Broncos 34, Steelers 17

Ben Roethlisberger gave way to his backups after a quick night's work. Now, he can get ready to make his case for a shortened suspension, too.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed during Denver's 34-17 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday night that commissioner Roger Goodell and the Steelers quarterback will meet soon, but he declined to say when or where the meeting would take place.

Roethlisberger was suspended for six games after being accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student in March.

He was not criminally charged in the case.

If Roethlisberger's suspension is reduced to four games, he'll be back for their game against Cleveland on Oct. 17. Otherwise, he'll be out until the Steelers visit New Orleans on Halloween night.

After Roethlisberger was pulled, Dennis Dixon got his first significant playing time with the starters. Dixon has started only one NFL game, and he is expected to be Byron Leftwich's backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger's suspension begins.

Dixon didn't make a good impression Sunday night, throwing two costly interceptions.

Late Saturday

Vikings 24, Seahawks 13

Brett Favre threw for 187 yards and two interceptions, one that rookie Earl Thomas returned 86 yards for a touchdown in Minnesota's victory over Seattle.

Favre completed 16 of 26 passes and took a couple of big hits while playing two series into the third quarter. His interception to Thomas went in and out of the hands of Bernard Berrian.

Greg Camarillo had four catches for 47 yards and Javon Walker made a great catch over Walter Thurmond for a 25-yard TD from Sage Rosenfels in the fourth quarter for the Vikings.

Texans 23, Cowboys 7

Arian Foster rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Matt Schaub threw a TD pass to Jacoby Jones for the Texans.

Foster, who emerged as Houston's most dependable running back late last season, became the first Texan to go over 100 yards rushing in a preseason game.

The Texans finished with 173 yards rushing, an encouraging sign for coach Gary Kubiak, whose team ranked 30th in rushing (92 yards per game) last season.

Tony Romo was sacked twice and fumbled, and Dallas (2-2) mustered only 7 yards rushing before the reserves took over late in the third quarter.

Cardinals 14, Bears 9

Derek Anderson and Matt Leinart each threw for a touchdown while delivering solid if not spectacular performances.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt had Anderson start after the watching the first-team offense struggle with Leinart, and he responded by completing 7 of 12 passes for 94 yards.

Leinart came in late in the second quarter and was 9 of 10 for 84 yards, with a touchdown pass early in the third that made it 14-0.

Panthers 15, Titans 7

Carolina's overhauled defense hardly looked like it missed Julius Peppers, sacking Vince Young four times, keeping Vince Johnson in check and holding Tennessee to 50 yards in the first half.

But the Titans stymied Matt Moore and DeAngelo Williams, with Carolina's first-team offense still looking for its first touchdown of the preseason despite playing into the fourth quarter against Tennessee's second- and third-stringers.

49ers 28, Raiders 24

Bruce Gradkowski threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns after Jason Campbell left with a stinger, but David Carr led a late touchdown drive that gave San Francisco the win in the annual Battle of the Bay.

News and notes

• Oakland running back Michael Bush will undergo surgery on his broken left thumb today and could be back in time for the season opener. Bush broke the thumb when he was hit on the hand by a helmet on his final carry Saturday night against San Francisco.

• Laveranues Coles' third tour with the Jets ended before it really got started. Coles was released Sunday, a month after the Jets signed him to add depth at the wide receiver spot. The 32-year-old Coles had four catches for 19 yards in three preseason games.

The Jets also waived wide receivers Aundrae Allison and Marcus Henry, and defensive lineman Rodrique Wright, putting the team at 75 players ahead of Tuesday's mandatory cutdown.

• Wide receiver Antonio Bryant was released by Cincinnati, which signed him to a four-year, $28 million deal last March thinking he would be their long-term complement to Chad Ochocinco.