Associated Press
MIAMI ó Chad Pennington threw well from the pocket and also from the flanker position.
The wildcat was back Saturday night, contributing to a strong showing by the Miami Dolphins’ first-team offense in a 27-17 victory over Carolina.
The Dolphins (2-0) scored 10 points in Pennington’s three series. He went 8 for 11 for 105 yards, throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Brown and hitting Patrick Cobbs for a 35-yard gain out of the wildcat.
The Dolphins’ variation of the single wing also produced 18 yards in four running plays, with running back Brown taking the snap each time.
Carolina’s starters scored for the first time in the exhibition season when DeAngelo Williams broke four tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage, on a 25-yard touchdown run.
Carolina (0-2) committed only one turnover after having five in its opener, a loss to the New York Giants. But the Panthers’ run defense was soft for the second game in a row.
The wildcat rejuvenated the Dolphins last season, but they had kept it mostly under wraps in training camp before springing it on Carolina. The most elaborate play from the formation was a double handoff and pass, with Pennington coming off the flank to throw deep to a wide-open Cobbs.
That led to a field goal.
The Dolphins drove 60 yards on their first possession and scored on Pennington’s pass to Brown, who caught the ball at the 15 and juked past a defender.
Brown also carried seven times for 31 yards, and Ricky Williams carried three times for 21 yards, all in the opening half.
The Panthers’ first team converted two third-and-long situations on a 70-yard drive that ended with Williams’ touchdown. That was Carolina’s only score in three series with Jake Delhomme, who finished 5 for 7 for 47 yards.
Decori Birmingham scored on a 2-yard run for the Panthers after they recovered a fumble on a punt return. Carolina rookie Captain Munnerlyn had a 58-yard punt return but fumbled on a later runback.
Receiver Muhsin Muhammad sat out for Carolina because of a sore leg.
Redskins 17, Steelers 13
LANDOVER, Md. ó Rookie Chase Daniel, fighting the odds to earn a roster spot, threw two touchdown passes long after the starters had left the game, overcoming another difficult night for Washington’s first-team offense in Saturday’s 17-13 win.
Willie Parker had a 3-yard touchdown run for the Steelers.
With Ben Roethlisberger watching from the sideline ó unable to play after a teammate stepped on his Achilles’ tendon during practice this week ó Charlie Batch and the Pittsburgh starters played the first three drives
Browns 27, Lions 10
CLEVELAND ó Derek Anderson looked worthy of being a No. 1 quarterback. Rookie Matthew Stafford hardly looked like a No. 1 pick.
Anderson led Cleveland to its first offensive touchdown in seven games and stayed tight with Brady Quinn in their too-close-to-call quarterback competition, helping the Browns beat Stafford and the Detroit Lions.
Buccaneers 24, Jaguars 23
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ó Troy Williamson, a first-round bust in Minnesota who is looking to secure a roster spot in Jacksonville, caught two deep passes from David Garrard and finished with 147 yards receiving in a preseason loss.
Bears 17, Giants 3
CHICAGO ó Playing a game with Chicago for the first time at Soldier field, Jay Cutler was sharp from the outset Saturday night in leading the Bears to a 17-3 victory over the New York Giants.
Cutler completed 8 of 13 passes for 121 yards during his three series, leading TD drives of 80 and 92 yards as Chicago built a 17-0 lead.