GLENDALE, Ariz. – Matt Schaub looked at ease and Matt Leinart responded to a week of “tough love”‘ from his coach.

The starting quarterbacks were terrific in the preseason game between the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.

The defense, well, that’s another matter.

Schaub was 9-of-12 for 108 yards and ran 5 yards for a score and the Texans went on to beat Arizona 33-20 on Saturday in new Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt’s home debut.

Lions 23, Browns 20

CLEVELAND – Brady Quinn’s pro debut was nearly picture perfect.

With flashbulbs popping all around the stadium, Quinn threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in his first NFL exhibition game and looked better than any Cleveland quarterback in the Browns’ 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.

Saints 27, Bengals 19

CINCINNATI – Drew Brees needed only six on-target passes to show that he’s ready – and the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense isn’t.

Brees led New Orleans to a touchdown in his only series Saturday night, completing every throw he made and giving the Bengals a half-dozen more reasons to worry in the Saints’ 27-19 preseason victory.

The NFL’s leading passer last season, Brees had his way with the league’s worst pass defense, one that Cincinnati put a lot of moves and money into trying to upgrade in the offseason. The early returns aren’t good.

Steelers 12, Redskins 10

LANDOVER, Md. – The Washington Redskins’ first-string offense finally scored in a preseason game, albeit without the first-string quarterback.

With Jason Campbell on the sidelines with a bruised knee from a scary hit in the first quarter, Todd Collins completed a 7-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd for the game’s only touchdown in the Redskins’ 12-10 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

Packers 48, Seahawks 13

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brett Favre’s frustration with his first-team offense faded quickly Saturday night, with the Green Bay Packers scoring early and often in a 48-13 preseason romp over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks weren’t exactly poised to up much of a fight, as cautious coach Mike Holmgren sat quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and both of his starting offensive tackles. But Favre’s first unit did get some friendly competition from the Packers’ defense, which s

Cowboys 31, Broncos 20

IRVING, Texas – Even after two days of practicing against the Dallas Cowboys’ juiced-up defense, the Denver Broncos looked pretty helpless against them.

The attacking, pressure-seeking front being implemented by new Dallas coach Wade Phillips locked up Denver’s starting offense for two quarters, paving the way for the Cowboys to beat the Broncos 31-20 in a preseason game Saturday night.

Jaguars 31, Bucs 19

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The scoreboard showed progress for Byron Leftwich and Jacksonville’s revamped offense. Anyone who watched the game knew otherwise.

Leftwich finished 6-of-12 for 81 yards, and the Jaguars beat Tampa Bay 31-19 on Saturday night. But Leftwich was sacked once, hit a couple more times and nearly half his yardage came following a missed tackle.

Chargers 30, Rams 13

ST. LOUIS – If the San Diego Chargers can save LaDainian Tomlinson for the regular season, the St. Louis Rams figure they can preserve their star running back, too.

Tomlinson, the NFL MVP, didn’t dress for the Chargers’ 30-13 preseason victory Saturday night and hasn’t been on the field in August since 2005. St. Louis’ Steven Jackson, who led the league with 2,334 yards rushing and receiving last year, might as well have not dressed, either.