NFL | Washington coach Jim Zorn keeping team grounded

ASHBURN, Va. — With the preseason more than half over, it's become quite clear that there is no need to read between the lines when listening to Washington coach Jim Zorn evaluate a game. He tells it like it is and isn't afraid to needle anybody, but does so with such an upbeat attitude that even the players getting picked on are probably chuckling along.

Take rookie quarterback Colt Brennan, who threw the winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 13-10 victory over the New York Jets. Some of the faithful are ready to anoint him as The Next Great Thing.

Zorn's message on Sunday: Get real. Delivered in much nicer words, of course, and accompanied by a smile.

"I just don't want to splash the water on him yet, you know what I mean?" Zorn said. "He's had great vision, he's made some heads-up plays. ... I want better technique. I want him to use the kind of techniques that are going to take him further down the road. Remember we were talking differently last week after the Buffalo game: 'Oh, Colt came down to Earth.' Well, now he's in outer space again."

Exhibition games

Lions 27, at Bengals 10

Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson strained his left shoulder during Detroit's victory over Cincinnati, landing awkwardly on his left side during a catch attempt on the Bengals' first series.

Detroit's Jon Kitna completed three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, leaving him 9 of 10 with a pair of TDs in the preseason.

At Buccaneers 27, Patriots 10

With Tom Brady sitting out again, the defending AFC champions sputtered with backup Matt Cassel running the show. A feisty Tampa Bay defense scored on Cassel's third-quarter fumble and intercepted the first pass thrown by successor Kevin O'Connell.

Notes

• Saying it felt "a little weird" wearing a Jets uniform, Brett Favre was solid in his brief New York debut after a week of cramming to learn his new playbook. "It was an excellent start," coach Eric Mangini said of Favre, who was 5 of 6 with a touchdown against Washington.

"I felt like I'm a Jet," Favre said. "Does that sound a little awkward or funny? Maybe a little bit. Believe me, I feel very comfortable here."

• Oakland coach Lane Kiffin said "borderline" players are in position to make the team because there isn't anyone else in practice to compete with them, while the team holds on to players who aren't even practicing. His comments could be construed as a poke at owner Al Davis, who has final say on roster moves.

"When guys are in the training room, they're not out here practicing," Kiffin said. "You've to be willing to release them and live with it, and pick other people up for more competition."

• St. Louis OG Mark Setterstrom fractured his left kneecap in the second half of Saturday's exhibition game against San Diego and will be placed on injured reserve.

• Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin indicated after weekend practices that the team is ready to remove S Troy Polamalu (hamstring) from the physically unable to perform list. Tomlin said he hopes Polamalu will be ready to practice Tuesday.

• Buffalo TE Derek Schouman is out indefinitely with a strained left knee, all but ending his chance to win the starting job out of camp.

• Former New England owner James Busch Orthwein died Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 84.

The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.