Dolphins 26, Buccaneers 24

Tampa, Fla.: Miami third-stringer Skylar Thompson threw for 218 yards and one touchdown to help the Dolphins open the preseason with win over Tampa Bay.

Jason Sanders kicked four field goals, including a 53-yarder that put the Dolphins ahead for good with just under seven minutes remaining.

Kyle Trask drove the Bucs into position to potentially win the game, but Jose Borregales’ 49-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced away as time expired.

With Tom Brady taking what Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles described as a pre-planned break from training camp for personal reasons, Trask and No. 2 quarterback Blaine Gabbert shared playing time against the Dolphins.

Bills 27, Colts 24

Orchard Park, N.Y.: Matt Ryan’s pass attempts were much like his Indianapolis Colts’ preseason debut: relatively short and efficient.

Tyler Bass made a 46-yard field goal as time expired as Buffalo scored on three consecutive possessions in the final 8:10 to rally from a 14-point deficit. .

Buffalo won its ninth straight preseason outing, which ranks as the NFL’S second-longest active streak.

Panthers 23, Commanders 21

Landover, Md.: Even though the Carolina Panthers are another day closer to announcing a starting quarterback before the beginning of the regular season, the first exhibition game did not do much to drastically change the status of the competition.

Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and Baker Mayfield was solid aside from a fumbled snap in Carolina’s preseason-opening victory.

Mayfield started and completed four of seven passes for 45 yards. He scurried for 3 yards on one play and botched the exchange with center Pat Elflein just inside the red zone, contributing to the first drive stalling and ending with a field goal.

Steelers 32, Seahawks 25

Pittsburgh: Kenny Pickett threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Vaughns with 3 seconds to play and Pittsburgh beat Seattle.

Pickett, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2022, is competing with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to replace retired two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger guided the franchise for 18 seasons and led the Steelers to three Super Bowls.

Pickett, the former University of Pittsburgh standout, played the second half and finished 13 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Texans 17, Saints 13

Houston: Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass on his only possession in his debut with New Orleans, but the Saints fell to Houston after a touchdown in the final minute.

Dalton, who joined the Saints after spending last season with the Bears, started with Jameis Winston out after he injured his foot in practice Monday.

Dalton was a perfect 5 for 5 for 51 yards. He threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Washington to put New Orleans up 7-0 early.