By Field Level Media
Aug 28 (Field Level Media) – Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza struggled on Thursday as the Raiders dropped their preseason finale 18-12 to the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft, completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards. He threw one interception and was sacked twice.
Veteran Kirk Cousins started the game for the Raiders (1-2) and hit on 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards. He led a pair of early drives that resulted in field goals.
The game featured 10 field goals, as San Francisco’s Eddy Pineiro connected on 6 of 6, including a 59-yarder, a 51-yarder and a 54-yarder. Matt Gay made 4 of 5 for Las Vegas, with a long of 53 yards.
The Raiders’ Mike Washington Jr. led all ball carriers with 49 yards on eight attempts.
Mac Jones played two series at quarterback for San Francisco (2-1) and completed just 1 of 5 pass attempts for 7 yards. The 49ers’ regular quarterback, Brock Purdy, didn’t play.
Bills 28, Steelers 27
Ian Wheeler ran for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining and Dante Pettis caught the subsequent two-point-conversion pass from Shane Buechele as Buffalo rallied for a win over Pittsburgh in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Buechele played the entire game in the preseason finale for the Bills (3-0), completing 26 of 38 passes for 196 yards.
Buffalo led 14-3 after one quarter, but Pittsburgh (1-2) was ahead 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter before the Bills bounced back.
Buffalo’s regular quarterback, Josh Allen, sat out. He appeared in just one of the team’s preseason games, playing two series on Aug. 15 against the Carolina Panthers.
Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell made seven receptions for 49 yards, and his lone carry went 28 yards for the touchdown. Frank Gore Jr. ran 10 times for 27 yards and added five catches for 45 yards.
Pittsburgh kept quarterback Aaron Rodgers out of action, meaning he didn’t get a single preseason snap. Will Howard started in his place, and he connected on 9 of 15 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Drew Allar played the second half and wound up 9 of 18 for 88 yards. Eli Heidenreich had a team-high 10 carries for the Steelers, producing 35 yards and a TD. Max Hurleman hauled in three passes for 50 yards.
Browns 37, Patriots 13
Dillon Gabriel completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns as host Cleveland overwhelmed New England in the final preseason game for both teams.
Gabriel connected on a 6-yard strike to wide receiver Luke Floriea on the game’s first possession. After the Patriots responded with a touchdown drive, the second-year quarterback found Floriea again from 14 yards out. The Browns (1-2) took a 27-10 lead when Gabriel connected with Ahmani Marshall on a 7-yard completion with 2:32 to play before halftime.
Browns No. 4 quarterback Taylen Green played in the second half and picked up 66 yards on eight carries to lead all rushers. He threw for 27 yards on 5-of-7 passing.
The Patriots (1-1-1) started Tommy DeVito, and the former New York Giant played two series and connected with Kyle Williams on a 45-yard touchdown strike. DeVito wound up 2 of 4 for 55 yards, and Kyle Dixon caught a game-high eight passes for 71 yards.
New England’s top quarterback, Drake Maye, and Cleveland’s top two QBs, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, did not play.
(–Field Level Media)
