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.”

The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at New Meadowlands Stadium during the Giants/Patriots game on Thursday, Sept. 2.

› Postgame: I conducted interviews with the Patriots’ Bill Belichick, Darnell Jenkins and Brian Hoyer, as well as the Giants’ Rhett Bomar, Jonathan Goff and Michael Boley. Check back Friday morning for the full game story, including quotes. As always, ScottStanchak.com will have your audio.

› Fourth Quarter: 20-17, Giants - Let’s continue first where we left off in the third: the Patriots with a 4th-and-1. The Giants defense, however, stuffed them once again. That was New York’s best defensive series of the game.

The Patriots found the end zone later in the quarter though when Hoyer hit Darnell Jenkins a few yards in front of him. Jenkins ran the ball 66 yards to get New England’s second touchdown on the evening.

New York, however, wouldn’t pack it in. With the ball on their own 40 and less than two minutes remaining, Bomar got the ball to rookie receiver Duke Calhoun, who took it 60 yards for the game-winning score. Calhoun caught three passes for 76 yards tonight. The Giants then attempted their second two-point conversion of the game following the score, and this time they were successful.

Lastly, the third injury report of the night: Andre Brown did not play because of turf toe. If only the Giants played on grass… boo.

› Third Quarter: 12-10, Giants – Several Giant defensive players were still out there to start the second half, including Jonathan Goff and Kenny Phillips. Goff’s presence paid off for New York as he intercepted Hoyer’s pass intended for Lawrence Maroney at the 50-yard line. The Giants ended up eating about six minutes off the clock before taking the lead on Tynes 29-yard field goal.

New England sits with the ball on the Giants 1 yard line as we end the third quarter. The drive got this far on a 67-yard catch and run by Patriots wide receiver Rod Owens. The Giants have stopped the Patriots on two straight one-yard attempts and will enter the fourth with a 4th-and-1.

Giants linebacker Phillip Dillard has a hamstring injury and will not return tonight.

› Second Quarter: 10-9, Patriots – New York had three shots in the red zone to start the second quarter, but failed to reach the end zone. Their best chance at scoring came when Rhett Bomar targeted a slanting Victor Cruz right at the goal line, but he couldn’t haul it in. They had to settle for a Lawrence Tynes field goal.

While most of the Giants’ offensive starters were pulled after two series, many of their defensive first-stringers remained on the field for a good part of the second quarter. Mathais Kiwanuka had one of the highlights, sacking Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer for an 11-yard loss. New England did score to close out the quarter, as Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 46 yarder that hit the upright but never looked to go past the crossbar. A side note to that: Gostkowski is my fantasy kicker this season, so him hitting a 46-yarder gives me added confidence.

On the injury front, Giants defensive back Courtney Brown left the game with an ankle injury. His return is questionable.

› First Quarter: 7-6, Patriots – The Giants made quick work of the Patriots’ first team, driving 76 yards in under five minutes on the game’s opening possession. Eli Manning found tight end Kevin Boss wide open on his left side for the 13-yard score. New York tried for a two-point conversion, but failed, leaving them with just six. Tom Brady countered with a touchdown pass of his own, as he connected with Rob Gronkowski (I wrote about him in the pregame notes as a difference maker) in traffic. The Patriots quarterback certainly doesn’t look like he’s going to take this game lightly. After his first pass was dropped by tight end Alge Crumpler, Brady began clapping his hands with an angry look on his face. This is the first preseason finale Brady has played in seven years.

The Giants defense played much better against Brady and the Pats’ offense on their second series. With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, Brady tried to go deep downfield to Moss, but underthrew him majorly and the ball landed in the arms of safety Antrel Rolle. The crowd seemed to enjoy that one.

Interestingly, Ahmad Bradshaw got the starting nod over Brandon Jacobs. Considering Jacobs’ struggles this preseason, it looks like Bradshaw has finally supplanted him as New York’s top back. Bradshaw didn’t play the second drive, however, most of the other starters, including Manning, did. They were out by their third series though.

› Commute: I wanted to update everyone on the commute to the New Meadowlands Stadium via NJ Transit. There are, after all, very few, if any, reviews of the trip online. Typically, I get a parking pass, but when I don’t have time to pick one up or none are available, I need an alternative. That’s where the train comes into play.

I took the train from Clifton Station, which is about a 15 minute trip to Secaucus. The train wasn’t too packed at all. In Secaucus, the train had a lot more people and all the seats were filled. This was expected since a number of lines converge to bring folks to this hub. The trip from there was only 20 minutes. Here’s a big tip: If you are entering at the Pepsi Gate, which is where the media do, get off at the front of the train and walk around the stadium. The back of the stadium is blocked off and you’ll be disappointed you wasted some time. One thing I have to remember though is that today is a weekday and not a game-day Sunday. Depending on the crowd size tonight, I’ll be able to tell if this is the norm. I’m thinking the trip home might be more crowded, but at least I leave after a majority of the crowd once I’m done doing interviews.

Postgame Update: By the time I left the stadium, there were no lines waiting for the trains. Three were stationed at the platform, which is great news should it have been busy. Everything looks very organized there though. I got on at about 11 p.m. and pulled into Secaucus around 11:20 p.m. I had to wait until 12:05 a.m. to get the train to Clifton, so overall my trip home was about 1 hour, 30 minutes. The real pain is that the train to Clifton only runs every hour, so if you miss it, you’re stuck in Secaucus until the next one comes. I’ll definitely try this commute for a regular season game, when the stadium is completely sold out, for a better evaluation.

› Pregame: Thursday’s New York Giants game should be more exciting than a Brandon Spikes sex tape. Wait, I haven’t seen the video so how can I compare it to a Week Four preseason game?

Over the years, this final week of the preseason has become an audition for fringe players and the final NFL action for those on the chopping block. The allure of an NFL game just isn’t there. That trend will continue tonight at New Meadowlands Stadium.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has plans to play his starters for a series or two tonight. Eli Manning will start at quarterback before handing over the duties to Rhett Bomar. Bomar played okay in Saturday’s loss against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 10-of-20 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. After Bomar, the Giants only have rookie Dominic Randolph left on the quarterback depth chart. The Holy Cross product will likely take center for at least a quarter.

I’m looking forward to seeing Victor Cruz in action for the first time. The undrafted rookie has been the Giants’ best receiver of this practice period, hauling in 12 catches for 251 yards and four touchdowns. If he doesn’t make this team, I don’t know what you have to do to catch a coach’s eye.

Defensively, the Giants will try to pressure New England’s quarterbacks. They’ve only compiled seven sacks over three games, more than half of them coming from Justin Tuck (2.5) and Rocky Bernard (2).

New England hasn’t had a bad preseason by any means. They’re 2-1 and averaging over 30 points a game. But head coach Bill Belichick wasn’t impressed with his team’s performance against a bad St. Louis Rams team last Tuesday, ending in a 36-35 loss. As a result, most of the New England starters, including the aforementioned Spikes, will start tonight. Belichick hasn’t said whether Tom Brady or Randy Moss are included in those “starters,” but it’s safe to assume they’re not.

Some lesser-known guys to watch out for on New England’s roster are receiver Rob Gronkowski (seven catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns) and defensive back Pat Chung (22 tackles). Spikes is third on the team with 17 tackles.

Two other notes: I’m actually taking NJ Transit to the game tonight. I’ve never done it before and wanted to test out this means of transportation ahead of the actual season. I’ll definitely provide you my fair assessment at some point.

Also, this game will be the first NFL action broadcast in 3D. Beginning at 7 p.m., those with expensive televisions and fancy glasses can partake in this monumental event.

Against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Tomlinson put together his best performance of the NFL’s practice season. On 11 rushing attempts, he picked up 86 yards, including a 43-yarder that had the Redskins defense scrambling to catch up to him. Those stats were not enough, however, as the Jets lost, 16-11, at New Meadowlands Stadium.

For Tomlinson, the preseason is something he rarely took part in over nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Head coaches Mike Riley, Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner each limited Tomlinson’s preseason workload to save his body for the grind of a 16-game season, plus, hopefully, a playoff run. This didn’t sit well with the former fifth-round pick (2001) out of Texas Christian University.

“I’ve always wanted to play. I’ve been held back by the coaches and I’m not a guy who argues against coaches’ authority. I’ve always gone along with it.” said Tomlinson, who has 129 yards on 22 carries in three games this preseason. “I’ve always wanted to play and it’s just kind of the way it goes.”

For several of those years, Tomlinson got no touches in the preseason. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has shown little signs of holding back his team’s number-one rusher. Shonn Greene will be handed the reigns at the top of the depth chart after spending 2009-10 behind Thomas Jones. Greene has 23 carries for 72 yards in New York’s three games so far.

“I feel real good. I’m good in the offense,” Greene said. “I feel a lot more comfortable, which allows me to play a lot faster, just be more confident.”

Greene and Tomlinson credit the Jets’ offensive line for their success thus far. Tomlinson went as far as to call this group the best he’s ever run behind, a sentiment Greene wouldn’t argue with.

“They do a great job,” Greene said. “Any (back) that’s in there can pop one at any time.”

The centerpiece of that offensive line is center Nick Mangold. The four-year pro signed a seven-year contract extension with the Jets on Tuesday. Two days later, he was out there opening gaps for the six teammates to run the ball and working to protect quarterback Mark Sanchez (13-for-21, 139 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT).

“(We’re) about two weeks out. We’re getting there,” Mangold said. “We’re doing some good things and some things need to get fixed up. This is the preseason and now is the time to fix those things and you can’t be dilly dallying.”

The Jets fell to 1-2 following the loss. New York’s offense has only scored 36 points against their opponents, while the defense has surrendered 49. Sanchez believes the offense is lagging early in the game and they need to prevent stalled drives from carrying over to their next possession. The Jets have also scored seven field goals to just two touchdowns.

“I think we’re getting to those third downs in the red zone and we didn’t convert, but we got field goals,” Sanchez said. “As long as we get points we’ll be okay. We just want to turn those into touchdowns and that will happen when we don’t turn the ball over.”

Offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson plays alongside Mangold on the Jets’ line, which has given up 10 sacks this preseason. Ferguson has no concerns whether they’ll be ready to play next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, then in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to take care of anything that shows up,” he said. “I don’t think there will be anything that’s so drastic or dire that we’re incapable of fixing. I think we’ll make those changes and fix what we need to.”

A bright spot in the loss to the Redskins was outside linebacker Vernon Gholston, who has struggled to fit in since the Jets took him 6th overall out of Ohio State in 2008. Gholston picked up a fumble on special teams that gave New York the ball back on Washington’s end of the field.

“It’s huge. Obviously putting the offense back out there and in a good position to score,” Gholston said. “Those opportunities create huge momentums for us as a team and for the offense to get something going.”

Four plays later, Sanchez threw an interception into the hands of Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall that left the Jets with no points.

Gholston will receive more playing time now that the Jets have lost Calvin Pace to a broken foot, which he sustained in Thursday’s loss. Pace is expected to miss at least four regular season games.

Linebacker Jason Taylor wouldn’t put the blame solely on the offense, but said it was both sides that need work.

“We need to take care of the ball better as a team. You can’t win in this league if you turn the ball over. It’s darn near impossible,” said Taylor, who signed with the Jets after 12 seasons in Miami and a stint with Washington in 2008.

“We need to play a little better defensively in certain situations, not giving up third downs… We need to mow our own grass on the defensive side and get ourselves ready to go.”

Despite this being Taylor’s first year in the Jets defense, which was ranked at the top of nearly all NFL defensive categories last season, he says he’s fitting right in.

“Yeah, I feel good. I’m feeling comfortable and confident mentally,” he said. “The physical will always follow the mental.”

Washington head coach Mike Shanahan saw first-hand the potential of this Jets defense, and was not shy in assessing them.

“The Jets do have an excellent defense, they proved that last year,” Shanahan said. “They’re very, very good and they’re very, very consistent. They’re going to play that way this year.”

Hall believes the Washington defense, which collected three fumble recoveries, four interceptions and a pick against New York, can one day be placed into the same defensive category as their opponent, but not right now.

“We have a lot to do to live up to those expectations,” Hall said. “Week by week, day by day we’re going to definitely keep fighting and keep working to be considered in that category, to be considered in that category with teams like the Jets, the Ravens, Pittsburgh that have consistently year after year put up the numbers and backed it up on the field.”

Quarterback Rex Grossman, who filled in for the injured Donovan McNabb as the starter Thursday, believes the Redskins defense is already there.

“Our defense is explosive. They’re confusing… they can rush the passer, they can stop the run,” Grossman (8-for-16, 111 yds) said. “They can do anything you need a defense to do. They’re going to be a Top 5 defense in the league, I have no question.”

The Jets need to find the offense that can get the best of any defense, no matter where they rank among the NFL’s 32 teams. It’s going to start with Tomlinson and Greene. Sanchez, in his second year, needs to develop chemistry with veteran wideouts Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.

If the passing game catches up with the rushing game, the offense will catch up to the defense, which at this point is several yards ahead.

I asked Woods Sunday to give me an assessment of Ridgewood Country Club: “Finally it played fast. It got quick yesterday. But today it’s really quick. There were a couple of mud balls out there, but still the greens are really fast. You’ve got to be very careful. I mean, if it would have played like this on Thursday, we would have had a major championship on our hands; basically, with four or five-inch rough and with greens like this.”

2. A tip of the hat to Martin Laird and Matt Kuchar, both of whom had to compete in a one-hole playoff for the win. Initially, the victory was in Laird’s hands — and putter — but he three putted on 18 to send the final round into the playoff. The three putts were uncharacteristic of Laird’s previous 17 holes, which he completed in just 22 putts.

Kuchar, who I saw with a constant smile on his face throughout the weekend, took the win with a gorgeous second-shot in the playoff. The ball rolled from the fairway to the back of the green and back down to rest two feet from the pin. Laird had very little shot from that point on. Both players finished at -12.

3. The best story of the week has to be Kevin Streelman. The 31-year-old, who finished tied for fourth at The Barclays in 2008 at Ridgewood Country Club, has spent most of his life living in the Chicago area. His parents, however, lived in Midland Park and Glen Rock, N.J. for about 31 years. In fact, his father’s parents are buried in a cemetery that is separated by a fence on the seventh hole. Streelman finished in a tie for third place with a four-day score of -10.

Earlier in the week, Streelman told me there was no additional pressure from having so many family and friends, many of whom still live in the area, in attendance.

4. I’m disappointed that Phil Mickelson missed the cut this week. I’m sure the PGA, Ridgewood Country Club, CBS and everyone else involved in The Barclays were, as well. The crowds around Woods were huge, and I can’t imagine them being any less around Mickelson should he have been in contention. I would have loved to pick Mickelson’s brain about what went wrong, however, he left without talking to the media on Friday. That’s very un-Phil-like. Mickelson is adored by the fans, especially in the tri-state area, and has a great relationship with reporters. For him to walk out without saying a word, you have to think he was extremely disappointed in his play.

5. I’m looking forward to 2011, when The Barclays will be played at Plainfield Country Club in Plainfield, N.J. That could be the last New Jersey stop for the tournament before it possibly goes to Westchester in 2012. I’d love to see another Liberty National stop, perhaps in 2013. Padraig Harrington said he believes that’s where this tournament should be played every year.

“Five was a tough tee shot for me because i had to take some off of it and hit it into the air,” Woods said. “That’s not an easy shot for me to do with the driver.”

Woods’ driver shot on Thursday landed 12 feet from the pin, but he three-putted to save par. Friday, Woods three-putted again; this time for a bogey.

“I didn’t feel comfortable (going for it) so I laid up and trusted my wedge game,” Woods said. “Unfortunately I three putted.”

The third of those putts was an easy tap in that Woods rushed, knocking it two feet past the hole creating a harder shot than the one prior.

“More than anything, I didn’t putt well,” he said. “I just could not get my speed right. When you have greens like this, you have to get the ball rolling quickly and I wasn’t doing that.”

Woods finished the day +2, bringing his two-day total to -4, three behind the leaders. He started the day on the back nine, racking up two birdies. The front nine, however, was a different story as he wrote four bogeys onto his scorecard. Woods wasn’t the only one who felt the greens were challenging.

“The later you go in the day, because they’re soft, they do get bumpy,” Stewart Cink said. “That’s going to be an obstacle that the players this afternoon and the players in the later groups this weekend will have to face.”

“Anywhere you don’t get a good tee shot you’re putting yourself under pressure,” Paraig Harrington said.

Wet weather earlier in the week left the fairways and greens soft and moist. Warm, humid weather came in Thursday and the course began to dry.

“It dried out but not to the extent that the ball was rolling. The ball didn’t pick up the amount of mud we thought it was going to,” said Cink, who had a share of the lead at -7 after two days. “That had a lot of players scared early on and you saw a lot of players hovering around even par.

“Once everybody got comfortable and the moisture started to evaporate a little bit from the fairways then I think the players got comfortable and took dead aim a little bit more.”

Cink and Jason Day weren’t the only ones in contention at the top of the leaderboard with -7s. So was Kevin Streelman, a 31-year-old from Chicago. Streelman has strong ties to Ridgewood Country Club. His parents lived in Midland Park and Glen Rock for a majority of their lives. His father’s parents are also buried at George Washington Memorial Park, which borders the seventh hole.

Streelman finished in fourth place at the 2008 Barclays, which was also held at Ridgewood.  He says this year he’ll have more family and friends in attendance than any tournament he’s ever been in. Streelman doesn’t think that adds any pressure to his performance.

“No, I don’t think pressure,” he said. “There’s so much love and support that it’s very encouraging. I love it.”

While Streelman will have a large following throughout the weekend, the majority of fans will be cheering for Woods. They’ll be holding out hope to see his first fist pump of the year Sunday evening on eighteen.

The Barclays continues Saturday and Sunday. Follow Scott Stanchak on Twitter (@ScottStanchak) as he brings you live coverage of the final round on Sunday.

The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at New Meadowlands Stadium during the Jets/Redskins game on Friday, Aug. 27.

Postgame: I was able to get interviews with Mark Sanchez, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene, Vernon Gholston, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Jason Taylor, Mike Shanahan, DeAngelo Hall and Rex Grossman. Story coming Monday.

Fourth Quarter: Larry Johnson was huge on the Redskins scoring drive with three minutes remaining. The drive proved fatal for the Jets, who fell to 1-2 on the preseason after the 16-11 loss. Johnson had an 18-yard rush, two-yard rush and 15-yard catch from quarterback Richard Bartel, which he got into the end zone on. The Jets got the ball back before the two-minute warning, however, quarterback Mark Brunell fumbled on first down, returning the ball to Washington on New York’s 27.

A deep sigh of relief could be seen on the Jets’ sideline after their offense scored its first touchdown since the third quarter against the Giants two weeks ago. Sanchez connected with tight end Dustin Keller from 10 yards out just seconds into the quarter. Actually, it was five yards out and Keller worked for the rest of the yardage. Sadly, Folk, who I praised earlier, missed the extra point. That left New York with the 11-9 edge before Washington’s points later on.

Earlier in the quarter, Joe McKnight fumbled on his fifth carry of the game. McKnight has struggled with dropping the ball, including letting one go last week against Carolina as well.

My last point: Washington’s defense outperformed the Jets. No doubt. The Redskins had four sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception. New York, meanwhile, had one fumble recovery — the Gholston special teams’ one — and two sacks. New York did hold Washington to just 82 rushing yards, compared to the 161 they tallied. The Redskins did, however, have more through the air: 210 to 146.

Third Quarter: The Jets defense came up big against a Washington offense that, under the direction of new quarterback John Beck, marched 50 yards down the field to the Jets 16. On third down, Beck was sacked by cornerback Kyle Wilson and safety Jim Leonhard to force the Redskins to kick their third field goal of the evening.

As we end the third quarter, the Jets have something going, thanks mostly to Tomlinson, who has 11 carries for 86 yards and one catch for nine. The drive started on their own 28 and now are on the Washington 20.

Also of note: Calvin Pace left the game with a foot injury. It’s not known currently how serious.

Second Quarter: Things were looking up for the Jets at about the 8 minute mark of the second quarter. Vernon Gholston, who has played very well tonight, had just recovered a fumble on a punt return — Brad Smith was also involved — and they were 13 yards from the end zone. Then Mark Sanchez threw an interception. The Jets quarterback was picked off by Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall on the 6 and returned the ball 35 yards to the Washington 41. They had to settle for Graham Gano’s second kick through the uprights.

Six minutes later, Santonio Holmes fumbled at the Jets 43 to give the ball back to the Redskins. That drive could have resulted in another Redskins score, but pass interference penalties near the goal line on Antonio Cromartie and Washington’s Anthony Armstrong negated one another on third down.

The Jets did get two points this quarter, both coming as a result of a safety. It was nothing the defense did, Grossman just botched the snap in the end zone.

Finally, Nick Folk was thrown out there to kick a 62-yard field goal with time expiring in the half. He actually came about two or three feet away from putting it through. I’m not sure Jay Feely would have put it as close as Folk did.

First Quarter: We’re at 3-3 thanks to the accuracy of each team’s field goal kicker. The Redskins have been able to move the ball down the field against the Jets’ first team better than the Panthers did. Grossman has 64 yards passing on an efficient 5-for-8. The line is doing a better job tonight against the rush, holding Parker to five yards on four carries and Portis to three on one. The highlight thus far for New York is LaDainian Tomlinson. I’ve been saying it since they signed him: he is going to be special in this offense. Tomlinson might only see 15 carries a game, but he’s going to make the most of those attempts. Lightening his load will also keep him fresh all season. Tonight, Tomlinson already has 50 yards on three carries, including a 43-yarder that got the crowd excited.

Preview: I’m sorry, but there’s not going to be a full preview for tonight’s game. I literally arrived in the press box here at the stadium just as the coin toss was going on. That’s what spending a full day covering The Barclays will do to you. Enough about me though. There’s a few things I’m going to be looking out for:

1) Can the Jets offense rebound to put up more than nine points. Remember, head coach Rex Ryan said after the game in Carolina that the offense is going to have off days like that. Two games in a row, however, will be unacceptable.

2) How will the Jets defense fair against the Redskins rushing attack. While Clinton Portis, Willie Parker and Larry Johnson aren’t the backs they used to be, they still have the potential to break out. With Rex Grossman filling in for Donovan McNabb, Washington may lean on their rushers a little more tonight.

3) Who is going to standout and make this roster. We know the front office and coaching staff has a good idea which players will be on the 53-man roster to start the season. That doesn’t mean one of these fringe guys can push their way on. Who is going to make a name for themself tonight?

About The Barclays:

The Barclays is one of four PGA TOUR playoff events for the FedExCup. The top 125 golfers on the regular season points list have a chance to win the $10 million dollar pot. Players earn points based on finishing position — points in the playoffs are worth five times the amount they were in regular TOUR events. By the third tournament, only the top 30 will remain in the hunt.

Rest of the Playoff:

Sept. 3-6: TPC Boston (Norton, MA) – Top 100 compete
Sept. 9-12: Cog Hill (Lemont, Ill.) – Top 70 compete
Sept. 23-26: East Lake C.C. (Atlanta, GA) – Top 30 compete

Recent Memory:

2009: Liberty National (Jersey City, N.J.) – Heath Slocum
2008: Ridgewood Country Club (Paramus, N.J.) – Vijay Singh
2007: Westchester Country Club (Rye, N.Y.) – Steve Stricker

Next Up:

2011: Plainfield Country Club (Plainfield, N.J.)

Top Five Best Chances to Win: (No particular order)

Zach Johnson: The 26-year-old is on an unlucky hot streak. Johnson had a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the U.S. Open, only to finish that day with an 81. Then, at the PGA Championship, he was penalized two shots for grounding his club in a supposed bunker. Had he gotten those two strokes back, Johnson would have forced a playoff for the win.

Vijay Singh: Singh loves playing in the Barclays. He’s a four-time winner, including in 2006 at Ridgewood Country Club. Singh has 22 wins since turning 40 seven years ago. Some players just get better with age.

Tiger Woods: It would be impossible to write Woods out of any tournament he plays in. With his divorce finalized, perhaps now Woods will have somewhat of a clearer mind on the course. Woods was injured in 2008 when The Barclays was in Ridgewood.

Phil Mickelson: The lefty can move into the No. 1 spot in the world with a win or a second- or third-place finish if Woods finishes out of the top four. There’s a few other scenarios, but basically the better Mickelson does, the worse Woods has to do. The Garden State loves Mickelson and he’ll feel that energy all weekend long.

Matt Kuchar: The American owns nine top 10 finishes in 2010, along with three in the top three. Kuchar has improved each year since turning pro in 2000. The Barclays, being played near the largest media market in the world, could help him open some eyes.

Top Five Pairings: (No particular order)

1. Zach Johnson, Robert Allenby, J.B. Holmes: Thursday, 12:54 p.m.; Friday, 7:54 a.m.

2. Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Jeff Overton: Thursday, 1:16 p.m.; Friday, 8:16 a.m.

3. Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar: Thursday, 8:05 a.m.; Friday, 1:05 p.m.

4. Bo Van Pelt, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas: Thursday, 7:54 a.m.; Friday, 12:54 p.m.

5. K.J. Choi, Ryan Moore, Sean O’Hair: Thursday: 7:54 a.m.; Friday, 12:54 p.m.

Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottStanchak for continuous Barclays coverage this weekend.

1. Rhett Bomar: It was a huge confidence booster for Bomar to command an NFL offense for the entire game. It also helped the Giants’ trust in him should Eli Manning go down early in the season, or if Manning and backup Jim Sorgi are both taken out down the line. Bomar’s numbers weren’t great (13-for-26 on 167 yards and an interception), but he showed he belonged.

2. Andre Brown: Brown earned 13 touches after averaging 5.2 yards on five carries in last Monday’s preseason game against the Jets. With those 13 touches, he ran for 61 yards (4.7 avg) and a touchdown. The Giants would love to solidify their third back slot, which has been inconsistent since the trio of Brandon Jacobs/Ahmad Bradshaw/Derrick Ward were broken up.

3. Steve Smith: A 45-yard grab was all Smith needed to do Saturday night to solidify his presence once again as Manning’s top target and deep threat this season. Six plays later, New York was in the end zone. Smith finished with two catches for 53 yards.

4. Aaron Ross: The cornerback has proved more versatile than his position. Ross has been fielding punts and returned one for 45 yards against the Steelers. New York has given Victor Cruz two return opportunities, but don’t read too much into that. Ross will be the man handling the duties come Week 1 against Carolina

5. Adrian Tracy: The rookie linebacker out of William & Mary led both teams with nine tackles, all solos. That’s a much better showing than against the Jets, when Tracy had a single tackle. The sixth-rounder should see playing time sparingly this season.

New York Jets

1. LaDainian Tomlinson: The future Hall of Famer has looked stellar in limited action this preseason. On Saturday, he picked up 26 yards on three carries, including a 20-yarder. Tomlinson had just eight carries in the Giants’ game, and he’ll likely see only three to five on Friday against Washington.

2. Nick Folk: The former Dallas Cowboy was spot on Saturday, knocking through 3-of-3, including a 49 yarder. Those nine points were also the only digits the Jets posted all evening. Folk is 6-for-7 over the first two games. Last season’s kicker, Jay Feely, now in Arizona, is 1-for-2.

3. Jim Leonhard: I’m a big fan of the 27-year-old strong safety. Against Carolina, Leonhard picked off Panthers quarterback Matt Moore on the sixth play of the game. He also sacked Moore on Carolina’s next series.

4. Drew Coleman: Props must go out to any Jets cornerback who gets an interception this preseason. With Darrelle Revis still camped out at home, the Jets need to figure out who will be their second cornerback after Antonio Cromartie. Coleman looks to have the close edge over Dwight Lowery.

5. Jets Defense: If you own the Jets in fantasy football, too bad this wasn’t the regular season. The team’s defense unit forced five Caroline fumbles and two interceptions. Only three of the fumbles were actually recovered.

Regardless of wins or losses, you should never read too much into the stats or records from the preseason. Everyone is trying something new. I can bet you one thing though: The Giants are happy as anything to get this first win in the new stadium, and the Jets feel like they failed.

Here are 10 things I learned watching the Jets and Giants on Monday night:

1. The Giants have had concerns about punter Matt Dodge throughout training camp and even more popped up on Monday night. Dodge’s first punt went 45 yards, but had no height to it. His second was blocked. The rest of the night was nothing to brag about either. New York has no room to be patient with Dodge during the season. When Jeff Feagles retired, head coach Tom Coughlin knew he was losing one of the best in the game. Dodge’s struggles make Feagles’ retirement even harder to swallow.

2. The Jets are going to lean heavily on the versatile Brad Smith to mix things up this season. Smith took over at kick returner when Leon Washington went down with a right leg injury last year. He stood out in the playoffs in Wildcat situations. Smith scored the Jets first touchdown on Monday and that came playing wideout. Watch him closely. He’s going to do the little things that turn into big things that will help this team win.

3. I could see the Jets utilizing more of a running back committee than you think. There’s no doubt that Shonn Greene is their primary back, but LaDainian Tomlinson, who had a touchdown canceled by a penalty Monday, is going to get a lot of touches as well. He’s too valuable to not give 15 handoffs a game — Tomlinson had eight carries compared to Greene’s five against the Giants. In an offense that runs the ball more than it passes, Greene is going to need a break. If you remember, Greene and Thomas Jones, who left via free agency, were the same bruising-type rushers. The mixture of power (Greene) and speed (Tomlinson) now creates the perfect balance, especially in games when Mark Sanchez struggles, which happened more times than not in 2009-10.

4. Antonio Cromartie is going to be a big part of this defense. Currently, he’s handling the opposing teams’ top receiver while Darrelle Revis is holding out. At least two times, Cromartie had his hands on an Eli Manning-thrown ball. We know Cromartie, who has 15 interceptions in the last three seasons, has a huge upside. Most teams would love to have just him on their depth chart. If the Jets get Revis back and play those two on the field together, I don’t see very many opposing wide receivers compiling 100-yard games and quarterbacks tossing for 300-plus yards.

5. Brandon Jacobs felt it was Manning’s fault he got run into on the play that knocked him out of the game. Manning, who later took the blame, caught the one-on-one coverage on the outside and decided to adjust the already called running play. Jacobs didn’t get the memo, thus went right up the middle, knocking into the unaware Manning, who fumbled the ball and cut his head open on Jets safety Jim Leonhard’s helmet. Manning had a three-inch gash that was pouring blood. I could see him missing time next week as precaution — you don’t want the helmet rubbing against the stitches — but he’ll be ready by Week 3 or, at most, 4 of the preseason. In other words, there’s no chance he will miss his 88th consecutive regular season start.

6. Despite the interception early on, Mark Sanchez looked very comfortable in command of the offense. Perhaps it’s all the weapons he has at his disposal now, but he didn’t seem flustered at all. This is a great sign. If Sanchez can improve his production — something that definitely held the Jets back at points last season — there’s another aspect of this team that will scare opponents.

7. Jason Pierre-Paul appears to be legit. The Giants first-round draft pick this season did a nice job pressuring Sanchez, reaching him once. Pierre-Paul also had three solo tackles. Some of New York’s struggles on defense last season stemmed from not having consistency out of the defensive end spot. As of last night, it looks like they’ve patched that hole up.

8. Santonio Holmes is legit. We didn’t get to see Sanchez work with the former Super Bowl MVP, but Kellen Clemens did. What I saw was the big play wideout the Jets needed to add to their arsenal. Braylon Edwards also has that type of potential, but he’s known for dropping passes. Holmes has played and thrived in the biggest pressure situation in the sport, and he’ll be a great comfort zone for Sanchez to go to in Week Four.

9. I want to see more Danny Woodhead. I believe the Jets have a Wes Welker-type player on their hands and need to utilize him more. Last night, Woodhead caught five passes for 41 yards and fumbled the ball, which he recovered. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has also played the second-year player at running back in the past. I would love to see him as the slot receiver in short yardage situations. Just like Tomlinson, put him on the field and opposing teams won’t know whether he’s going to rush or receive.

10. Have you added Victor Cruz to your fantasy roster yet? How can you not be excited for Cruz, a New Jersey native from nearby Patterson, who caught three touchdowns on 145 yards receiving in the second half last night. I couldn’t tell if quarterbacks Jim Sorgi and Rhett Bomar were intentionally targeting him a lot or if he was just getting so open they had no choice but to go to him. Good for, Cruz. He’s definitely opened some eyes. I expect him to get more reps in practice this week and will get the chance to play against the first-string Steelers corners on Saturday as another test.

Which team has a better shot at reaching the Super Bowl: the Giants or Jets?
Mark, Livingston, N.J.

I’d love to give you a one-word answer in my lede, but first let me tackle a few points. New York has always been a Giants town first, Jets second. Especially over the last decade, the Jets simply weren’t as exciting as their co-tenants at the Meadowlands. Even when Brett Favre came to town, it was big news overshadowed by the Giants winning the Super Bowl the previous year. Then, Rex Ryan moseyed on in with his big personality and people started talking a little more. A year later, this offseason, the Jets went out and grabbed a future Hall of Fame running back (LaDainian Tomlinson), a Top 10 wide receiver (Santonio Holmes) and a young cornerback with potential (Antonio Cromartie). This may still be a Giants town, but there’s no denying that the Jets are a more interesting storyline.

I can remember watching the Jets hold off the New England Patriots in Week 2 last season and thinking, this team has what it takes to be very good. Then, four weeks later, I witnessed the Jets fall to the Buffalo Bills. They’d won three straight then lost just as many. It was not looking pretty. But with their backs against the wall, the Jets’ defense rose to the occasion and the offense began to mature. After that, the playoffs looked like a breeze for the Jets, aside from the AFC Conference Championship game, of course.

With a second-year quarterback at the helm, an offense and defense that now knows Ryan’s playbook inside and out, and an upgrade at the wide receiver spots, how can this Jets team not be better than their New York counterpart? My one fear is that the Jets will look like the Washington Redskins did in the early 2000s when they’d use free agency to nab the biggest names who would eventually underperform.

The Giants aren’t about the splash as much as the Jets. General manager Jerry Reese builds through the draft and uses free agency to fill in the remaining pieces. When the Giants won the Super Bowl, they didn’t have a boat load of big-name talent—Plaxico Burress, Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Strahan, that’s about all. It’s a trait that made them interesting and unpredictable. But three seasons later, I’m not as confident in the remaining players from that championship squad. I’m convinced the Giants have seen the best years from Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka already; Jacobs is an injury concern; and Steve Smith, who did have a strong 2009-10, is their biggest wide receiving threat. That cream of the crop defense they were recognized for just a few years ago is no longer as dominating, and in my book, is on the outside of the league’s Top 10 best.

That said, the Giants still do have many pieces I’d take over the Jets. In a pick ‘em scenario, here’s who I’d choose:

Head Coach: Tom Coughlin (G) over Rex Ryan (J)
Quarterback: Eli Manning (G) over Mark Sanchez (J)
Running Back: Shonn Greene (J) over Brandon Jacobs (G)
Wide Receivers: Santonio Holmes/Braylon Edwards (J) over Steve Smith/Mario Manningham (G)
Tight End: Kevin Boss (G) over Dustin Keller (J)
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis (J) over Corey Webster (G)
Linebacker: Bart Scott (J) over Michael Boley (G)
Kicker: Lawrence Tynes (G) over Nick Folk (J)
Offense: Jets over Giants
Defense: Jets over Giants
Team: Jets over Giants

Will Darrelle Revis play for the Jets this season?
Francis, Belmar, N.J.

I have no reason to believe Revis will hold out this entire year, or even any part of the season. I can see him coming back after Week 4 of the preseason, once all of the practice games have been played. New York opens the season against the Baltimore Ravens, who have Anquan Boldin, and then face the New England Patriots and Randy Moss in Week 2. You can bet Revis won’t want to sit on his couch as opposed to lining up against those top wideouts, Moss especially.

Sure, cash is the main factor, and right now it doesn’t look like the Jets are willing to give him what he’s asking for. The Jets dug their own grave on this one though. Throughout last season, coaches and management kept calling Revis the best corner, if not defensive difference maker, in the game. How can you do that then not pay him like so? I don’t know which side is going to budge first, but the Jets need Revis on the field come Week 1 to have a chance against two playoff-potential opponents.

Are the Giants going to be okay at wide receiver?
Bill, Manhatten, N.Y.

Wasn’t that the question mark heading into last season?  Did I just answer a question with a question? Yes, the Giants will be fine at wide receiver, as long as Hakeem Nicks’ knee injury isn’t too serious. Nicks returned to practice Monday, so it doesn’t appear to be.

Let’s take a look at the Giants’ Top 3 wide receiver leaders from last season:

Steve Smith: 107 receptions for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns
Mario Manningham: 57 receptions for 822 yards and five touchdowns
Hakeem Nicks: 47 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns

This is a young group: Smith is in his fourth year, Manningham his third and Nicks his second. All three have to be very comfortable in head coach Tom Coughlin’s offense, and especially at ease with Eli Manning tossing them the ball. I’d venture to say two from this trio could have 1,000-yard campaigns.

Keep sending those questions in: scott at scottstanchak.com