DeBerg Is ‘Rusty’ in Return

Steve DeBerg’s return to the NFL was a rough one, but it was good enough for Atlanta Falcon Coach Dan Reeves.

DeBerg, a 17-year NFL veteran making his first appearance since 1993, couldn’t lead Atlanta to a score, with starter Chris Chandler’s 29-yard pass play to Terance Mathis accounting for only touchdown in the Falcons’ 7-3 exhibition victory over the Detroit Lions Friday night at Pontiac, Mich.

DeBerg, 44, entered the game with 9:50 left in the second quarter and was unable to get a sustained drive going. He was sacked three times, one resulting in a fumble the Falcons (1-1) recovered, and was 6-of-11 passing for 39 yards.

“Steve was rusty. He’s been out of the game for a while but all that I saw in him can be corrected,” Reeves said. “He got knocked down a lot.”

Said DeBerg: “I wish I had a little more time in the pocket. I saw some long ones I wanted to try, but a little bit of it was me not moving well enough in the pocket.”

Barry Sanders played three series for the Lions (1-1), getting 52 yards in seven carries. Jason Hanson missed two field goals and had one blocked.

*

Carolina’s John Kasay made on all four of his field goal attempts to run his exhibition streak to nine, but quarterback Kerry Collins may have suffered a broken nose in the Panthers’ 12-7 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Collins, who suffered a broken jaw in an exhibition game and missed two regular-season games last year, left the game with an apparent broken nose just before halftime. It was was not announced how Collins, who will have X-rays today, got the injury.

Carolina is 2-0, Buffalo 0-2.

*

Rookie quarterback Brian Griese threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Justin Armour with 4:21 left in the game to lead the Denver Broncos to a 17-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Denver.

After an opening scoring drive led by John Elway and capped by Terrell Davis’ three-yard run, the Broncos struggled until Griese, a third-round draft selection from Michigan, directed the Broncos (2-0) on a four-play, 81-yard game-winning scoring drive.

The Saints are 0-2.

*

Rookie running back Tavian Banks turned a broken play into a 59-yard touchdown run, and James Stewart rushed for 70 yards in nine first-quarter carries as the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the New York Giants, 24-10, at Jacksonville, Fla.

Midway through the third quarter, Banks--a fourth-round draft pick from Iowa--had no hole on an off-tackle play to the right and reversed field, slipping through the line and using a block from receiver Willie Jackson to break clear on his touchdown run for Jacksonville (1-1).

Backup quarterback Kent Graham had 74-yard scoring pass to Amani Toomer for the Giants (1-1).

Kickoff was delayed by an hour because of lightning.

*

Third-team quarterback Koy Detmer revived Philadelphia’s offense after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive starters dominated, throwing three second-half touchdown passes as the Eagles rallied for a 21-17 victory at Philadelphia.

The Steelers led 17-0 in the third quarter before Detmer, who was 18-of-28 passing for 217 yards, connected with Karl Hankton for two touchdowns and Antwuan Wyatt for another.

The Eagles are 1-1, the Steelers 1-2.

*

Jake Plummer threw two touchdown passes and Mario Bates set up his four-yard scoring run in the second quarter with a 44-yard kickoff return as the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Chicago Bears, 27-24, at Tempe, Ariz.

Bam Morris scored Chicago’s touchdowns on runs of two and five yards.

The Cardinals are 1-1, the Bears 0-2.