Baker Mayfield had another solid outing on Friday night, but it was fellow rookie quarterback Josh Allen who stole the show as the Buffalo Bills beat the host Cleveland Browns 19-17 in a Week 2 preseason game at FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) Stadium.
Allen, the No. 7 overall pick out of Wyoming, was 9-of-13 for 60 yards with a scoring pass and added 18 yards on three carries. Perhaps more impressive was the impact he had on the entire offense. After starter AJ McCarron led the Bills to four consecutive three-and-outs to open the game, Allen took over and led Buffalo to points on all three of his drives -- two field goals and a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rod Streater.
McCarron reportedly suffered a hairline fracture of his collarbone during the outing. The Bills announced he sustained a right shoulder injury.
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick who threw for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut last week, was 7-of-13 for 75 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions on Friday. His numbers were better than starter Tyrod Taylor, who was 4-of-7 for 22 yards with no scores and no turnovers.
Cardinals 20, Saints 15
Former All-Pro running back David Johnson, lost for the season in Week 1 in 2017, continued to show he is ready for a bounce-back season with a 9-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter as Arizona won at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
After carrying the ball twice for 28 yards in Week 1, Johnson had 22 yards on six carries on Friday, along with a 5-yard catch.
New Cardinals starting quarterback Sam Bradford was 6-of-6 for 61 yards and has yet to throw an incomplete pass this preseason. First-round pick Josh Rosen was 10-of-16 for 107 yards and a score. Wide receiver Christian Kirk, a second-round pick, had four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers 27, Dolphins 20
Rookie tight end Ian Thomas scored the first touchdown of his NFL career and quarterback Cam Newton shook off a sluggish performance to lead Carolina past Miami in Charlotte, N.C.
Newton, who completed 9 of 12 passes for 89 yards, teamed up with Thomas on a 27-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey opened the scoring with a 71-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. McCaffrey finished with 92 yards and one touchdown on five carries.
Giants 30, Lions 17
With Saquon Barkley, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. all sitting out, New York's backups took advantage of the extra work and took down host Detroit at Ford Field.
Starting quarterback Davis Webb completed 14 of 20 passes for 140 yards and a score, an 8-yard toss to backup running back Wayne Gallman to give the Giants the lead for good at 7-3 in the second quarter.
Another Giants running back, Robert Martin, had seven carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. Gallman had 26 yards on the ground and a pair of scores. Barkley sat because of a leg injury suffered at practice, while Manning and Beckham were not listed as inactive but sat nonetheless.
Chiefs 28, Falcons 14
Patrick Mahomes was 8-of-12 for 138 yards and one touchdown -- a 69-yard strike to Tyreek Hill with 17 seconds left in the first half -- as Kansas City beat host Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mahomes, a second-year quarterback taking over for the departed Alex Smith, has a big arm that Andy Reid's offense in Kansas City has lacked since he arrived and has Chiefs fans dreaming of a high-powered offense with some of the fastest skill players in the league.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was 5-of-7 for 90 yards and a score, a 4-yard pass to tight end Austin Hooper on the game's first drive. First-round pick Calvin Ridley caught three balls for 49 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta.
--Field Level Media