1-1) an early lead when he scrambled right and found David Boston in the end zone. Garcia finished 6-of-6 for 43 yards, but he also was sacked once and fumbled a snap in three series.
Cowboys 31, Broncos 20
IRVING, Texas (AP) – Tony Romo was 11-of-18 for 122 yards with an interception, and Marion Barber III ran 11 times for 57 yard and two touchdowns for Dallas.
The Cowboys were up 24-6 at halftime, when both teams turned things over to backups.
Dallas (2-0) flustered Denver quarterback Jay Cutler into going 7-of-13 for only 58 yards. He failed to convert all five third-down chances, leaving the Broncos (1-1) to settle for two short field goals after drives that started in Cowboys’ territory following turnovers.
Chargers 30, Rams 13
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Darren Sproles returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half, and Philip Rivers threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Vincent Jackson in the first quarter for San Diego (1-1).
Two turnovers negated scoring opportunities in the first half for the Rams (1-1), with Marc Bulger’s overthrown pass intercepted in the end zone, and Madison Hedgecock fumbling after a reception at the Chargers 19.
NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson wasn’t in uniform for the Chargers.
Steelers 12, Redskins 10
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) – Connor Hughes kicked three field goals in the fourth quarter, including the winner from 19 yards with 1:31 remaining for Pittsburgh.
Washington quarterback Jason Campbell left in the first quarter because of a bruised knee, and linebacker Marcus Washington departed in the second quarter after dislocating his right elbow. Campbell was hit on the left knee by defensive end Brett Keisel, who beat rookie left tackle Stephon Heyer and stumbled as he kept up his pursuit. Keisel was assessed with a personal foul for a low hit on a quarterback in the pocket.
Pittsburgh improved to 2-1, and Washington dropped to 1-1.
Saints 27, Bengals 19
CINCINNATI (AP) – Drew Brees led New Orleans to a touchdown in his only series Saturday night, completing all six throws he made.
The NFL’s leading passer last season, Brees had his way with the league’s worst pass defense, one that Cincinnati (0-2) put a lot of moves and money into trying to upgrade in the offseason. The Saints (1-2) scored on their first three drives against Cincinnati’s starting unit.
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