NFL PRESEASON | Friday's other games

Cowboys 34, Texans 6
IRVING, Texas -- Quincy Carter showed Bill Parcells several reasons why he should remain in the running to become the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Playing the entire first half while co-frontrunner Chad Hutchinson watched, Carter overcame a slow start to lead a 96-yard touchdown drive. Just 14 seconds later, he threw a 30-yard touchdown pass. Parcells, coaching for the first time along the home sideline at Texas Stadium, showed more emotion over Carter's miscues -- but couldn't contain his excitement in the fourth quarter when sixth-round draft pick Zuriel Smith returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown. Parcells smiled wide and patted Smith on the back when he came to the bench. Carter was 6-for-6 for 90 yards on the long drive and helped keep it going with his feet. By dancing out of a near sack, Dallas (1-1) got a first down thanks to a penalty in the secondary and three plays later Troy Hambrick ran in from the 1. The Cowboys recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and cashed in immediately as Carter hit Antonio Bryant in the end zone on the first snap. Hambrick again helped his bid to replace Emmitt Smith at running back by wiping out blitzing linebacker Jamie Sharper. Carter finished 10-of-17 for 141 yards and left with a 17-3 halftime lead.
Jaguars 27, Dolphins 23
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Byron Leftwich spent more than three quarters on the sideline Friday night, wearing his helmet, pacing back and forth and trying to stay loose by occasionally stretching, throwing and jumping up and down. The nerves ended as soon as he entered the game. Leftwich, making his NFL debut, threw a touchdown pass with 1:02 remaining to lead Jacksonville over the Dolphins. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Leftwich showed a strong arm, good decision-making ability and lots of mobility -- everything the Jaguars (2-0) knew he had when they made him their quarterback of the future with the seventh overall pick in the draft. Leftwich ended a 19-day holdout this week, practiced just two days and then played the final nine minutes of the second preseason game. He was 7-of-10 passing for 84 yards and looked comfortable in the offense -- even though he played with several players not expected to make the final roster. He drove the Jaguars 70 yards on 10 plays in 3:11 for the game-winning score, a perfectly thrown corner pass to Donald Hayes.
Colts 21, Seahawks 7
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts' defense gave fans a glimpse of how good they could be. Few noticed. Playing in front of the smallest crowd to watch a game in Indianapolis, the defense forced five turnovers, had four sacks, scored one touchdown and set up another as the Colts coasted. Although more than 37,000 tickets were sold, only 26,741 came to the Colts' preseason home opener following an offseason filled with speculation the team may move to Los Angeles. The worst previous crowd in Indianapolis was 34,927 against the New York Jets in the strike-shortened season of 1987. The few fans who did show up saw a dominant performance -- and a team that appeared in midseason form just six days after struggling and blowing a lead in the final two minutes against Chicago. Peyton Manning connected on 10 of 15 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison caught five passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers 20, Giants 10
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- To no one's surprise, John Fox and the Carolina Panthers got the best of the New York Giants with defense. Safety Mike Minter scored on 43-yard fumble return in a big second quarter for Carolina in Fox's first game at Giants Stadium since resigning as the team's defensive coordinator to become the Panthers coach last season. John Kasay added field goals of 22 and 31 yards in a 13-point second quarter, and Rod Smart scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter as the Panthers (2-0) sent the Giants to their second straight preseason loss. Kerry Collins, who fumbled on Minter's touchdown after being hit on a blitz, threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jim Finn. Mike Hollis added 34-yard field goal for the Giants, who failed to get a first down in the second half with Jesse Palmer at quarterback. Outspoken tight end Jeremy Shockey left the game in the first half after bruising his ribs. He dropped two passes on the opening drive and finished with one catch for 8 yards. The game's biggest play was made by Panthers linebacker Will Witherspoon. He beat tight end Marcellus Rivers on a blitz and hit Collins as he was throwing. Minter caught the ball in the air and wasn't touched on his touchdown run for a 10-3 lead with 11:10 to play in the quarter. Collins, 11-of-19 for 127 yards, tied it with 3:38 left in the second quarter by completing all six of his passes on a 75-yard drive.
-- Associated Press