Mon, Aug 30, 2004 - Page 18 News List

Schaub proves a winning backup plan

HABITUAL PLAYMAKER Matt Schaub passed for three touchdowns for the second week running, standing in for Michael Vick, who was out with a hamstring injury

AP , ATLANTA

A Cleveland Browns player on Saturday tackles Kansas City Chiefs player Omar Easy, right, in their NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

PHOTO: EPA

For the second straight week, Matt Schaub passed for three touchdowns, leading the Atlanta Falcons past the Cincinnati Bengals and their young quarterback, Carson Palmer, 37-10, in a preseason game on Saturday night.

Michael Vick, expected to play the first half, was held out after aggravating a hamstring injury during pregame warmups.

For the second straight week, Schaub was a winning backup plan.

Guiding the Falcons to a 27-7 halftime lead, Schaub completed 14 of 20 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. The rookie from Virginia completed his first six passes.

Playing behind Vick in last week's 27-24 preseason win over Minnesota, Schaub passed for 205 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Vick first strained the hamstring on Aug. 5, and he irritated the injury in last week's win over Minnesota.

The Falcons' first-round draft pick, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, left the game late in the first half with a left hip injury.

Ravens 17, Lions 6

In Baltimore, Chester Taylor ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and the Ravens got a solid performance from their depleted defense.

Cornerback Chris McAlister remains a holdout, and the Ravens were without injured starters Anthony Weaver, Peter Boulware, Marques Douglas and Corey Fuller. But with middle linebacker Ray Lewis leading the way, Baltimore (2-1) did not yield a touchdown for the second time in three games.

Taylor ran for an 84-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, giving Baltimore a 10-6 lead. It was the first of 10 carries for Taylor, the backup to 2003 NFL rushing leader Jamal Lewis.

Using their starting offense only in the first half, the Lions (1-2) failed to reach the end zone, but got two field goals from Jason Hanson.

The crowd of 69,552 was the largest to see a preseason game in Baltimore.

Bucs 17, Dolphins 10

In Tampa, Florida, Chris Simms tightened his grip on Tampa Bay's backup quarterback job, and Ryan Nece returned a fourth-quarter interception 55 yards for a touchdown.

Simms completed 11 of 13 passes for 145 yards to remain well ahead of Brian Griese for the No. 2 spot behind Brad Johnson. The second-year pro was 4-of-4 for 76 yards in a 78-yard drive that Earnest Graham finished with a 2-yard TD run.

Nece's interception off Sage Rosenfels snapped a 10-10 tie midway through the fourth quarter. The son of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott raced up the right sideline untouched with help from Corey Ivy's block on Rosenfels near the goal line.

A.J. Feeley scored on a 1-yard dive and Olindo Mare kicked a 28-yard field goal for Miami (1-2).

Receiver Marty Booker, acquired from Chicago last week in a trade for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, made his debut for the Dolphins. He had two receptions, including a 17-yarder from Feeley in the second quarter.

Colts 30, Bills 17

In Indianapolis, Mike Doss recovered a fumbled punt return and blocked another punt that went for a touchdown, Dominic Rhodes returned a kickoff 84 yards to set up another score and Mike Vanderjagt kicked three field goals.

The victory was hardly by design. Again the Colts' high-octane offense frequently backfired, generating just one scoring drive. Again Peyton Manning looked out of sync. And again Indianapolis (2-1) committed far too many mistakes with two interceptions, two fumbles and seven penalties, three on the game's first series.

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