Bears Beat Rams With Late Touchdown

Fourth-string quarterback Ken Mastrole threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Christian with 55 seconds left Friday night to lift the Chicago Bears past the St. Louis Rams, 19-17, at St. Louis.

Bear starter Jim Miller directed two scoring drives before giving way to veteran Chris Chandler. Miller was six of eight for 78 yards and Chicago improved to 1-1 in exhibitions.

Ram Coach Mike Martz did not play Marshall Faulk for the second exhibition game, preferring to keep the running back sound for the regular season.

Tampa Bay 20, Jacksonville 0--Rob Johnson, who began his NFL career with the Jaguars, kept alive his hopes to start for the Buccaneers by going eight for 11 for 74 yards and a touchdown at Jacksonville, Fla.

Fred Taylor was the only bright spot for Jacksonville’s offense. He had four carries for 25 yards and is averaging 5.6 yards a rush in two exhibitions.

Minnesota 24, Buffalo 21--Daunte Culpepper orchestrated three first-half scoring drives and produced 293 yards for the Vikings at Orchard Park, N.Y.

San Diego 24, Seattle 14--Vaughn Sanders scored on a one-yard run and Dave Dickenson passed for another score as the Chargers won at San Diego.

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Miami Dolphin linebacker Derrick Rodgers will be offered a plea deal on charges that he kicked and punched his wife and used a metal chair to hit a man who was with her at a Miami restaurant.... Harold Jason Bodman, 23, of Ionia, Mich., accused of taking part in a racially motivated attack against Atlanta Falcon running back T.J. Duckett, surrendered to authorities.... A nearly two-year effort to find a site for the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium neared an end, with the city of Glendale, Ariz., the apparent winner.