The following blog was updated from the Press Box at Giants Stadium during the Giants/Panthers game on Monday, August 17.  Keep refreshing for updates.

› 11:03 pm: Giants DE Tommy Hill just saved this game from going into overtime with a fumble recovery.  The score came with time expiring and gave the Giants 24-17 victory.  Hill definitely will remember this one as a rookie invite to camp.  It was the Giants’ first win (1-0) of the preseason.  Next up, they’ll head to Chicago to square off against the Bears on Saturday.  I’m heading down to the locker room to do some interviews.  Check back tomorrow for all your Giants follow-up.

› 11:02 pm: We have a tied game thanks to QB Hunter Cantwell’s 31-yard touchdown pass to WR Jason Chery.  The drive went 88 yards on just five plays.  Cantwell then hit TE Andrew Davie for the two-point conversion, tying this thing up.  Giants 17, Panthers 17.  I can assure you those here are not happy, moreso because the game now looks headed for overtime.

› 10:56 pm: Carolina is trying to score with two minutes left.

› 10:52 pm: Rhett Bomar with the complete pass to Hakeem Nicks.  That was Bomar’s first completion in the NFL and Nicks’ first catch.

› 10:48 pm: There was never a large crowd here tonight, but it has emptied quite a bit more.  It is after all a Monday night during the preseason.

› 10:34 pm: Head coach Tom Coughlin is doing what he can to save the score.  After missing earlier in the game, Tynes came on and kicked a 46-yard field goal.  Giants now up 17-9.  It will take two scores by Carolina to take the lead.

› 10:27 pm: It was a huge stop for the Giants.  Number 97 LB Clint Sintim– only Fred Robbins (98) and Chris Canty (99) have higher numbers — sacked Carolina QB Matt Moore, forcing the fumble.  The ball was recovered by DT Jeremy Clark.  The Panthers challenged the ruling, but it was upheld.  Giants ball.

› 10:22 pm: Not too much going over the rest of the third quarter.  The Panthers are driving down the field, with the ball on the Giants’ 45-yard line.  The Giants’ D must step up again this possession to preserve the 14-9 lead.

› 9:50 pm: Turnovers equal points, and not the good kind.  Back-to-back solid runs led to a RB Mike Woodson touchdown.  Woodson then proceeded to give the Giants fans a “throat slash,” resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.  Carolina still down 14-9.

› 9:48 pm: Rough Monday Night Football debut for Giants backup to the backup Andre Woodson.  The former Kentucky arm’s intended pass for Barden was picked off by S Quinton Teal and run back 21 yards into Giants territory.

› 9:30 pm: Giants lead 14-2 heading into the half.

› 9:26 pm: What a season it could be for the Giants running backs.  David Carr just hit RB Danny Ware for a 39-yard touchdown pass to give the Giants the 14-2 lead just before the end of the half.  It was a shot dump pass, which Ware found open holes and basically dragged Panther defenders the final 10 yards for the score.  Very impressive… Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ware have all looked very good.

› 9:17 pm: Giants CB Stoney Woodson got the Giants the ball back.  Carolina QB Josh McCowns throw was tipped into the air and pulled down by Woodson for a nine yard return.  Giants with the ball back, two minutes to go.

› 9:10 pm: The Panthers got on the scoreboard thanks to some strong defense against the Giants’ O-Line.  James Anderson was able to get to P Jeff Feagles before the ball was kicked, knocking it lose.  Feagles chased the ball down and punched it out of the end zone for a safety.  Giants still lead 7-2.

› 9:10 pm: Giants great Michael Strahan is in attendance tonight.

› 9:06 pm: The Giants defense was presented with its first meaningful opportunity of the game.  Carolina had a fourth-and-three, but was able to convert.  The Giants, however, were able to strip the ball out of the RB Mike Goodson’s hands.  The officials ruled Goodson was down by contact, but the Giants disagreed, challenging the ruling.  In the end, the officials said the Goodson’s hands hit the ground, jarring the ball loose, therefore, it was not a fumble.

› 8:56 pm: Kicker Lawrence Tynes lost playing time to John Carney last season.  This year, it is all him… if he can make some field goals.  The kicker is 0-for-1 today, booting a 43-yard attempt wide.

› 8:39 pm: Manning is out of the game with about 0:46 seconds left in the first quarter.  The QB was 2-for-3 with 31 yards.

› 8:25 pm: Very nice 15-yard touchdown run outside the right-side hashmarks by RB Ahmad Bradshaw.  I thought he was going to get tackled inside the five, but he stayed up and just barreled through the Carolina defense for the score.  Both he and Brandon Jacobs looked good during that drive.  It seems like Big Blue is going with the rush a lot here early on.  Giants with the 7-0 lead.

› 8:13 pm: Manningham is getting involved in the Giants offense early.  After a nice punt return, Manning went to the wide receiver twice during their first drive.  The first pass was completed for about 15 yards, but called back on a penalty.  His second pass attempt was dropped by Manningham on a slant.

› 8:03 pm: Carolina won the coin toss and have elected to receive.  Here we go…

› 7:39 pm: For those who have asked what my view looks like, here it is:
IMG00095

› 7:31 pm: And, in case any Carolina fans have wandered on, they’ll be without S Nate Salley, RB Jonathan Stewart, LB Thomas Davis, LB Landon Johnson, G C.J. Davis and WR Steve Smith.

› 7:16 pm: The Giants will be without 10 players this evening, all of whom are said to be injured.  WR Steve Smith (knee), CB Corey Webster (hip), CB Aaron Ross (leg), DT Chris Canty (hamstring), DT Fred Robbins (knee), OL Rick Seubert (shoulder), OL Chris Snee (leg), DT Rocky Benard (hamstring), LB Michael Boley (hamstring) and Andre Brown (Achillies).

› 7:04 pm: There’s still about an hour to go here at Giants Stadium before the Giants kick off their 2009 season.  Many of the Panther players are on the field warming up and a small contingent of Giants players are also getting ready.  Most of the backup QBs are getting some reps in, including Giant arms Andre Woodson, Rhett Bomar and Carolina’s Hunter Cantwell.

› 3:23 pm: We’re just about five hours away from tonight’s game, the first of the preseason for the Giants.  I’m looking forward to observing a few things: 1) How Eli Manning responds following the signing of his new contract.  Sure, it’s not the regular season and the crowd will not be a sellout, but you can be the ones that are there will let him hear it if he is shaky.  2) Which wide receivers will standout.  Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, the list goes on.  I’ll be watching closely to see which receivers are showing enough speed and skills to standout this season.  3) How the Giants defense stacks up against the Carolina o-line.  It’s going to be critical this year for the Giants’ “D” to excel, especially with a questionable offensive air game.

For live updates from the Giants Stadium press box, check back later tonight.