EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Eli Manning and Tom Brady were solid in their final tuneups for the regular season.
And Rhett Bomar may have nailed down the job as the New York Giants’ backup quarterback, throwing a 60-yard scoring pass to Duke Calhoun with 1:49 to play as the Giants rallied for a 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
The winning score came just minutes after Darnell Jenkins put the Patriots ahead 17-12 by catching a short pass from Brian Hoyer and turning it into a 66-yard scoring play with one move and a burst of speed.
The good news for the teams, both 2-2 in exhibition play, was they came out the preseason finale relatively healthy.
Steelers 19, Panthers 3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Byron Leftwich, expected to replace Ben Roethlisberger during his suspension, injured his left knee in the second quarter and Pittsburgh (3-1) beat starter-less Carolina (1-3).
Carolina’s offense ended the preseason the way it began with no touchdowns as No. 3 quarterback Hunter Cantwell and No. 4 Tony Pike took all the snaps in a game both teams played with the intent of not getting any key player hurt.
Leftwich, tuning up for his anticipated start Sept. 12 against Atlanta, completed an 18-yard pass to rookie Emmanuel Sanders before being knocked off his feet as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him.
Jets 21, Eagles 17
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Vick led Philadelphia to a field goal in two series in his first start in four years, and Kurt Coleman scored on two fumble returns, but New York (2-2) beat Philadelphia (2-2).
Mark Brunell’s 51-yard touchdown pass to former Pittsburgh Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes in the fourth quarter put the Jets ahead to stay.
Neither team used its starters. Kevin Kolb and New York’s Mark Sanchez watched from the sideline while backups saw plenty of action.
Bengals 30, Colts 28
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Cedric Peerman had a 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and reserve Jordan Palmer — starter Carson Palmer’s brother — completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-2).
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning didn’t play, and most of Indy’s starters took the night off. Curtis Painter got the start and completed nine of 20 passes for 114 yards. Tom Brandstater was 10 of 18 for 177 yards and three TDs, all to Brandon James.
Indianapolis was 0-4 in the preseason.
Lions 28, Bills 23
DETROIT (AP) — Third-stringer Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes for Detroit after Matthew Stafford had an interception returned for a touchdown.
Stafford’s second pass was picked off by Drayton Florence and Detroit (3-1) punted on his second and last drive. Buffalo’s Trent Edwards was 4 for 4 for 66 yards — including a 50-yard pass to Lee Evans — on his only drive to set up the first of Rian Lindell’s three field goals. The Bills finished the preseason 2-2.
Jaguars 13, Falcons 9
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Fullback Brock Bolen scored on a 16-yard run, and Josh Scobee kicked two field goals for Jacksonville (2-2).
Jacksonville’s Luke McCown filled in for David Garrard and completed 5 of 12 passes for 39 yards. Chris Redman, starting in place of Matt Ryan for Atlanta (2-2), completed 15 of 22 passes for 142 yards.
