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Here are some thoughts on the Miami Dolphins' 20-9 victory against the Washington Redskins:

What it means: After an awful 0-7 start, the Dolphins have won two straight. The victory against the Redskins also was Miami's first home win at Sun Life Stadium this season. The Dolphins are playing hard in the second half of the season under embattled head coach Tony Sparano, who continues to audition for his job beyond this season.

What I liked: Miami running back Reggie Bush continues to have his best stretch of the season. Bush didn't register a lot of yards. But he scored both of Miami's touchdowns on the ground, including a fourth-quarter score with 6:17 remaining to seal the game. The Dolphins' defense also took advantage of Washington's rotating door at quarterback. Former Dolphins quarterback John Beck didn't play in his return to Miami. He was benched Sunday in favor of Rex Grossman, who struggled and threw two costly interceptions for Washington.

What I didn't like: There's not much to complain about with Miami's performance. But if I had to nitpick, Miami starting quarterback Matt Moore didn't play as well as last week. He had two key turnovers in the first half (one interception, one fumble) that kept Washington in the game until the fourth quarter. Moore finished with 209 yards and two turnovers. He needs to be more consistent in taking care of the football.

What's next: The Dolphins (2-7) will host the Buffalo Bills (5-4) in their first of two meetings this season. With Buffalo struggling and Miami playing its best football of the season, it could be anyone's game next week at Sun Life Stadium.

BEREA, Ohio -- When you think of the face of the 2011 Cleveland Browns, high-profile president Mike Holmgren is the first person who comes to mind.

After Holmgren, quarterback Colt McCoy, receiver/kick returner Josh Cribbs and tailback Peyton Hillis might be next. They're among the few Browns players known on a national level. McCoy made his name at the University of Texas, Cribbs is a former Pro Bowler, and Hillis has a chance to become the "Madden NFL 12" cover boy next week following a breakout 2010 season in which he rushed for 1,177 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

But as you continue down the list, eventually you will come across arguably the most important person in the organization: general manager Tom Heckert.

Holmgren has final say in Cleveland. But he is not the person laying the groundwork for the team behind the scenes.

Quietly, Heckert and his staff have worked hard to add talent to what was once a very thin roster. Last year, the Browns signed key veteran free agents such as tight end Benjamin Watson and linebacker Scott Fujita, in addition to completing a cunning trade with the Denver Broncos for Hillis in exchange for former Browns quarterback Brady Quinn.

But the draft is where Heckert has built his reputation.

Heckert joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001 as director of player personnel and worked his way up to general manager five years later. During his stint, Philadelphia went to four consecutive NFC championship games and made the playoffs in seven of Heckert's nine seasons in the front office. He had a major hand in the Eagles' acquisition of recent draft picks such as tailback LeSean McCoy, tight end Brent Celek, quarterback Kevin Kolb and receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

Heckert continued his draft success in Cleveland last season. The Browns acquired three starters in the first three rounds -- first-round corner Joe Haden, second-round safety T.J. Ward and McCoy in the third round.

Now the Browns have a young nucleus to build around as Heckert tries to work his magic in Year 2.

"I think last year we did a pretty good job," Heckert said in his pre-draft news conference Thursday. "Media-wise there were questions whether T.J. was worth the pick, and we said 'this guy is a good football player. He is going to come in here and start for us and he is worth that pick.' You can try to get cute and say maybe he'll be there later in the second round, so you try to trade down and you lose him. How stupid is that? If you like the guy, take him. Don't try to get too cute."

Getting cute is not what Heckert is about, and he definitely hasn't put himself out there to receive all the credit.

This week the Browns notified the local media that Heckert would hold a solo news conference, and people noticed that the charismatic Holmgren wasn't on the schedule. It was one of the few times since joining the Browns that Heckert addressed the media without the shadow of Holmgren looming over him, presumably to help raise Heckert's low profile.

Working in the shadows is nothing new for Heckert. Eagles head coach Andy Reid commanded the spotlight in Philadelphia while Heckert worked diligently behind the scenes to help find great players year after year.

Heckert's current boss has made it a point to express his appreciation.

"Tom Heckert is the real deal," Holmgren said recently. "The people that work with him, our personnel department, they do their jobs and they do them very well. If I put on my coach hat for a moment, that's a real encouragement to Pat [Shurmur] and the coaches."

This year's draft may go down as one of the most important of the Holmgren-Heckert regime. Cleveland holds eight draft selections, including the No. 6 overall pick in the first round.

The Browns are coming off back-to-back 5-11 seasons, but there is optimism that Cleveland is finally heading in the right direction. If things go as planned for the Browns, this may be the highest draft pick for Heckert and Holmgren in the next several years. In what's considered a deep and talented draft, the Browns cannot afford to miss with their top pick.

"If we end up staying at where we're picking, we are going to get a good football player," Heckert said confidently. "There are six guys, and we are going to get a good football player. Obviously you don't want to be picking up there all the time, but that's the nice thing about it."

The mountain the Browns are trying to climb is steep.

The rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are unrelenting within the division. They are well-run organizations, perennial contenders in the AFC, and they don't make many mistakes in personnel. That raises the bar for Cleveland to do the same when finding players.

After several front-office failures over the past dozen years, Heckert's track record and experience as general manager give the Browns their best chance. But to make up ground in the AFC North, Cleveland must have another solid draft for the second year in a row, which is not an easy task.

Any big mistakes next week could keep the Browns at the bottom of the pack. So the pressure is on.

"Just try to not force anything," Heckert said of his draft philosophy. "It's easier said than done. ... Once the board is set, I don't think anyone is going to sit there and start jumping guys off their draft board. It happens in the whole process where you may say 'whatever the position is we need this,' so you maybe make the guy better than he is. You just have to be careful of doing that. It happens. I've been guilty of it, just like everyone else. It's a tough thing to do, but you have to be smart about it."

Receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are known as much for their boisterous personalities as they are for their immense talent. But this high-profile tandem has never played together on the same team -- until now.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed Owens before training camp, sparking questions and sending shockwaves through the NFL. Can this pair coexist in Cincinnati? Is Owens the missing ingredient in the Bengals' struggling passing game?

ESPN.com AFC North blogger James Walker and The Football Scientist, KC Joyner, debate whether this duo will work well together in 2010.

James Walker: KC, let me start right away by presenting the facts. This pair has combined for 1,690 receptions, 24,903 yards, 206 touchdowns and 12 Pro Bowls. There cannot be questions about their production on the field, because Ochocinco and Owens are among the most consistently productive receivers of the past decade.

Owens gets a bum rap for his 2009 totals. Let's not forget who the quarterbacks were for the Buffalo Bills. I don't know if any receiver could make the Pro Bowl with Ryan Fitzpatrick starting a majority of the season. Trent Edwards began the year, and he’s nothing to write home about, either. Still, Owens stayed quiet and played football, recording 55 receptions for 829 yards (15.1 yards per catch average) and five touchdowns. Even if the Bengals get that same production this year from Owens, Cincinnati could be playoff bound, because Ochocinco will do the heavy lifting as the Bengals' No. 1 receiver for quarterback Carson Palmer.

I'm sure we will touch on the personality and locker room concerns later. But I wanted to point out right away that there's no reason to believe this tandem won't be dangerous on the field.

KC Joyner: James, not to be a buzzkill, but using Owens and Ochocinco's historical numbers really isn't relevant here. Marvin Harrison is one of the most productive receivers over the past decade as well and yet no team is counting on him to lead its receiving corps.

The issue with Owens isn't that the Buffalo offense crushed his numbers. His totals have been on a slide for three years now, as his receptions have steadily dropped (81 to 69 to 55) along with his yardage (1,355 to 1,052 to 829) and touchdowns (15 to 10 to five).

The Dallas Cowboys let him go because offensive coordinator Jason Garrett found out the only way to get Owens open on a consistent basis anymore was to use picks, bunch/stack formations and motion tricks. Buffalo didn't use those subterfuges last year and history says Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski won't do that either.

JW: I think you're making two major oversights, KC. First, Owens didn't have another perennial Pro Bowl receiver on the opposite end in Dallas or Buffalo to take the pressure off as Ochocinco will. Those two will help each other. You can't double-team both players and each will win against single coverage. That's the sign of a great tandem.

Second, the Bengals are not making T.O. the focal point of their offense as the Cowboys and Bills did. So I think some of those comparisons don't add up. Owens is now a complementary piece to Cincinnati's passing game that already has a Pro Bowl receiver (Ochocinco) and a strong running game. Owens as a No. 2 receiver is a great role for him at this stage of his career.

But enough talk about Ochocinco and Owens on the field. I'm sure you have questions about these two coexisting in the same locker room, correct?

KC: There is ample statistical evidence that Owens would have a lot of trouble against his cornerback matchups all season even if he had Jerry Rice in his prime opposite him, but you hit the nail on the head with the real reason adding Owens is a bad idea. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis sometimes seems to approach his job less like he is coaching a football team and more like he is running the Lewis school for wayward players.

It is as I wrote in Scientific Football 2007, "Lewis strikes me as a man who has a soft spot for being a father figure to players. I also believe that Lewis subscribes to the philosophy that people are generally good. The combination of these two traits means that he enjoys mentoring younger players and wants to believe that, with help and support, any player can be turned around. Because of this, Lewis tends to gravitate toward players other people would view as risks. If Lewis' heart is in the right place, his approach to these players could be creating something of a vicious cycle. If you are a parent, you can relate to this. You want your kids to behave and do what they are supposed to do. They want to keep you happy but when they behave, you don't pay them as much attention as you do when they aren't behaving. They quickly figure out that the way to get your attention all the time is to act up all of the time. Some of Lewis' players may have a similar mindset. I think they know that the best way to get his attention is to appeal to his mentoring side, so they end up doing things that they shouldn't in order to get his father-figure side to come out."

That would explain why the Bengals would pick up an aging veteran on the downside of his career who has a history of being a divisive locker-room presence. Lewis thinks he can turn around Owens but, in my estimation, Owens has absolutely no interest in whatever personality fixes Lewis is proposing. It's a no-win situation for Cincinnati unless Owens turns around his subpar on-field performance, and that isn't a likely scenario.

JW: I cover the Bengals, KC, and I can tell you Cincinnati taking in character risks and providing multiple chances is much more a creation of owner Mike Brown than it is Lewis. But that's a story for another day.

With Owens you get the player and the persona, and although I wouldn't venture to say he's a fit for all 32 NFL teams, there are plenty of reasons why he will mesh well in Cincinnati.

For starters, Ochocinco and Palmer lobbied to get Owens. That gives T.O. instant credibility in Cincinnati's locker room when its most well-known players are backing Owens from Day 1. Also, Ochocinco and Owens are great friends. They’re happy to be together for the first time in their careers, which means these two will not bicker over who's the top receiver. Don't forget Owens is playing on a one-year deal and will be on his best behavior.

Finally, if any team knows how to handle Owens, it's the Bengals. They've had plenty of practice over the years with Ochocinco, and six Pro Bowls later, I think that has worked out pretty well for Cincinnati. Why can't Owens?

KC: For all of the success that Brown and/or Lewis have had with players, they've had plenty of failures as well. The successes also almost always stem from players who have elite skills. Owens used to possess talents of that level, but some metrics from last year show that is no longer the case.

The marker for top-of-the-line cornerback play is to allow a yards per attempt (YPA) total of less than 7 yards. That will typically place a cornerback in the upper third of the league in that category. When Owens faced corners of that caliber last year, he gained only 3.9 YPA. That ranked tied for 77th among wide receivers last year. To put it another way, there were only eight wideouts who fared worse in that metric. Owens is slated to face seven cornerbacks of that caliber this year, so there is a good chance he will do next to nothing in nearly half of the Bengals' contests.

As to the idea that being paired with Ochocinco will help Owens here, think again. Ochocinco was one of the players who tied Owens at 77th in that red-rated CB YPA total. Because he has six red cornerbacks on his schedule, he will be hard-pressed to do anything to assist Owens.

Maybe the best way to close this out is to imagine what would happen if the matchups cause both of these guys to have subpar seasons. If one prima donna can fracture a locker room, imagine the damage two could do. It's the kind of thing that could take a great turnaround story like the 2009 Bengals and turn it into a cautionary tale about taking on too many personnel personality risks.

With the preseason coming to a close this week, here are seven notes and observations on the AFC North:

• Are the Pittsburgh Steelers lacking discipline? Their first-team defense uncharacteristically had four personal fouls Sunday in a 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. Two were by second-year cornerback Keenan Lewis, who was subsequently benched and earned a spot in coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse. Lewis also made a bad situation worse by reportedly punching through a glass sign after the game. If you add cornerback Ike Taylor's fight last week against the New York Giants that cost him $10,000, Pittsburgh is having problems keeping its cool lately.
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Ron Chenoy/US PresswireJames Farrior lost his helmet during a play in Sunday night's game.
• I'm noticing an unusual amount of players losing their helmets this preseason. The two most high-profile occurrences were with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Sunday with Steelers linebacker James Farrior. Both players suffered cuts to the head and were knocked out of the game. These are not isolated incidents. I've seen several preseason games this summer where helmets are dangerously flying off at an alarming rate.
• Baltimore's pass protection is not as sharp as expected. The Giants recorded five total sacks against the Ravens Saturday and the pocket overall wasn't consistently solid. At times, it was miscommunications. Other times New York simply outplayed Baltimore up front. We're not convinced Tony Moll is the answer at right tackle. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck had his way with Moll on several occasions. Baltimore tackles Oniel Cousins and/or Jared Gaither need to get healthy quickly.
• We liked what we saw from Haruki Nakamura covering receivers in the slot. For a safety, he has pretty quick feet to keep up with receivers and make plays on the ball. Nakamura is considered an experiment in the slot until Baltimore's secondary gets healthy. But based on his performance, it's looking pretty good so far.
• The Cleveland Browns have an update on safety Nick Sorensen. The bad news is he suffered a concussion Saturday against the Detroit Lions. But the good news is he is improving. Sorensen was not at practice Monday, and according to Browns coach Eric Mangini he will be resting for "a while."
• Speaking of Mangini, this will be his first year putting together a 53-man roster with new president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. Cleveland currently has a mix of players leftover from the previous Mangini-George Kokinis regime and the new Holmgren-Heckert regime, setting up an interesting dynamic this week. Mangini will have his input and opinion on who stays and who goes, but Heckert and Holmgren will have the final say.
• Cincinnati's receiver position is somewhat clearer now with Antonio Bryant's release. Cincinnati has a lot of depth at receiver, where six (maybe seven) could make the team. Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell are four locks. But at least two roster spots remain open for receivers Quan Cosby, Jerome Simpson, Matt Jones and Dezmon Briscoe. An educated guess is Cosby is in, making it a three-way tossup between Simpson, Jones and Briscoe.

Here are observations from Saturday night's preseason action in the AFC North:

Bills 35, Bengals 20

The Good

• Cincinnati's first-team offense doubled its touchdown output this preseason with two touchdown drives. With new faces like Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham, the Bengals' offense has been a work in progress. It showed positive signs against Buffalo as quarterback Carson Palmer connected on touchdown passes to Gresham and receiver Chad Ochocinco. Palmer had his best preseason game to date, completing 9 of 11 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
• Bengals starting tailback Cedric Benson also had his best game of the preseason. He rushed for 50 yards on eight carries. Benson is running hard, but hasn't found many holes in limited carries this preseason. He finally broke off a nice run of 20 yards against Buffalo and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

The Bad

• The Bengals allowed too many points to a Buffalo offense that's not very good. Rookie tailback C.J. Spiller rushed for two first-half touchdowns, giving the Bills a 21-7 lead at intermission. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was near-perfect, completing 13 of 17 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. Cincinnati's defense was often one step behind Buffalo's offense Saturday. Expect Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to get after his unit in practice this week.
• The Bengals have been sloppy with penalties, an issue that plagued them last season and has continued in the preseason. Cincinnati recorded 12 penalties for 122 yards, which is high even for a preseason game. Cincinnati cannot expect to suddenly "turn it on" and play smarter when games count in the standings.

Ravens 24, Giants 10

The Good

• Baltimore's first-team offense came alive in the "dress rehearsal" game. Quarterback Joe Flacco recorded a preseason-high 229 passing yards. He drilled two nice touchdown passes to tight end Todd Heap and receiver Anquan Boldin in the red zone, an area Baltimore wants to be more efficient passing the football. The Ravens also want to spread the ball around, and 10 receivers caught passes Saturday.
• Heap looks great. He led Baltimore Saturday with six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Competition has clearly brought out the best in Heap after the Ravens drafted two tight ends in April. This is also the healthiest Heap has been to start the season in years.

The Bad

• Baltimore suffered a major injury as receiver Donte' Stallworth broke his foot and is expected to miss about two months. Stallworth, who was out of football in 2009, had a solid training camp and was expected to be a good addition to Baltimore’s receiving corps. Backups Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams will have to step up in reserve roles.
• The Ravens' third-down conversions could still use improvement. Baltimore's offense moved the ball well, but was just 4-of-15 on third downs.

Lions 35, Browns 27

The Good

• Cleveland's first-team offense was productive. The Browns scored 17 offensive points in the first half. (Cleveland's starting defense also scored a first-half touchdown.) Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme was accurate for the third straight exhibition game. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown. For the preseason, Delhomme has thrown for 345 yards, two touchdowns and completed 79.2 percent of his passes. He's done a good job of erasing concerns about him heading into the regular season.
• The Browns have a nice find in running back Peyton Hillis. Acquired in the Brady Quinn trade with the Denver Broncos, Hillis showed his versatility with 40 receiving yards and 26 yards rushing and a touchdown. But what stood out most was Hillis' regular-season intensity. He broke through arm tackles and bullied Detroit defenders. Hillis is Cleveland’s leading rusher through three preseason games.

The Bad

• For the second week in a row, the Browns were too careless with the football. Cleveland fumbled four times, losing three. Running back Jerome Harrison's fumble in the second quarter was returned 14 yards for a touchdown. Last week Cleveland played in rainy conditions, but this time there were no excuses for putting the ball on the ground in a dome. The Browns have eight turnovers in their past two preseason games. They have to play smarter and more efficient to have a chance to climb out the basement of the AFC North.
• Cleveland's defense was gashed by the Lions. Detroit rookie Jahvid Best zipped through the Browns’ first-team defense for 51 yards on his first carry, which was a sweep left. Cleveland's tackling and defensive fundamentals were not sharp, particularly against the run. The Lions rushed for 154 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

We are halfway through the preseason. Therefore, it's a great time to take a look at the NFL's most important position: Quarterback.

Here is an update on how AFC North starting quarterbacks are performing so far:

Carson Palmer

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Stats: Three starts, 292 yards, two interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage.

Analysis: With so many new receivers, Cincinnati's passing offense remains a work in progress. Palmer has been decent, but not great, in limited action during the Bengals’ three preseason games. I like the fact that he's making a strong effort to develop a rapport with receiver Terrell Owens, and they are getting more comfortable each week. Palmer's passer rating (67.2) took a hit last weekend after throwing two interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Joe Flacco

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Stats: Two starts, 192 yards, one touchdown, 60.7 completion percentage.

Analysis: There are high expectations for the Ravens' offense, which is why this unit has taken some heat recently in the Baltimore media. The Ravens' starters are not playing poorly on offense, but they aren't scoring many points, either. A fake punt led to the first team's only touchdown last week against the Washington Redskins. With a solid 93.2 passer rating, Flacco is playing efficiently and not turning over the football. Flacco also hinted that Baltimore isn't showing everything this preseason.

Jake Delhomme

Team: Cleveland Browns

Stats: Two starts, 193 yards, one touchdown, 78.3 completion percentage.

Analysis: Sporting a 116.1 passer rating, Delhomme is playing as well as the Browns could hope for in the preseason. He's been accurate and decisive in his reads, and Delhomme even played well through rainy field conditions last week against the St. Louis Rams. There are a lot of concerns about Delhomme this season. But based on his preseason performance, Delhomme has done everything in his power to quiet those concerns.

Ben Roethlisberger

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: One start, 76 yards, one interception, 75.0 completion percentage.

Analysis: Despite a poor deep throw to Mike Wallace that was intercepted, Roethlisberger played well overall in his 2010 debut against the New York Giants. He completed 6 of 8 passes in limited playing time, and it appears Roethlisberger might start again Sunday against the Denver Broncos, despite his conditional six-game suspension. Meanwhile, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon are battling it out to start in Week 1. Dixon has performed better so far against lesser competition. That is why the Steelers intend to get the third-year quarterback some playing time with the first team against Denver to see what he can do.

The Baltimore Ravens' struggling pass defense received a boost Monday.

Second-year cornerback Lardarius Webb was activated from the physically unable to perform list and passed his conditioning drills this morning. Webb is coming off major knee surgery, but the Ravens feel he has the potential to be the team's best cornerback.

This is good news for Baltimore's shorthanded secondary. Starting corner Domonique Foxworth (knee) is out for the season, but Webb and Fabian Washington both appear on pace to start in Baltimore's opener against the New York Jets.

Baltimore is expected to be a legitimate contender in the AFC, but pass defense is one of the team's few glaring weaknesses. The Ravens allowed 365 passing yards to the Washington Redskins in Saturday's preseason game.

Three AFC North teams played their second preseason game Saturday night.

Here are some thoughts and observations:

Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Giants 17

The Good

• The quarterback play was solid across the board for Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger made his 2010 debut and completed 6 of 8 passes for 76 yards and one interception with the first-team offense. His interception was thrown short on a deep pass intended for receiver Mike Wallace, which was Roethlisberger’s only poor pass of the night. Byron Leftwich had his best preseason game, throwing for 95 yards and a touchdown. His 68-yard bomb to Wallace in the second quarter was the highlight of the game for Pittsburgh. Dennis Dixon continued his sharp preseason by completing 7-of-8 passes for 82 yards. Dixon also added 27 yards rushing, as he pushes for more opportunities with the first team.
• Reserve tailback Isaac Redman continues to make a strong impression. "Red-zone" lived up to his nickname with a tough, 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He recorded 34 yards on six carries and averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. The AFC North blog predicted this week that Redman will make the 53-man roster, and he continues to help his case.

The Bad

• Steelers No. 1 cornerback Ike Taylor was ejected in the first quarter following his fight with New York receiver Hakeem Nicks, who also was ejected. Sure, it's the preseason, but Taylor is a veteran who should know better. Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose its top cornerback under these circumstances in the regular season.
• The defense was pretty good overall, but there was one drive by New York that will get some attention in Pittsburgh's film room. Third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar marched the Giants 75 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh's first-team defense. The Giants were short-handed with starter Eli Manning (head) and backup Jim Sorgi (shoulder) sitting out. The defensive standards are always high in Pittsburgh, which is why the Steelers have to be disappointed that New York's third-string quarterback had a successful drive in the first half.

Baltimore Ravens 23, Washington Redskins 3

The Good

• Baltimore linebacker/defensive end hybrid Terrell Suggs is rounding back into form. Suggs was consistently in Washington's backfield Saturday, recording a sack, a tackle for loss and an additional hit on the quarterback. Baltimore's pass rush looks improved, and Suggs' resurgence from a poor 2009 season is a big reason. Baltimore had four sacks and seven hits on the quarterback.
• Backup quarterback Marc Bulger had his best preseason game. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 130 yards. Bulger was solid during my time in Baltimore's training camp last week, and it's clear he's solidified the No. 2 quarterback job behind starter Joe Flacco.

The Bad

• Despite the low point total, the Ravens allowed 206 passing yards to Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb. Backup Rex Grossman threw for 195 yards. Nineteen of Washington's 20 first downs were passing, and the Ravens allowed five pass plays of 23-yards or more. Baltimore doesn't have many weaknesses, but opponents will continue attacking the secondary until the Ravens prove they can cover receivers consistently.
• Baltimore's offense stalled on third down. The Ravens were 1-for-10 in third-down efficiency. That number should be better with all the weapons Baltimore has on offense. But putting everything together remains a work in progress.

Cleveland Browns 17, St. Louis Rams 19

The Good

• Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme continues to play well. Despite a slow start, Delhomme put up good numbers for the second straight preseason game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Delhomme handled the rainy weather conditions in Cleveland well, and was decisive. He zipped a 6-yard pass to tight end Ben Watson through good coverage for a second-quarter touchdown.
• One Browns player who stood out was fullback Lawrence Vickers. He punished Rams linebackers and defensive backs. The Browns like their big package with Vickers blocking for running back Peyton Hillis, who had a team-high 12 carries for 51 yards.

The Bad

• Cleveland did not take care of the football. The Browns are a bad-weather team, but sure didn't play like it. Cleveland had five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) and didn't force any on defense. Browns head coach Eric Mangini despises sloppy play, and the Browns must play much smarter.
• Surprisingly, the Browns' pass rush didn't show up. Cleveland had zero sacks against the shaky offensive line of the Rams, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. St. Louis passed 34 times without allowing a sack.

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Want to know how to make a meaningless second preseason game interesting?

Have former Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn return to FedEx Field as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Washington will host Baltimore and Zorn -- now the Ravens' quarterbacks coach -- in the second exhibition game for both teams.

Saturday will mark the first time Zorn coaches against his former organization since he was fired in January to make room for new Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan.

"Well, I'm familiar with the stadium, that's for sure," Zorn said. "[I'm in] the other locker room, which is OK."

Zorn said he's not sure what type of reaction he will receive from Redskins fans. He was a lightning rod in Washington during his two seasons as head coach, where the Redskins were 12-20 in that span.

Towards the end of last season, it was a forgone conclusion that Washington would move in another direction. Still, Zorn braved through a tough situation and coached the team to the end of the season. He said he hasn't talked with Redskins owner Dan Snyder since he was fired but doesn't hold any grudges against the team.

The Ravens quickly hired Zorn several weeks later to tutor budding, third-year quarterback Joe Flacco.

"We're proud to have him here," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Zorn. "He's meant so much to our quarterbacks and to our team."

Zorn will enter FedEx Field this weekend on the opposing sideline. But Zorn hopes to become a better coach thanks to the rough times he went through in Washington.

"There's a lot of learning experiences," Zorn explained. "I've written a lot of things down. I've thought about a lot of things, and I've had some conversations with different people trying to get a feel for different issues. Some I wouldn't change, and some I wish I could've changed."

Cowboys reserve tight end John Phillips, one of the stars of training camp, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. An MRI on Monday morning confirmed what the Cowboys had feared when Phillips collapsed while attempting to release into a route during last Sunday's Hall of Fame Game against the Bengals.

Phillips had become a very versatile player for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and he had four catches for 60 yards Sunday night before leaving the game with an injury. The Cowboys are now incredibly thin at an important position. They'll likely have to sign at least one player off the street just to make it through practice. Jason Witten's too valuable to see a lot of preseason reps and Martellus Bennett sat out Sunday's game to rest his ankle.

Other than Witten, Scott Sicko is the only completely healthy tight end on the roster. For Phillips, it's a cruel ending to what appeared to be a promising season. He was on the verge of becoming a devastating blocker, and I believe he may have surpassed Bennett in the rotation.

"It's disappointing because he was having such a great camp and such a great game," tight ends coach John Garrett said Sunday night following the game. "But I know one thing: He's got great resolve. He's got great perseverance. If there's anybody going to come back even stronger than he was before, it'll be John Phillips."

CANTON, Ohio -- The Cincinnati Bengals made their 2010 debut Sunday night, losing 16-7 in a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Here are seven things we learned about the reigning AFC North champions:

1. Pass protection could be an issue

Analysis: I found it alarming last week in training camp that so many defenders were getting in quarterback Carson Palmer’s face and clogging the passing lanes. Dallas defenders did the same, and on Sunday they were allowed to hit the quarterback. In just two offensive series, Palmer took a few hits, including one sack, that stalled the passing game. Palmer completed 2 of 5 passes for 18 yards as Cincinnati’s offensive line had trouble with Dallas’ pressure.

2. WR Terrell Owens is growing into the offense

Analysis: Both of Palmer's completed passes were to Owens. Playing together for the first time, they looked fairly in sync. Owens' two receptions for 18 yards included a timing route that resulted in a first down. Palmer and Owens also hooked up on a slant route, but the play was called back because of a penalty. Cincinnati made it a point to get Owens opportunities. He was targeted four times in the first quarter. "We're a work in progress," Owens said. "We're getting there. It felt just like practice."

3. CB Adam Jones is active

Analysis: Cincinnati’s coaching staff also made sure Jones, in his first game action since 2008, got a lot of snaps. Jones looked athletic and aggressive starting in place of injured cornerback Johnathan Joseph (thigh). He had good coverage on the first pass of the game, an incompletion to Dallas receiver Miles Austin. Jones also recorded three tackles and returned kicks.

4. Cincinnati's QB depth is problematic

Analysis: If Sunday were any indication, it’s vital for Palmer to stay healthy for all 16 games this season. Backup quarterbacks J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Palmer played some awful football Sunday. There were plenty of shaky moments as the pair combined for three interceptions. O’Sullivan finished 4-of-11 for 33 yards and one pick. He had a 7.0 passer rating. Jordan Palmer completed 10 of 20 passes for 102 yards and had a late touchdown, but also had two really bad interceptions.

5. Red-zone defense looks solid

Analysis: The Bengals' first-team defense wasn't perfect, but the red-zone defense had a great goal-line stand against a potent Dallas offense. Cincinnati stopped quarterback Tony Romo on three consecutive throws from the 2 to force a field goal. The coverage was solid on each play.

6. Bengals need to clean up mental errors

Analysis: It’s the first preseason game, so I won't make a big deal out of this just yet. But there were nine Bengals penalties for 60 yards in the first half, when most of the players who will make the team (either as starters or backups) were in the game. But it’s the mental errors that will drive Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis crazy. The penalties included neutral zone infractions and offsides. That stuff must be cleaned up.

7. Bengals suffered injuries

Analysis: Cincinnati suffered injuries to two key contributors. Starting safety Chris Crocker hurt his right ankle in the first quarter on special teams and didn’t return. Backup running back Brian Leonard also was diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain. Both players will be further evaluated this week in Cincinnati.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Beast mid-size rental car has made a pit stop at Starbucks to update the Albert Haynesworth situation. In the last hour, Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has told reporters that Haynesworth will undergo an MRI to determine why he's experiencing so much soreness in the knee. Haynesworth was pretty aggressive in his work after practice, but he's apparently not ready to attempt the conditioning test at this point.

"We're giving him an MRI today because his knee has been a little bit sore, more sore than it has been in the past," Shanahan said. "In the past, every third or fourth day it'd be a little sore, according to the trainers. But now it's been a couple days consistently sore. ...We're going to MRI it, see if he's okay and then we'll go through the rehab work to get it stronger."

We've made a request to visit with Haynesworth on Friday, but I don't like our chances right now. This afternoon, Shanahan made it clear that he won't allow Haynesworth to miss a lot of practices during the regular season. During the kinder, gentler era of Jim Zorn, Haynesworth did limited work during the week before showing up for games. Shanahan doesn't think that works in the NFL.

"If you take a look at last year how many games he played without practicing, we're going to make sure that he can practice so he can stay healthy and play at a very high level," said Shanahan. "I've got all the stats in there how many games he played where he didn't practice throughout the whole week. ... If you don't practice you're not going to play well. You've got to practice well to play well. That's what the NFL and football is all about.

"Every once in a while you might get a guy in there that practices a little bit and has a good game but if you don't practice consistently it's hard to play consistently. And that's what I'm after. I'm after him playing well for the whole season."

OK, we'll be arriving at Redskins Park in about two hours. Look forward to visiting with you later this evening.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Albert Haynesworth is the gift that keeps on giving. The Washington Redskins defensive tackle will rest his sore knee Tuesday and perhaps give the infamous conditioning test another crack Wednesday, according to the Post. Mike Shanahan indicated Monday that he might consider allowing Haynesworth to join his teammates without passing the test, but the smirk on the coach's face suggested otherwise.

I think Shanahan has already delivered the message to his players that no one is above the team. Now it's probably about time to end this spectacle. Here's what Redskins beat writer Jason Reid said about the Skins head coach this morning at 2:26 a.m.

Shanahan is confident he is taking the correct stance with Haynesworth in an effort to help the two-time All-Pro maximize his ability and production for the team.

Sorry, but I'm not buying that one. Haynesworth's a tremendous player, but I'd venture to say that he's never entered any 300-yard shuttle run contests. Even when he finally staggers through the run, it's not like the guy will have "maximized" his opportunity to create havoc in the backfield. As I've written a couple of times, this is about Shanahan earning credibility with his players.

Now that Haynesworth's humiliation is complete, it's probably time to let him on the field. With Donovan McNabb running the offense, the Redskins have a legitimate shot to make some noise in the Beast. But through six days of camp, Haynesworth has stolen all of the headlines.

Frankly, he hasn't earned the right to hijack training camp. Shanahan has delivered his message. Now it's time to move on.

Oh, but wait until the NFC East blog arrives Thursday.