The New York Giants have this knack for comeback wins against the New England Patriots.
New York came from behind to knock off the Patriots, 20-17, in the preseason finale Thursday at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Giants backup quarterback Rhett Bomar hit wide receiver Duke Calhoun for a 60-yard score with two minutes remaining to lead the game-winning charge.
Bomar played three-plus quarters behind center against New England, who the Giants stunned in Super Bowl XLII three years ago. The second-year arm received a majority of the action behind Eli Manning this preseason after Jim Sorgi went down with a season-ending right shoulder injury. Bomar calls Sorgi’s injury “unfortunate,” but is thankful to have played regularly.
“I think overall it was fun to get out there and play. It’s probably been a year and a half since I’ve done that,” Bomar (11-for-24, 171 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT) said. “It was good experience for me.
The 25-year-old out of Sam Houston State received two starts and appeared in all four preseason games for New York. He was 40-for-77 for 545 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I wasn’t perfect, so I’m learning as I go,” he said. “I’m young and I expect a lot out of myself. I expect to go out there and do well.”
The Giants (2-2) put together an impressive first drive to open the game. A mixture of three rushing and five passing plays resulted in a score when quarterback Manning found tight end Kevin Boss open to his left from 13 yards out. New York attempted a two-point conversion, but punter Matt Dodge’s weak attempt at a pass landed in the arms of Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo. Manning played two series, completing 7-of-9 passes for 91 yards and the score.
New England (2-2) countered with a touchdown of their own. Kick returner Thomas Clayton set the Patriots up with great field position at the Giants 45 after a 55 yard return. Tom Brady, playing in his first preseason finale in seven years, led the rest of the way, eventually connecting with Rob Gronkowski from the five. Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point put New England up 7-6.
“It was nice to see us move the ball,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. “a lot better than it was last week.”
Brady and the Patriots starters played most of the first quarter. In the second, both teams traded field goals to keep New England with the lead at 10-9.
In the third, defensive back Jonathan Goff picked off Patriots’ backup quarterback Brian Hoyer at the 50. Goff had his first NFL interception last season against the Philadelphia Eagles’ Donovan McNabb. Hoyer regretted the throw immediately after making it.
“I probably should have just taken a sack there,” Hoyer said. “You just try to get rid of it and not lose too much field position and I got hit while I was throwing it so I didn’t get everything on it.”
“He made some plays and some I’m sure he’d like to have back,” said Belichick, when asked to evaluate Hoyer’s performance.
New York ate up six minutes of clock following the pick, but had to settle for another Lawrence Tynes field goal, which put them ahead, 12-10.
The defensive series of the game for the Giants took place at the end of the third quarter and first play of the fourth. New England drove down the field on 67-yard catch and run by wideout Rod Owens. Four plays later, the Patriots were at 2nd-and-1. The Giants were able to stuff the Patriots’ three rushing attempts, giving them the ball back with 99 yards to go.
“I think we showed a lot of good things. At the same time, we’re still going to get better,” Goff said. “There’s still some areas where we need to improve to be where we want to be.
With 5:10 remaining in the game, Hoyer made a short right pass to wide receiver Darnell Jenkins, who busted 66 yards for the touchdown. Jenkins finished with game-high five catches for 93 yards.
“Vince (Wilfork) and (Brandon) Meriweather, I went to school with them, and they teased me saying ‘you ain’t as fast as you used to be, you don’t have the speed anymore,’” Jenkins said. “That’s when the screen play happened. Then they left me alone.”
Jenkins isn’t sure whether he’s going to make the final roster. The 27-year-old has been in this position before with the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said he’s just as anxious this time to learn his fate.
“I had an opportunity whenever I was healthy to do what I could and try to help the team in the best way I could,” Jenkins said. “I just contributed and did what I could and handle.”
Despite it being a meaningless preseason game, the Giants would not pack it in. With the ball on their own 40 and less than two minutes remaining, Bomar got the ball to Calhoun, who took it 60 yards for the game-winning score. The rookie receiver led the Giants with three catches for 76 yards. The Giants second attempt at a two-point conversion was successful.
The win was far from perfect, something the players and coaches will readily admit. With the Carolina Panthers slated to visit the Giants next Sunday for the season opener, there’s still work to do and time to get it done.
“It’s not where we want it to be yet,” linebacker Michael Boley said. “I think we’ll get there.”