EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Matt Simms, competing for the Jets’ No. 3 quarterback job, led four scoring drives and Kahlil Bell had two touchdown runs and New York beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20 in the teams’ preseason finale Thursday night.

With the Jets’ quarterback competition still uncertain, Geno Smith and Mark Sanchez didn’t play. But Simms certainly showed he might deserve to stick around.

The son of former Giants star Phil Simms, who had his share of big games against the Eagles, was 33 of 44 for 285 yards for the Jets (3-1).

Both Rex Ryan and the Eagles’ Chip Kelly rested their starters, which meant Michael Vick also sat this one out on Philadelphia’s sideline. Vick won the Eagles’ competition last week, earning the job ahead of Nick Foles.

Foles was 6 of 17 for 63 yards in two quarters for the Eagles (2-2) before being replaced by Matt Barkley.

BENGALS 27, COLTS 10: Andy Dalton led the Bengals to a touchdown in his only drive, and Josh Johnson threw for another in his bid to win the backup job as host Cincinnati ended the preseason with a victory over Indianapolis.

Advertisement

The Bengals (3-1) played most of their starters on offense and defense for one series only. Dalton’s brief appearance ended in Giovani Bernard’s 1-yard touchdown run.

The Colts (2-2) rested most of their starters, including quarterback Andrew Luck. He and Dalton joked with each other on the field before the game.

Matt Hasselbeck started for Indianapolis and led a 12-play drive to a field goal against most of the Bengals starters.

The Bengals’ starters moved the ball easily against a Colts defense of mostly backups during their one series.

LIONS 35, BILLS 13: Matt Leinart struggled in his debut for quarterback-depleted Buffalo, who closed the preseason with a loss at home to Detroit.

Looking like someone who’s had just three days practice, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner went 3 for 10 for 11 yards and two interceptions before being yanked after five possessions. That represents a concern for Buffalo (2-2), which scrambled to sign the 2006 first-round draft pick Sunday after losing its top two quarterbacks to injury.

Advertisement

First-round draft pick EJ Manuel is recovering from a left knee injury, while veteran Kevin Kolb is out indefinitely with a concussion.

Lions second- and third-string quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Kellen Moore threw two touchdown passes each in helping Detroit build a 35-3 lead at the half.

REDSKINS 30, BUCCANEERS 12: Pat White set up one touchdown with a 66-yard completion and ran 7 yards for another TD to help Washington win at Tampa.

Washington (4-0) finished off an unbeaten preseason for the first time in 28 years.

Coach Mike Shanahan rested most of his starters, including Robert Griffin III, who worked out for 30 minutes before walking off the field with Dr. James Andrews. Andrews was in town to examine the quarterback’s surgically repaired right knee.

Griffin, who’s been practicing without any reported setbacks, participated in the coin toss as a Redskins captain and watched the game from the sideline.

Advertisement

PANTHERS 25, STEELERS 10: Ted Ginn Jr. is showing he has something left to offer host Carolina, catching five passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Panthers over Pittsburgh.

In a game devoid of star power, Derek Anderson completed 10 of 15 passes for 220 yards, including TD strikes of 87 and 35 yards to Ginn, who’s looking to find a home after being run out of Miami and San Francisco.

Only a handful of starters played as both coaches took a long look at players further down the depth chart.

Rookie quarterback Landry Jones played the entire game for the Steelers, completing 16 of 35 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

JAGUARS 20, FALCONS 16: Jordan Todman ran for a touchdown for the second straight week and Mike Kafka threw a fourth-quarter scoring pass to Jeremy Ebert to lift Jacksonville to a win at Atlanta.

Todman, who appeared in only one game in his 2012 rookie season, was trying to take advantage of the void created when Justin Forsett missed the entire preseason with a toe injury. Todman had nine carries for 60 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown run, in his bid to win a backup job behind Maurice Jones-Drew.

Advertisement

Both teams held out most of their starters.

Josh Vaughn, trying to win a job as Steven Jackson’s backup, had a 65-yard touchdown run for the Falcons (0-4), who finished their second winless preseason in three years.

The Jaguars (1-3) took their first preseason win.

DOLPHINS 24, SAINTS 21: Drew Brees wore a uniform — and even eye black — but never played. Ryan Tannehill also watched from the sideline, laughing at the Kiss Cam when it showed during a timeout on the scoreboard video screen.

The final preseason game for the Saints and Dolphins was for reserves, and host Miami’s third-string quarterback Pat Devlin threw for 259 yards, including a 56-yard pass to Marvin McNutt on fourth-and-4 with 3:02 left for the winning score.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.