So much for worrying about Tom Brady’s left knee.
The New England quarterback, who left practice on Wednesday after he went down with a bruised knee, threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola on the Patriots’ first drive and followed with a two-point conversion pass to Zach Sudfeld in the Patriots’ 25-21 preseason victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night in Foxborough, Mass.
Brady, wearing a light brace on the knee, finished 8-for-8 passing for 72 yards on the opening 80-yard march. He connected on three more passes during the next series before his first incompletion. Brady was 11-for-12 for 107 yards when Ryan Mallett took over early in the second quarter.
The injury news wasn’t as positive for the Buccaneers. Running back Doug Martin left the game in the first half with a possible head injury after he took a knee to the helmet.
Tampa Bay starting quarterback Josh Freeman had a rough night, completing 2 of 3 passes for eight yards and getting sacked three times during two possessions.
Bills 20, Vikings 16
Rookie E.J. Manuel continued to make a strong bid for the Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback job, completing 10 of 12 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown in a 20-16 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night in Orchard Park, N.Y.
After veteran quarterback Kevin Kolb struggled in the first half, Manuel opened the third quarter and completed all six passes on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a 4-yard touchdown strike to Brad Smith.
Kolb was 10-for-17 for 66 yards and an interception on six possessions.
Jerry Hughes led the Buffalo defense with two sacks and a forced fumble. Bills linebacker recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Without running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings struggled on offense. Starting quarterback Christian Ponder was 5-for-12 for 53 yards in five series. Backup Matt Cassel went 4 of 8 for 29 yards in four series.
49ers 15, Chiefs 13
B.J. Daniels threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Jacobs with 2:04 left and Phil Dawson kicked three field goals as the San Francisco 49ers rallied for a 15-13 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night in Kansas City, Mo.
Dawson connected from 55 yards in the second quarter and again in the third. He also made a 42-yarder in the first quarter.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, facing his former team for the first time, managed to complete only 7 of 16 passes for 62 yards while playing the entire first half.
Kansas City’s points came on a 104-yard kickoff return by Quintin Demps in the first quarter and two Ryan Succop field goals.
Saints 28, Raiders 20
Drew Brees revved up the New Orleans offense in the first half and the Saints held on for a 28-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night in New Orleans.
Brees connected on 14 of 18 passes for 202 yards in the first half as the Saints built a 23-0 lead. Brees threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to rookie Kenny Stills and had a 52-yard completion to Nick Toon that led to Mark Ingram’s 2-yard touchdown run.
The New Orleans defense sacked Raiders quarterback Matt Flynn five times, but he finished 12-for-16 passing for 124 yards and a 19-yard touchdown to Denarius Moore in the first half.
Raiders cornerback Tracy Porter, a former Saints player, left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury.