the Giants to a 21-point first-quarter lead. Rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer
brought the Patriots back for a 38-27 exhibition win Thursday night.
The rookie free agent from Michigan State helped his
chances to become Tom Brady's primary backup by throwing for one touchdown and
leading three drives that ended with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing for scores.
Brady and nearly all of New England's usual starters sat
out the exhibition finale. Manning played just one series and Carr handled the
next three for New York.
Green-Ellis made a strong case to remain part of a
crowded Patriots backfield by running for touchdowns of 1 and 32 yards in the
last 5:53 after the Giants had taken a 27-24 lead on Lawrence Tynes' 25-yard
field goal.
Hoyer, who took every offensive snap for the Patriots,
completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and no interceptions, although most of
that was against New York's backups. Their other quarterback, Andrew Walter, was
picked up a month ago when Oakland cut him. He's still learning the offense.
It was a stunning turnaround for the Patriots (3-1), who
were picked apart by Manning and Carr. They were a combined 9 for 9 for 229
yards, although the only defensive first-stringer who started was outside
linebacker Pierre Woods.
After just 12 offensive plays, the Giants (1-3) led 21-0
on Manning's 23-yard touchdown pass to Sinorice Moss and Carr's pass plays – a
12-yard touchdown to Moss and a 64-yard score on which rookie first-round pick
Hakeem Nicks ran about half the distance after the catch.
Manning completed all three of his passes for 76 yards
before Carr went 6-for-6 for 153 yards.
New England's defensive play changed when New York
switched quarterbacks again, going with Andre' Woodson, who is competing with
rookie Rhett Bomar for the No. 3 job.
On Woodson's third play, he threw an interception
Brandon McGowan returned 27 yards for a touchdown.
Tynes made it 24-7 with a 46-yard field goal before
Green-Ellis scored on a 1-yard run capping a 33-yard drive that began with
Hoyer's 32-yard completion to Greg Lewis.
Hoyer struck again on the first series of the third
quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass to rookie free agent Robert Ortiz. Then he
led a 58-yard march that ended in Stephen Gostkowski's 46-yard field goal that
tied the game at 24 with 52 seconds left in the third quarter.
Woodson played most of the game for New York, going 6
for 19 for 98 yards before Bomar took over and completed 2 of 7 passes for 40
yards. Each threw an interception.
Brady suffered a sore shoulder when tackled in last
Friday's 27-24 exhibition win over Washington, but appears healthy after
throwing in practice this week. His top receivers, Randy Moss and Wes Welker,
also sat out the game.