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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 23, 2009

Cutler crisp as Bears whip Giants, 17-3


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Chicago defensive end Alex Brown and safety Al Afalava tied up New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs in the second quarter.

JOHN SMIERCIAK | Associated Press

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HAWAI'I IN NFL

Lions LB Jordon Dizon (Waimea), 6 tackles.

Lions DE Ikaika Alama-Francis (Kalaheo, UH), 1 tackle, 1 assist.

Browns OLB Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin), 4 tackles.

Browns LB David Veikune (Campbell, UH), 1 assist.

Redskins QB Colt Brennan (UH), 3 of 5, 42 yards, 1 interception; 2 runs, -2 yards.

Dolphins WR Davone Bess (UH), 1 catch, 7 yards.

Bears S Al Afalava (Kahuku), 1 tackle, 1 assist.

Bears LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (UH), 1 tackle, 3 assists.

49ers DT Isaac Sopoaga (UH), 1 tackle.

49ers ILB Jeff Ulbrich (UH), 1 tackle.

Cardinals DB Aaron Francisco (Kahuku), 1 tackle.

Bills OLB Kawika Mitchell (Born in Honolulu), 2 tackles.

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CHICAGO — Jay Cutler showed why his arrival in Chicago has created such a stir.

Playing a game with the Bears for the first time at Soldier Field, Cutler was sharp from the outset last night in leading 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 and throwing for a score as Chicago (1-1) built a 17-0 lead.

"We're kind of coming together, myself and the line," Cutler said.

Cutler outplayed Eli Manning, who left after four series. Manning completed 7 of 10 passes for 62 yards. He was sacked twice, fumbled once — the Giants recovered — and was also called for intentional grounding.

The Giants (1-1) had a short practice week after beating Carolina on Monday night.

"That's no excuse. We were prepared and we looked at everything. We just didn't execute. Too many negative plays," Manning said.

On Cutler's first offensive series at Soldier Field, Cutler completed his first pass, a 27-yarder to his former Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett. He then hit a 10-yard pass to Devin Hester before a drop and an overthrow left him 2-for-4 on the opening series, one that ended with Robbie Gould's 44-yard field goal.

DOLPHINS 27, PANTHERS 17

MIAMI — Chad Pennington threw well from the pocket — and the flanker position. The wildcat was back, contributing to a strong showing by Miami's first-team offense in its win 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 team's variation of the single wing.

Jake Delhomme finished 5 for 7 for 47 yards for Carolina (0-2).

REDSKINS 17, STEELERS 13

LANDOVER, Md. — Pittsburgh's first-team offense scored a touchdown without Ben Roethlisberger and Washington (1-1) managed to get its first points of the preseason, albeit with the help of a fake punt and a fourth-string quarterback to beat Pittsburgh (1-1).

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.

Willie Parker had a 3-yard touchdown run for the Steelers. Pittsburgh limited Washington's Jason Campbell to one completion in a little more than one quarter of play, and Hawai'i's Colt Brennan was 3 of 5 for 42 yards and an interception.

BUCS 24, JAGUARS 23

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Troy Williamson's big game wasn't enough as Tampa Bay (1-1) beat Jacksonville (0-2).

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.

Tampa Bay's Byron Leftwich, playing in Jacksonville for the first time since the Jaguars dumped the former first-round draft pick following the 2007 preseason, moved the Buccaneers into Jacksonville territory in each of his three possessions and finished 6 of 12 for 63 yards.

BROWNS 27, LIONS 10

CLEVELAND — Derek 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 Matthew Stafford and Detroit (1-1) in its home exhibition opener.

Joshua Cribbs had an 84-yard TD punt return in the first half as the Browns (1-1) built a 20-0 lead. Rookie James Davis added an 81-yard TD run and 116 yards on 12 carries for Cleveland.

Anderson got the start from coach Eric Mangini and finished 8 of 13 for 130 yards with one interception.

Stafford, selected first by Detroit in April's draft, threw an interception on Detroit's first play and went 5 of 13 for 34 yards. Daunte Culpepper, competing with Stafford, went 10 of 16 for 86 yards.

PACKERS 31, BILLS 21

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay's new-look defense forced turnovers on three of Buffalo's first four possessions, and the Packers (2-0) pounced on the Bills (1-2).

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit seven straight passes to begin the game for Green Bay, finishing 8 of 9 for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The only potential bad news for the Packers came in the form of injuries to safety Nick Collins and backup quarterback Matt Flynn.

Starter Trent Edwards was 7 of 11 for 45 yards and an interception for the Bills, who were without injured receiver Terrell Owens.

Running back Marshawn Lynch was held to six yards on six carries for the Bills.

49ERS 21, RAIDERS 20

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith completed three of nine passes and threw an interception in what might have been his last chance to beat out Shaun Hill for San Francisco's starting quarterback job in the 49ers' win over Oakland (1-1).

Rookie Nate Davis led the Niners to three scores in the fourth quarter, with Kory Sheets' 5-yard run giving San Francisco a 21-14 lead. Charlie Frye scored on a 14-yard run for Oakland but threw an incompletion on the 2-point conversion attempt with 3:30 to go.

Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, has struggled when healthy before missing much of 2007 and all of last season with an injured shoulder.

Hill was 3 of 7 for 20 yards for San Francisco (2-0).

SAINTS 38, TEXANS 14

HOUSTON — Mike Bell had 10 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown to help New Orleans (2-0) beat Houston (1-1).

Bell and Pierre Thomas split time with the first team while Reggie Bush was out with a strained calf.

Drew Brees was 9 of 14 for 87 yards and a touchdown after missing three days of practice last week to attend his mother's funeral.

Houston's Andre Johnson had four receptions for 38 yards and New Orleans receiver Marques Colston had six receptions for 66 yards.

CHARGERS 17, CARDINALS 6

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona's starters managed just a field goal, set up by a game-opening 89-yard kickoff return by diminutive rookie LaRod Stephens-Howling, as San Diego (1-1) rolled to the win.

Stephens-Howling, a 5-foot-7 seventh-round pick out of Pittsburgh, also had a 63-yard kickoff return.

Kurt Warner completed 6 of 13 for 80 yards in Arizona's first home game since its Super Bowl appearance. He was intercepted by Antonio Cromartie, who stepped in front of Larry Fitzgerald for one of two picks the Chargers had in their own end zone to thwart scoring threats by the Cardinals (0-2).

SEAHAWKS 27, BRONCOS 13

SEATTLE — Kyle Orton's second preseason game as the Broncos' starter was mostly a reassuring answer to his dismal debut as Seattle (2-0) beat Denver (0-2).

Orton completed 16 of his first 19 throws with a touchdown before he relapsed into another mistake against Seattle.

Matt Hasselbeck was even better, completing 16 of 23 throws with two touchdowns in his two quarters. He also withstood the first hits on his recuperating back in nine months.

Hasselbeck, who missed nine games with a bad back last season, plopped a 34-yard touchdown pass into the arms of rookie Deon Butler on the opening possession. He closed his night with a sharp two-minute drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring throw with new wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.