Backups lead Raiders in preseason win over Cardinals

Carson Palmer directed a 73-yard drive for a field goal in his one series before the Oakland Raiders backups dominated their Arizona counterparts in a 31-10 victory in the teams’ preseason opener Friday night.

Derek Carr played two series for Oakland, the second one ending in Sebastian Janikowski’s 53-yard field goal.

Raiders starting defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. was taken to the locker room on a cart early in the game after an apparent leg injury.

Oakland backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes after the Cardinals committed two turnovers in a span of about 30 seconds.

George Atkinson III, listed as Oakland’s fourth-string running back, scored on runs of 53 and 35 yards.

Palmer completed three of five passes for 31 yards. The biggest play of the drive came when David Johnson faked out a defender at the line of scrimmage and raced for a 23-yard gain.

Carr completed three of seven passes for 44 yards.

Other games

Ryan Nassib had a big chance to show everyone what he could do as New York Giants quarterback with Eli Manning getting the night off. He blew it after a good first quarter. Nassib was consistent in leading the Giants on 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 the Miami Dolphins’ 27-10 victory in the preseason opener Friday night. The start of the game was delayed 51 minutes by weather, pushing back the coaching debuts of Ben McAdoo of the Giants and Adam Gase of the Dolphins.

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A pair of draft picks helped the Detroit Lions defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 30-17. Chris Boswell briefly put Pittsburgh in front with a 37-yard field goal, but Dwayne Washington, the Lions’ seventh-round pick, gave Detroit the lead for good with a 96-yard kickoff return. Quarterback Jake Rudock, the Lions’ sixth-round pick, later led an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Rudock, who finished eight for 11 for 72 yards and a score, hit Jace Billingsley with a 27-yard touchdown on third and nine.

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Andy Dalton was sharp in his return, leading the Cincinnati Bengals into field-goal range on his only drive during the Minnesota Vikings’ 17-16 preseason 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. On Friday night, he completed his first four passes for 32 yards.

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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. 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 four for eight for 67 yards with an interception in a quarter of action.

Etc.

The Buffalo Bills signed Tyrod Taylor to a six-year contract Friday, a day before Buffalo opens the preseason by hosting Indianapolis. The Bills announced the signing, and a person with direct knowledge of the deal revealed some of its details to the Associated Press. The extension replaces the remaining year Taylor had left on his contract and will pay him more than $30 million over the first two seasons, the person said. The deal gives Taylor lucrative incentives over the course of the contract, but also provides the Bills flexibility to opt out of a portion of the deal, the person added. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not revealed those details.

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The Tennessee Titans have claimed linebacker Amarlo Herrera off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.