The 2011 NFL preseason schedule is almost over. We had 15 games on Thursday night and one game still to come on Friday night.
The final preseason game is usually one in which the starters play for a series or two, at most, and the backups come in trying to win a job. Cut down day is on Sept. 3 as teams go from 80 to 53 players on the roster so that game tape will decide plenty of players' future.
Here's a roundup of Thursday night's action:
Detroit Lions 16
Buffalo Bills 6
QB Matthew Stafford and Co. are moving to the regular season after an impressive preseason.
Indianapolis Colts 17
Cincinnati Bengals 13
QB Peyton Manning goes through the preseason without taking a snap. QB Kerry Collins' performance on Thursday night wasn't pretty so Indy fans are hoping Manning is ready.
Baltimore Lions 21
Atlanta Falcons 7
This could be a Super Bowl preview. If it is, the Ravens are champs.
St. Louis Rams 24
Jacksonville Jaguars 17
The Rams have looked decent in preseason and have a shot win the NFC West. Same goes for the Jaguars in the AFC South.
Dallas Cowboys 3
Miami Dolphins 17
Once again, Cowboys backup QB Stephen McGee looks solid completing 21-of-25 passes. Dolphins QB Matt Moore was sharp, too, competing 9-of-11 passes.
New York Giants 18
New England Patriots 17
This was a battle of backups but the Giants scored 15 fourth quarter points on a fake punt and a fumble return to take the win.
Philadelphia Eagles 24
New York Jets 14
The only problem I have with this game is that it didn't come in the regular season with all the starters playing. Two of the best teams in the NFL here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24
Washington Redskins 29
We thought QB John Beck had a shot at the Redskins starting QB job but he started the game on Thursday night and QB Rex Grossman sat. Usually, the backup plays and the starter sits.
Pittsburgh Steelers 33
Carolina Panthers 17
The Steelers rested a few key players but QB Cam Newton drove the Panthers down the field, completing 3-of-5 passes including his first touchdown pass to TE Jeremy Shockey.
Cleveland Browns 14
Chicago Bears 24
Most of the Bears starters sat but WR Johnny Knox caught a touchdown pass closing the gap between he and WR Roy Williams.
Kansas City Chiefs 19
Green Bay Packers 20
The Packers first team offense played about a series while the Chiefs played many of their starters into the fourth quarter. The game ended when Chiefs K Ryan Succop couldn't hit a 56-yarder to win it.
Houston Texans 0
Minnesota Vikings 28
Rookie QB Christian Ponder completed 10-of-17 passes for 83 yards but also rushed for 61 yards in a blowout over Houston. He's trying to secure the backup quarterback job behind QB Donovan McNabb.
Tennessee Titans 32
New Orleans Saints 9
Impressive game from rookie QB Jake Locker -- 15-of-17 for 132 yards and a touchdown. Plus three rushes for 39 yards. He won't become the starter this year but he's the future.
Denver Broncos 7
Arizona Cardinals 26
So is it QB Tim Tebow or QB Brady Quinn as the backup? Tebow looked decent completing 7-of-11 passes for 116 yards and a 43-yard touchdown passes. Quinn looked worse completing just 4-of-12 passes for 26 yards and an interception.
San Francisco 49ers 20
San Diego Chargers 17
RB Frank Gore sat in this game after signing his big deal. This was the final preseason game of the night.
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