Week 3 Of NFL Preseason Comes To A Close

Panthers Vs. Jets: Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow And Injuries Highlight New York's Day

Maybe the Jets are saving all their touchdowns for the regular season, because they still haven't found paydirt thus far in the preseason. What they have done is racked up a few injuries and tried to kill any semblance of a quarterback controversy between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.

David Wyatt of Jets blog Gang Green Nation is taking everything in stride after the team's 19-12 loss to Carolina.

...lets get the most meaningless stat out of the way first, the Jets are 0-3 this pre-season.

However it really is not all doom and gloom this morning. I don't know about you, but I saw a lot of things that I liked last night. It is extremely frustrating that we haven't scored a touchdown yet, but there was actually a lot to like about the offensive game last night.

Wyatt liked what he saw from Sanchez, and although apparently Tebow is the biggest story in the world, he doesn't find the Jets' backup to be much more than a backup:

I think we saw last night why Tebow will come in on short yardage and not be a starting QB. I'm looking forward to seeing the package we have planned for him, but he is a long way behind Sanchez in running a professional offense.

For the rest of what Wyatt had to say, head over to Gang Green Nation and check out SB Nation New York for all the latest on the Jets.

49ers Vs. Broncos: San Francisco's Lackluster Defensive Performance Chalked Up To Boredom

The San Francisco 49ers had the most dominant defense in the NFL in 2011, and the unit is expected to be the backbone of the team in 2012 as it looks to contend once again for the Super Bowl. But in its second-to-last tune up before the regular season, San Francisco's first team defense was steamrolled by a Denver Broncos offense that had been working out its own kinks for much of the preseason.

Denver's first team offense put up 17 points in the first quarter of Sunday night's game, with the two touchdowns coming on passes from Peyton Manning to Eric Decker. The question for 49ers fans is whether the defense's poor showing is a harbinger of things to come. For his part, David Fucillo of SB Nation's Niners Nation, is attributing that first quarter to something simpler and more human: boredom.

I really think we're looking at a mix of issues. Some of this does come from very basic game-planning, while some of it also is poor tackling and poor fundamentals at time. However, I think for the purposes of last year's dominant defense, I would suspect there is a certain lackadaisical nature to the preseason. It does not make poor performances acceptable, but it is something to at least consider moving into the final week of the preseason.

For more on the 49ers, head over to Niners Nation. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Cam Newton Looks 'Erratic' At Times; Luke Kuechly Has Strong Showing In Panthers Win

The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Jets 17-12 on Sunday night, although starting quarterback Cam Newton was a bit inconsistent. Newton finished the night just 6 of 15 for 60 yards.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly played well in the win, and the rookie has the folks at Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader excited about his future:

If you're still looking for reasons to denigrate his performance thus far then you have an agenda, and a rather poor one at that. Finishing the game with 10 tackles Kuechly found himself consistently in the right place to make a play. This should be nothing surprising for a player who diagnoses plays so well. When I evaluated him in March and April what left off the screen was how high his football IQ is, and it has been showing each week.

The Panthers play their final preseason game on Thursday.

For more coverage, be sure to check out Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader.

David Harris Injury: X-Rays Negative On Jets Linebacker

The New York Jets received a bit of good news regarding injured linebacker David Harris. X-Rays on Harris' injured ankle came back negative and he is expected to be fine, although his status for the final preseason game is uncertain.

Harris left the Jets' preseason game against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter with the injury. He was quickly examined on the sidelines before heading to the locker room for further tests.

The Jets were hit hard with injuries particularly at the tight end position during the game. Dustin Keller left the game in the first quarter with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. His replacement, Josh Baker, suffered a serious knee injury in the second quarter. Neither player returned to action and Baker could miss substantial time.

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

Panthers Vs. Jets Game Recap: Jets Still Can't Find Endzone In 17-12 Loss

The New York Jets continued their preseason touchdown drought as they fell 17-12 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.

The Jets preseason futility is fueled by an offense that has yet to find the endzone through three games, the only team remaining in the NFL without an endzone celebration. Both quarterbacks struggled for the Jets. Mark Sanchez went 11-for-18 with 123 yards and an interception and backup quarterback Tim Tebow went 4-for-14 for 55 yards and an interception as well. Tebow also added five rushes for 45 yards.

The Jets wide receivers did their starting quarterback no favors. Four of Sanchez's seven incompletions and his interception were the result of dropped passes. Only Stephen Hill had a game of worth, catching five passes for 68 yards.

Cam Newton led the Panthers to victory with a mediocre game as well. Newton was 6-for-15 for 60 yards and a touchdown. He ran twice for 16 yards, but also fumbled the ball away. Backup quarterback Derek Anderson had a very efficient drive, leading the Panthers on a nine-play, 76-yard drive to up the score to 17-12. He finished the game 6-for-7 for 64 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

The first half of the game was a virtual bloodbath for the Jets, who saw three players go down with injuries. Tight end Dustin Keller injured himself after catching a 24-yard pass and left the game in the first quarter. Linebacker David Harris left the game in the first quarter with an apparent ankle injury. Tight end Josh Baker had a gruesome knee injury in the second quarter after a collision in the endzone.

It wasn't all bad for the Jets though. The defense was stayed solid, with an interception and forcing three fumbles, recoving two of them.

The backfield tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart did alright as well, garnering a total of 52 yards on 15 carries. Stewart injured his ankle in the second quarter and had to be carted off the field.

The Panthers defense did a good job holding the Jets to four field goals, with linebacker Luke Kuechly performing admirably, ratcheting up 10 tackles.

The Jets have now gone 12 quarters, 36 drives and 173 plays without a touchdown so far this preseason.

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

Captain Jet Has Had Just About Enough Of This

The Good, The Bad, The Tebow

If there was one drive that summed up Tim Tebow, it was this one. There was good (running Tebow) and ... well, really bad. The good and bad came almost back-to-back and kind of just wrapped things into a nice little package.

First, the good. This was a nice little run by Tebow. He took off, found a seam and picked up some nice yardage. The crowd was pumped!

And Tebow was pumped, too!

But as soon as the crowd saw a glimmer of Tebow-fueled hope -- as soon as fans started chanting his name -- he came through with a reminder. When Tebow's feet aren't set, things don't go well. In fact, disastrous would be too good a word.

This pass was absolutely horrendous, unless he intended to throw it right at a DB. It was Bad Tebow to a T.

So there you go. One drive that sums up the good and the bad of Tebow in a nutshell.

Preseason Fights Don't Count, Either

Jonathan Stewart Injury: Panthers RB Injures Ankle

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Jets.

Stewart appeared to injure his ankle following a seven-yard run and had to be helped to the bench by trainers. He was later carted off the field. Stewart had eight rushes for 24 yards so far in the game.

The Panthers running back has been looking to regain the magic of his 2009 season when he rushed for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last year, Stewart recorded the fewest rushing attempts in his four-year career, but also registered his highest receiving total with 47 receptions for 413 yards and one touchdown.

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

Cam Newton Is Morgan Newton Is Cam Newton

Remember what happened to Morgan Newton right around this time last year? You know, the quarterback that sacked himself? Must be the last name or something, because Cam Newton pulled a similar stunt on Sunday night.

There is a difference: Cam was kind of moving around in the pocket, not just falling over backwards while attempting to drop back. But oh boy was it bad -- and it included a fumble.

Or, if you please.

Naturally, the replacement refs made an absolute mess of this. Somehow Cam was ruled down by contact and the fumble was ignored. A commercial break and a replay later, and all was right in the world.

Oh, and the Jets still couldn't find the end zone from 12 yards out. This game is something.

Josh Baker Injury: Tight End Out With Gruesome Knee Injury

New York Jets tight end Josh Baker has gone down with a knee injury after a collision in the end zone in the second quarter of an exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers.

This would be the third Jets player to leave the game already, including fellow tight end Dustin Keller. Baker was trying to haul in a touchdown pass when he went down and cannot put any weight on his injured leg.

The injury looks absolutely terrible and will most likely cost Baker the season. Baker played in quite limited time last year as a rookie, appearing in 11 games and recording three receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown.

WARNING: THE LINKED GIF IS VERY GRAPHIC: Click here to view the injury.

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

David Harris Injury: Jets Linebacker Leaves Game Vs. Panthers

New York Jets linebacker David Harris injured himself in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers and has left the game. Josh Mauga is now in with the Jets first-team defense.

Harris was having a great game up until he left the field, accruing four tackles in the first quarter. He was being checked upon on the sidelines and was later seen heading to the locker room with team doctors. He is back on the sidelines and out of the game with an apparent ankle injury.

This came minutes after tight end Dustin Keller injured his hamstring and left the game as well.

Harris is a six-year veteran with the Jets and has only missed substantial time due to injury back in 2008. He hasn't missed a game in the past three seasons. Last year, Harris had 86 tackles, 5.0 sacks and four interceptions (a career high).

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

Don't Do This Muhammad Wilkerson

Look, it's preseason. Let's not be getting all dirty right now. Putting a forearm on Cam Newton's helmet -- kind of wrenching his neck -- while presumably giving him a quick talking to isn't really the route to go. Especially after diving onto the pile late.

But Muhammad Wilkerson did it anyway.

It's not terrible, but ... it's preseason. And Wilkerson didn't really do anything on the play anyway, other than fall on top of Cam late.

Dustin Keller Injury: Jets TE Injures Hamstring

Jets tight end Dustin Keller left the game during New York's first drive against the Carolina Panthers with what looked like a hamstring injury. Keller hauled in a 24-yard catch from Mark Sanchez but looked like he pulled up just before he was tackled. He is on the sidelines and getting looked at by the Jets' doctors and will not return to the game.

Keller played in all 16 games for the Jets last season and caught a career-high 65 passes for 815 yards with five touchdowns. He has 213 receptions in his career for 2,559 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Here is a look at the play where Keller was injured.

For more on the Jets and Panthers, please be sure to check out our blogs Gang Green Nation and Cat Scratch Reader, respectively. Also click over to our Football Hub, SB Nation New York and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

49ers Vs. Broncos Game Recap: David Akers Outscores Peyton Manning As 49ers Win, 29-24

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 29-24 in an NFL preseason game Sunday afternoon on the strength of placekicker David Akers's left leg.

Akers was in midseason form, nailing five field goals, including two from 40-plus yards out. Three of Akers's successful kicks came in the fourth quarter, in which the 49ers outscored the Broncos 9-0 to stake claim to the victory. Akers outscored Peyton Manning, who threw two touchdown passes for the Broncos, 15-12.

Manning was in midseason form as well, as he completed 10-of-12 passes for 122 yards, and connected with wide receiver Eric Decker for two first-quarter scores. He was replaced by Caleb Hanie near the end of the opening quarter, and Hanie proceeded to throw a pick on his first drive. However, he would redeem himself in the Broncos' final possession before halftime, as he connected with fellow Colorado State alum Joel Dreessen for a five-yard touchdown to put the Broncos up 24-10. Hanie finished the game 8-of-12 for 92 yards.

The 49ers fought back immediately at the start of the second half, as they marched down the field for a four-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown scamper from running back Anthony Dixon. Akers took over from there, as the Niners put him in position to make some kicks with solid drives led by second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who went 4-for-4 for 80 yards. Meanwhile, the Broncos stalled on offense behind rookie QB Brock Osweiler, who completed just four of nine passes, for 27 yards.

San Francisco starting QB Alex Smith finished 5-of-7 for 69 yards and a touchdown. Dixon led all rushers in the game, running for 58 yards on 13 carries. The 49ers racked up 139 rushing yards overall.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver. And for more on the 49ers, check out Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

This Probably Counts As A Touchback

Peyton Manning's Best Preseason Game As A Bronco

Peyton Manning had his best preseason game to date in a Broncos uniform. He completed 10-of-12 passes for 122 yards and two touchdown passes.

There were two things that stood out to me.

First, Manning was accurate on a 38-yard deep pass to Lance Ball. One of the question marks in his game has been his arm strength as he continues to come back from multiple neck surgeries. Manning doesn't have to throw it 60 yards down field. He recognized Ball had a step on the defender and placed it in there perfectly. It's just one pass but it's a promising one.

Next he showed he could take a big hit. He was on the wrong end of a big one last week but this time 49ers linebacker Parys Haralson drilled him as he threw the ball. Haralson had a direct lane into Manning and dropped his shoulder and drove him into the ground. It's not often Manning gets de-cleated. He stepped right up after the sack and threw a touchdown pass on the next play.

Manning struggled at times in his first two preseason games as a Bronco but he looked like the Manning of old with three scoring drives in three opportunities.

Now sit back and watch Caleb Hanie finish this game out. Or as Broncos fans call it, hoping Manning doesn't get hurt.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver. And for more on the 49ers, check out Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

Peyton Manning Gets Up From Big Hit In 49ers-Broncos Game

Peyton Manning can take a hit. At least judging by the one he took from 49ers linebacker Parys Haralson on Sunday afternoon. Manning dropped back to pass and as he released the ball he was rocked by Haralson, a 255-pound linebacker.

A little bit of de-cleating action there. He threw the touchdown pass on the very next play.

Manning is expected to play the entire first half and that hit didn't keep him from getting the Broncos out to a 17-0 lead in the first half. He's shown he can go deep with a 38-yard pass earlier in the game and he's also shown he can take a big hit. Manning looks ready for the season.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver. And for more on the 49ers, check out Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

Peyton Manning Finally Throws A Touchdown

It's about time Peyton Manning caught a break.

The Broncos QB has three interceptions to no touchdowns in two preseason games in Denver. Finally that changed on Sunday. Manning and the Broncos went on a drive that saw no incompletions, a 38-yard deep ball to Lance Ball and 10-yard touchdown strike to Eric Decker.

What really sprung the drive was this key -- and extremely difficult -- catch from Brandon Stokley.

Manning was 6-for-6 on the drive that started on their own 12-yard line.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver. And for more on the 49ers, check out Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

Fantasy War Room: Offensive Line Injuries And Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

The SB Nation Fantasy War Room sponsored by Sprint is back at 4:00 p.m. ET. We will be here to provide live fantasy football advice as the 49ers and Broncos square off in Denver.

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49ers Vs. Broncos: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

All you need to know about the 49ers vs. Broncos preseason matchup.