Associaed Press
Associaed Press
CHICAGO — Peyton Manning didn’t hide his feelings. This one was special, and he simply wasn’t about to dismiss it as just another tuneup.
He’s come too far for that.
“I know how much hard work I’ve put in and how much help I’ve gotten along the way,” he said. “I know once we get to Pittsburgh, it’ll be all about the game. I’m not going to be too reflective.”
His first preseason appearance with the Broncos was brief and a bit uneven. He hopes to have it ironed out by the opener Sept. 9.
Manning got intercepted near the goal line on the game’s opening possession and watched from the sideline the rest of the way as Denver beat the Chicago Bears 31-3 Thursday night.
All eyes were on Manning and the results were mixed for the four-time MVP. Considering he missed all of last season with a nerve injury in his neck that weakened his throwing arm and led to his tearful farewell from the Indianapolis Colts, it was hardly a surprise.
Manning is trying to show he still has something left with Denver (No. 10 in the AP Pro32), and all things considered, coach John Fox was impressed.
“He’s going to continue to improve,” Fox said. “That’s the whole challenge of our team. That was a good first start, good first outing, and it’s what we do with it from here on out that’s going to count.”
On a cool and rainy night, Manning completed 4 of 7 passes for 44 yards, but didn’t have to contend with Julius Peppers or Brian Urlacher. He had all the time he needed, too, so it remains to be seen how he’ll handle a big hit.
But even with little pressure, he still was a bit off target against Chicago (No. 11 tie).
On the game’s first play from scrimmage, his pass was broken up by Chicago’s Lance Briggs, and his second was nearly picked off, too. The Bears’ Geno Hayes tipped the ball near midfield, but Jacob Tamme hauled it in for a 12-yard gain to the Chicago 39.
After a short run by Willis McGahee, Manning found Eric Decker on the left for 10 yards. A 19-yarder to Decker a few plays later put the ball on the 14, and the Broncos looked like they were poised to score.
Instead, on third down at the 12, Manning got picked off when Denver’s Brandon Stokley deflected a pass and Major Wright dived for the interception at the 2. Wright then left the game with a hamstring injury that he said was “nothing major,” no pun intended.
Manning was finished for the night, too, and that brought the biggest story to a close.
“There’s always a little bit of an unknown, there’s obviously a lot of change,” he said. “New team, new players, not ideal weather conditions. There were some different elements for me. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen, it’s hard to predict, but I felt like I had a little rhythm there on offense, things we can build on. … Overall, I thought it was a decent start.”
Another big angle never materialized. That was the Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall reunion.
They put up big numbers in Denver and they’re back together after the Bears (No. 11 tie) acquired Marshall from Miami. That blockbuster trade gave Cutler the go-to target he’s lacked since he arrived from the Broncos and sent expectations soaring in Chicago after a disappointing 8-8 finish. But instead of a first look, fans got a rain check.
Cutler warmed up but coach Lovie Smith decided to hold him out, one day after his fiance Kristin Cavallari gave birth to a boy named Camden Jack.
“It wasn’t really in the plan for Jay to go out there,” coach Lovie Smith said. “He’ll get more reps this week.”
Running back Matt Forte and Peppers were also in uniform but did not play. Urlacher, meanwhile, wasn’t expected to play after missing time in six practices because of his injured left knee and for personal reasons, and was not on the sideline.
With their star quarterback and running back watching, the Bears managed just 41 yards in the first half and trailed 10-0 at the break.
Marshall caught just one pass for 4 yards. Jason Campbell completed 4 of 5 for 13 yards before Josh McCown relieved him, and Michael Bush carried three times for 2 yards in his first appearance as a Bear. He also lost a fumble in the first quarter that led to a field goal for Denver.
Caleb Hanie then came in for Manning and was immediately booed by Chicago fans for failing last year after Cutler suffered a season-ending thumb injury. Besides the field goal, he led the Broncos on a 57-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter and wound up going 7 for 14 for 79 yards.
But in the end, the focus was right where it started — on Manning.
“To me there was no difference,” said Stokley, who played with him in Indianapolis. “He still throws the ball great. I think everybody saw today that he has great control of the offense. I think we are just going to try to build on this and get better every week. I think it was a good first step.”
EAGLES 24, STEELERS 23
PHILADELPHIA — Andy Reid was welcomed back to the sideline with a standing ovation and chants of “Andy! Andy! Andy!”
Then the Philadelphia Eagles gave their grieving coach a small reason to smile. Reid coached the Eagles just two days after his 29-year-old son’s funeral.
Alex Henery kicked a 51-yard field goal with 12 seconds left after the Steelers went up on Daniel Hrapmann’s 42-yarder with 1:57 left. Trent Edwards led the Eagles (No. 8 in the AP Pro32) back on an 11-play drive to set up Henery’s kick.
Ben Roethlisberger was sharp in his only series for the Steelers (No. 7 in the AP Pro32). He led the offense on a 16-play scoring drive in the first game under new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
CHARGERS 21, PACKERS 13
SAN DIEGO — Shannon Eastin became the first woman to officiate an NFL game and Philip Rivers had a touchdown, an interception and a fumble in limited action for the Chargers ( No. 16 in the AP Pro32). Rookie Jarrett Lee got most of the action, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown.
Eastin broke the NFL’s on-field gender barrier by serving as the line judge for the seven-man crew of replacement officials.
RAVENS 31, FALCONS 17
ATLANTA — Baltimore backup Curtis Painter threw three second-half touchdown passes.
Atlanta’s Matt Ryan led two touchdown drives, including a scoring pass to Julio Jones, before Painter took over.
PATRIOTS 7, SAINTS 6
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Will Smith crunched Tom Brady from behind, forcing a fumble in the first quarter. It may be the Saints defensive end’s biggest play for a while.
One of four players punished in New Orleans bounty scandal, Smith was suspended for the first four regular-season games. So Thursday night’s sack of New England’s star quarterback was a highlight in the Patriots lackluster 7-6 win in their exhibition opener.
John Kasay had a chance to give the Saints (No. 9 in the AP Pro32) the lead, but his 41-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right with 3:07 left.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees also played two series, lasting just six plays. He was 1 of 4 for 4 yards in his second exhibition game.
REDSKINS 7, BILLS 6
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Robert Griffin III needed only three passes on his third and final drive to show glimpses of stardom in his much-anticipated NFL preseason debut.
After a muffed handoff and no first downs in his first two series, RG3 found his rhythm by completing his final three passes for 58 yards, capped by a 20-yard touchdown to Pierre Garcon.
It was an eventful cameo appearance for the Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted with the No. 2 pick out of Baylor. Griffin finished going 4 of 6 for 70 yards and a lost fumble.
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