Foxboro, MA (My Sportsbook) - Brian Hoyer went 18-for-25 passing for 242 yards and a touchdown to lead the
New England Patriots in a 38-27 comeback win over the
New York Giants in the preseason finale for both clubs.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis added 125 yards on 29 touches and three scores for the Patriots, who finished the preseason at 3-1 and open the regular season on September 14 against the Bills. Sam Aiken had 89 yards on five grabs and Robert Ortiz had an eight-yard TD catch.
David Carr was 6-for-6 for 153 yards and two TDs and Eli Manning was 3-for-3 for 76 yards and a score for the Giants, who finished the preseason at 1-3 and open their regular season on September 13 against division-rival Washington. Allen Patrick had 50 yards on eight carries, while Sinorice Moss tallied two TDs on two catches for 35 yards. Hakeem Nicks had a 64-yard touchdown catch.
With the game tied in the fourth, Lawrence Tynes nailed a 25-yard field goal to make it 27-24 with just under 11 minutes left to play.
However, the Patriots took their next drive 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 31-27 lead with just under six minutes left. Green-Ellis added a 32-yard TD run about three minutes later to account for the final margin.
The Giants showed a lightning-quick offense which posted three touchdowns in the first quarter alone. The first came on a 23-yard TD pass from Manning to Moss, then Moss hauled in a 12-yard score from Carr.
Nicks caught a 64-yard TD pass from Carr after another Patriots three-and- out, and it was 21-0 with just under six minutes left in the opening frame.
Brandon McGowan had a 27-yard interception returned for a score about midway though the second quarter to get the Pats on the board. Tynes then hit a 46- yard kick, but Green-Ellis had a one-yard TD run to make it 24-14 at the break.
Ortiz hauled in an eight-yard score from Hoyer early in the third to cut it to 24-21. Stephen Gostkowski's 46-yarder with under a minute left in the third tied it up.
Game Notes
The Giants hold a 12-7 lead in the all-time preseason series with the Patriots, including a 19-14 home victory when the clubs faced off prior to last season.
