JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--- With most starters watching from the sideline, Atlanta and Jacksonville got a last look at players vying for open roster spots.
No one really stood out.
Fullback Brock Bolen scored on a 16-yard run, Josh Scobee kicked two field goals and the Jaguars beat the Falcons 13-9 on Thursday night.
The teams exposed just a few starters to the preseason finale, with coaches and close friends Mike Smith and Jack Del Rio preferring to save them for next weekend's season openers.
They can only hope for better execution. The Falcons converted just 1 of its first 9 third-down plays. The Jaguars had a measly 100 yards in the first half.
Atlanta's Chris Redman started in place of Matt Ryan and completed 15 of 22 passes for 142 yards.
Jacksonville's Luke McCown filled in for David Garrard and completed 5 of 12 passes for 39 yards.
STEELERS 19, PANTHERS 3
Maybe Carolina Panthers coach John Fox had the right idea: Rest your starters in the final exhibition game.
In Pittsburgh, Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich, expected to replace Ben Roethlisberger during his suspension, injured his left knee in the second quarter as Pittsburgh beat the starter-less Panthers.
Carolina's offense ended the preseason the way it began with no touchdowns as No. 3 quarterback Hunter Cantwell and No. 4 Tony Pike took all the snaps in a game both teams played with the intent of not getting any key player hurt.
STEELERS: Roethlisberger's six-game suspension likely will be shortened to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the two meet in New York today.
Goodell has said he will make his decision after the preseason concludes.
Roethlisberger was suspended in April under the league's personal conduct policy and the quarterback is not eligible to return until Oct. 31 at New Orleans. However, Goodell stipulated in the suspension that it could be reduced if Roethlisberger behaves well and undergoes counseling.
MAKING AMENDS: General manager Jeff Ireland and Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant shook hands about an hour before their preseason game and had what looked like a brief, pleasant conversation.
They spoke for less than a minute, with Ireland patting Bryant's chest when they finished.
Ireland already had apologized to Bryant for having asked whether his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft interview.
BRONCOS: Running back LenDale White left the team's final preseason game with an injured ankle.
White was down for a while and walked off the field gingerly in the second quarter at Minnesota after getting hurt on a 9-yard run.
BROWNS: Rookie running back Montario Hardesty left his exhibition debut because of an injured left knee.
Hardesty, who missed all of training camp with a bone bruise in his right knee, was hurt in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears. He ran for 1,345 yards last season at Tennessee.
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