NFL Exhibition Roundup : Kramer’s 2 TD Passes Lead Win by Vikings

Tommy Kramer moved ahead of Wade Wilson in Minnesota’s quarterback competition, capping his only two series with touchdown passes and leading the Vikings to a 24-17 exhibition victory over the Miami Dolphins Friday night at Minneapolis.

Kramer missed much of the 1987 season with a neck injury and, in the process, lost his hold on the starting quarterback job to Wilson.

Kramer, who had been on even terms with Wilson before this game, completed 6 of 8 passes for 114 yards and took the Vikings (3-1) on 67- and 90-yard scoring drives in the first half. He hit Steve Jordan on a 22-yard scoring pass play midway through the first quarter and connected with Hassan Jones on a 12-yard play early in the second.

Miami’s Dan Marino, in his longest outing of the exhibition season, played three quarters and completed 18 of 29 passes for 185 yards and 1 touchdown as the Dolphins fell to 2-3.

Cincinnati 27, New England 21--The Bengals’ running game took over in the second half after Boomer Esiason threw scoring passes on their first two possessions of the game at Foxboro, Mass.

Trailing, 14-13, at halftime despite the touchdown passes to James Brooks and Eddie Brown, the Bengals (4-1) went ahead, 20-14, at the start of the third quarter on Stanley Wilson’s 12-yard run. Stanford Jennings’ 38-yard touchdown run on the last drive of that quarter extended the lead to 27-14.

New England’s record fell to 1-3.

Cleveland 17, New York Giants 13--Bernie Kosar eluded a heavy pass rush to throw for 212 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown play to Webster Slaughter, and Kevin Mack ran 1 yard for a touchdown as the Browns won at Cleveland.

Kosar played nearly three quarters and completed 17 of 25 passes despite constant pressure from a blitzing New York defense. He was sacked three times.

New York quarterback Phil Simms also played into the third quarter, completing 10 of 20 passes for 119 yards.

San Francisco 27, Seattle 21--Steve Young hit wide receiver Calvin Nicholas on a 19-yard touchdown pass play with 6:55 remaining, enabling the 49ers to conclude exhibition play with a 3-2 record by beating the Seahawks at Candlestick Park.

Seattle (3-1) went ahead, 21-20, near the end of a high-scoring third period as rookie Kevin Harmon’s 7-yard run completed a 59-yard drive and Norm Johnson added the extra point.

Terrence Flagler scored three touchdowns on runs of 9, 5 and 1 yards within three minutes in the third quarter to give San Francisco its first lead, 20-14. Rookie Mike Cofer’s extra point attempt was blocked after the first touchdown.