NFL scores 2017: Results, highlights, and news from Aug. 19

For one last Saturday, preseason football takes center stage.

Highlights and results from Saturday’s preseason action.

2nd quarter: Titans 24, Panthers 10

The Titans auctioned off the right to call the first two plays of the game to a fan, and they may have to give this fan a job interview.

The first play got about 20 yards and it was followed by a 9-yard run for Marcus Mariota. Sign that fan up as offensive coordinator.

Not the best start for the Panthers. The team couldn’t get across the 10 yard line on the kickoff and then Devin Funchess fumbled on Carolina’s first offensive play.

Sidenote: How big are Kevin Byard’s hands? He picked up the football like it was a Nerf ball.

The good news for the Panthers is that their defensive line looks like a brick wall against the run.

It didn’t count because of a couple penalties, but this is exactly why the Titans took Adoree Jackson in the first round.

The Titans get another turnover — this time a Derek Anderson interception — and we can definitely say they’re beating up on the Panthers at this point.

The stars of the first half were easily Derrick Henry — 36 rushing yards and two touchdowns — and Christian McCaffrey — 33 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, and one touchdown. It’s the 2015 Heisman race all over again.

Before the games

College football is still a week away, and that means Saturday belongs to the NFL preseason. While Week 1 of the exhibition season was marred by the absence of superstars, this weekend’s action holds the promise of seeing some of the league’s top players earn between 10-12 snaps before ceding ground to a smattering of undrafted free agents.

That’s not much, but it’s a start. The NFL season is fast approaching, and this weekend’s action could wind up being the deciding factor between a fringe player earning a roster spot and ascending to a starting role and winding up back on the free agent list. The fourth quarters of Saturday’s games will provide some familiar faces for college football fans and NFL diehards who can recite team rosters down to 53 places, but won’t be nearly as engaging for Cowboys fans hoping to see Dak Prescott for more than a cameo.

A handful of big games dot the day’s schedule. The Patriots will travel south to Houston to meet the Texans in a rematch of a hard-fought Divisional playoff game from earlier this year. Tom Brady and the starters are even supposed to make an appearance.

The Packers will travel to Washington in a showdown between big-armed passers. The Panthers and Titans will each make their case as resurgent playoff teams.

And then there’s the Jets, who may be worth watching just for the spectacle of their wide receiving corps. Charone Peake and Robby Anderson lead a unit that will be catching passes from either Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, or Christian Hackenberg this fall. That group has the potential to be gruesome, and like a car crash it may be difficult to look away.

Here’s the full slate of games for Saturday, including a Jets/Lions tilt that will make the Detroit secondary seem much more proficient than it actually is. Follow along with us for score updates, highlights, injury news, and much more.

Complete schedule (all times Eastern)

Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans (3 p.m., NFL Network)

Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals (7 p.m.)

Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys (7 p.m., NFL Network)

Green Bay Packers at Washington (7:30 p.m.)

New York Jets at Detroit Lions (7:30 p.m.)

New England Patriots at Houston Texans (8 p.m.)

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals (10 p.m.)

Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers (10 p.m., NFL Network)

Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders (10 p.m.)

Pregame reading

Ezekiel Elliott appealed his suspension earlier this week. Here’s everything you need to know.

Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is finally expected to make his NFL debut.

The Carolina Panthers will keep the heart and soul of their defense (non-Luke Kuechly division) intact after extending linebacker Thomas Davis.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians kinda hates his wide receiving corps right now, even going so far as to tell reporters “they’ve been warned.”

This is the most important month of Packers’ backup QB Brett Hundley’s pro career to date.

Chiefs rookie Tanoh Kpassagnon is a freak athlete, but his first preseason game showed just how far he’ll have to go from “project” to “star.”

The Colts are having an absolutely terrible month.

Marshawn Lynch could get his first carry as a Raider Saturday, but don’t expect him to talk about sitting during the national anthem.