Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) signals at the line of scrimmage against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster))
CINCINNATI -- Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass in relief of Joe Burrow, Evan McPherson kicked three field goals and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Detroit Lions 16-14 Thursday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Cincinnati Coach Zac Taylor got his starters at least three plays. Burrow and the first-string offensive line played two series, with the franchise quarterback going 5 of 6 for 39 yards.
Detroit's Dan Campbell didn't play most of his starters, including quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Offensive tackle Blake Miller, taken with the 17th overall pick in the NFL Draft, was in for 33 snaps, all in the first half.
Luke Altmyer played most of the game and went 13 of 22 for 130 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The undrafted rookie directed a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, capped by his 24-yard pass to Tarik Black with 1:35 remaining. Altmyer's two-point conversion on a keeper got the Lions within 16-14.
Cincinnati recovered the onside kick but went three-and-out and punted. Russ Yeast then picked off Altmyer at the Lions 35.
Detroit got a pair of first-half field goals from Jake Bates on a sloppy night for the offense. The Lions committed two turnovers and also turned it over on downs at the Cincinnati 29 late in the first quarter.
The Lions drove to the Bengals 33 on the first series before Jordan Battle picked off Altmyer at the 25 after the pass went off the hands of wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (Arkansas Razorbacks).
The Bengals turned a Lions turnover into a touchdown in the second quarter. A bad handoff between Altmyer and Jacob Saylors was recovered by defensive end Cashius Howell, Cincinnati's second-round pick, at the Lions 7.
Two plays later, Flacco connected with rookie tight end Jack Endries on a 4-yard screen pass to make it 10-0. Flacco finished 5 of 8 for 51 yards.
Third-string QB Josh Johnson was 10 of 19 for 84 yards.
CARDINALS 27, RAIDERS 14
LAS VEGAS -- No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza threw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut for the Las Vegas Raiders in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Heisman Trophy winner led one touchdown drive for the Raiders (1-0) in four series -- not including a kneel-down at the end of the first half -- and finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and a 6-yard TD pass to Jack Bech.
Mendoza became the first top overall draft selection to throw a touchdown pass in his first preseason game since 2018 when Cleveland's Baker Mayfield had two against the New York Giants.
Mendoza barely missed a second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, throwing beyond the reach of Deven Thompkins. But Mendoza also was sharp at times, threading a 19-yard pass in the second quarter between three defenders to fellow rookie Malik Benson.
The expected rematch of college football national championship quarterbacks didn't happen because the Cardinals (1-1) decided not to play Carson Beck, who has sore ribs. Mendoza led Indiana to a 27-21 victory over Beck and Miami in the title game in January.
Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby also did not play, which wasn't completely unexpected after Coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that his playing status was to be determined. Crosby, who underwent knee surgery in January, has participated in training camp.
Teammate Jermod McCoy, who hasn't played in nearly two years because of a torn ACL, played with the second-team defense at cornerback. He was the primary defender on two Cardinals touchdowns.
Each team's starting quarterback played one series, both resulting in touchdowns.
Las Vegas' Kirk Cousins was 5 of 6 for 50 yards and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Mayer. Arizona's Jacoby Brissett completed all five passes for 44 yards and a 7-yard TD to Marvin Harrison Jr.
Rookie Jeremiyah Love, drafted third overall by the Cardinals, made his preseason debut and rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries.
CHARGERS 27, TEXANS 7
HOUSTON -- Amar Johnson ran for two touchdowns and had a 55-yard reception to lead the Los Angeles Chargers to a win over Houston in the teams' preseason opener.
Most of the starters for both teams, including the quarterbacks -- Houston's C.J. Stroud and Los Angeles' Justin Herbert -- sat out.
Johnson scored on a 7-yard run that put the Chargers on top 10-7 in the second quarter on a drive led by backup quarterback Trey Lance. Johnson, an undrafted free agent entering his second season, scored again on a 1-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter and ran in the two-point conversion that pushed the lead to 21-7.
He put the team in scoring position with his 55-yard reception from D.J. Uiagalelei on the previous play.
Davis Mills started for the Texans and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jared Wayne on the first series, during which he played with the starting offensive line before being replaced by Graham Mertz.
But he was forced back into action to start the second half after Mertz was injured with 2 seconds left in the second quarter. There was no immediate word on the nature of his injury.
Mills finished the game and was 9 of 15 for 82 yards.
Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, was 12 of 20 for 164 yards with an interception.
Uiagalelei made it 27-7 with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross with about 10 minutes remaining.
COLTS 13, PATRIOTS 13
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Anthony Richardson ran for a touchdown but had two turnovers in his first action since early last season as Indianapolis played to a tie with New England in both teams' preseason opener.
New England backup quarterback Tommy DeVito threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams. Kindle Vildor and John Saunders Jr. each had interceptions for the Patriots, who rested Drake Maye and the majority of their starters.
Richardson scored on a 1-yard sneak for Indianapolis. He finished 11 of 14 for 145 yards but lost a fumble and had a pass tipped by receiver Coleman Owen and intercepted by Vildor.
With quarterback Daniel Jones among the host of Colts starters who got the night off, Richardson -- who appeared in only two games last season -- got the start.
Indy's No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft is hoping to solidify the backup job behind Jones. In 2024, Richardson had the lowest completion rate of any starter in the NFL.
The Colts had four turnovers and trailed most of the night before tying the game with 1:16 left on a 61-yard field goal by Spencer Shrader.
The Patriots moved into Indianapolis territory on a 19-yard pass from Behren Morton to Kobe Prentice. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Mekhi Rodgers moved the ball to the Colts 31. But Anthony Borregales' 49-yard field goal attempt with 13 seconds missed wide left.
There is no overtime in NFL preseason games.
Coach Mike Vrabel was on the sideline for New England after a trying offseason in which he sought counseling after numerous photos were published of him with longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
DeVito completed 13 of 22 passes for 128 yards in a solid first half. He was the third quarterback on New England's roster last season behind Maye and Joshua Dobbs after being claimed off waivers in August 2025. He then became the primary backup in March after Dobbs was released, and DeVito was given a two-year extension.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) throws against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) throws against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (25) tries to get around Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (25) tries to get around Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries (84) scores on a four-yard touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries (84) scores on a four-yard touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)