Final, Giants 12-9: That’s the ballgame. The Giants hold on for a 12-9 win and the preseason is over.
Fourth quarter, 0:59, Giants 12-9: The Patriots, once again, were knocking on the door, but the Giants’ defense forced another turnover.
Damonte Moore sacked Ryan Lindley, and the Giants recovered. That should do it.
Fourth quarter, 2:01, Giants 12-9: The Patriots will get another chance. They forced a punt, using two timeouts in the process, and they take over at the Giants’ 45-yard line.
Fourth quarter, 3:12, Giants 12-9: The Patriots were driving and looked poised to at least tie the game. However, Ryan Lindley’s pass — intended for LeGarrette Blount — was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
The ball was bounced around a couple of times before the Giants’ Stevie Brown controlled it and hauled it in for the interception.
Fourth quarter, 8:13, Giants 12-9: We’ve got a barn-burner on our hands.
The Giants just moved ahead again on a 40-yard field goal from Chris Boswell, his fourth field goal of the game. The score was set up primarily by a nice 33-yard completion to Jerome Cunningham who went up and over Tavon Wilson to haul in the pass from Ryan Nassib.
Fourth quarter, 12:26, 9-9: The game is once again tied.
The Patriots went 40 yards on nine plays in 3 minutes and 19 seconds, which all led up to a 50-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski to even the score.
End third quarter, Giants 9-6: The third quarter is over, and the Giants lead by three. There are (hopefully) just 15 minutes left in the preseason.
Third quarter, 0:45, Giants 9-6: The Giants went 57 yards on 11 plays and concluded their drive with a 33-yard Chris Boswell field goal.
Patriots defensive end Rufus Johnson is consistently in the backfield. He beat a double team to catch Lindley, who was scrambling to his right, on the last play of the series.
Third quarter, 5:56, 6-6: The Patriots went three-and-out and punted it away. Are you sensing a pattern here?
Third quarter, 6:59, 6-6: The Giants only took 1:21 off the clock. Those jerks.
They picked up one first down on a run by Kenneth Harper, then had to punt. Saunders took it back to the Patriots’ 21-yard line.
Third quarter, 8:40, 6-6: Reggie Wayne is out of the game, and he’s been replaced by Chris Harper.
Blount, still in the game because he faces a one-game suspension to start the season, had a first-down reception. Saunders caught a 5-yard pass and suffered a drop.
Third quarter, 10:57, 6-6: After allowing two first downs to Nassib and the Giants, the Patriots forced a punt. Saunders only brought it back to the Patriots’ 17-yard line.
So far, this is a very unexciting game of football.
Second quarter, 0:02, 6-6: We have a barn-burner here. Stephen Gostkowski booted through a 33-yard field goal, and we have a tie game.
Wideout Aaron Dobson and tight end Asante Cleveland made nice grabs on that drive. Here’s Cleveland’s:
Second quarter, 1:35, Giants 6-3: Another drive, another punt.
The Giants went three-and-out. Patriots pass rusher Eric Martin brought the heat and hit Giants QB Ryan Nassib as he threw. Plays like that could help him make the practice squad.
Second quarter, 2:43, Giants 6-3: The Patriots responded with their own field goal and cut the Giants’ lead to 6-3.
Lindley is 8 of 19 for 76 yards so far. James White leads the Patriots with six carries for 17 yards. Aaron Dobson leads the team in receiving with three catches for 37 yards.
It appears Travaris Cadet won’t play tonight. He’s not wearing gloves or a helmet on the sideline.
Second quarter, 8:00, Giants 6-0: The Giants nailed a 29-yard field goal, and now the Patriots trail by two field goals.
McClain was hit with another costly penalty, this one for a late hit out of bounds. Cornerback Dax Swanson allowed a 40-yard catch after he tripped and fell down the sideline.
Second quarter, 11:48, Giants 3-0: The Patriots had to punt twice because the officials weren’t in position for the first one. That’s new. Pete Morelli said “it was a quick snap by the offense.”
Lindley is 6 of 12 for 40 yards in this game. He’s not doing himself many favors as he looks for his next job.
Second quarter, 13:40, Giants 3-0: The Giants went three-and-out and had to punt to Patriots newcomer Jalen Saunders. The Patriots have the ball at their own 38-yard line.
End first quarter, Giants 3-0: The Giants face second-and-17 after a holding penalty. This game is, uh, not very entertaining.
First quarter, 0:42, Giants 3-0: The Patriots managed a couple first downs then had to punt. The Giants have the ball on their own 20-yard line after a touchback.
Wayne leads the Patriots with two catches for 24 yards.
First quarter, 4:40, Giants 3-0: Hey, we have a score.
The Giants kicked a field goal after the Patriots aided their drive with some ill-timed penalties. Branch and Richards were hit with flags. The officials should probably cool it with the penalties. This game doesn’t need to last more than two and-a-half hours.
First quarter, 7:49: The Patriots went three-and-out again. Ryan Lindley completed his first pass as a Patriot: a 6-yarder to Reggie Wayne. Blount carried the ball for 3 yards, and Lindley threw an incompletion intended for Wayne.
First quarter, 9:12: Defensive linemen Eric Martin, Rufus Johnson, Alan Branch and Malcom Brown, linebackers Xzavier Dickson, James Morris and Darius Fleming, cornerbacks Logan Ryan and Daxton Swanson and safeties Jordan Richards and Nate Ebner drew the start on the defense. Cornerback Robert McClain and defensive end Trey Flowers also played on the first series, which resulted in a Giants punt.
That’s not a great sign for the roster status of Ryan, McClain or Branch.
First quarter, 13:56: You guys won’t believe this, but the Patriots began the game with a three-and-out. Quarterback Ryan Lindley threw two incomplete passes, and LeGarrette Blount lost yards on his lone carry.
Chris Martin, Shaq Mason, Ryan Wendell, Tre’ Jackson and Cameron Fleming made up the starting O-line. Reggie Wayne and Aaron Dobson started at wide receiver, Asante Cleveland and Michael Williams started at tight end, and Blount started at running back.
First quarter, 15:00: The Patriots won the toss and elect to receive.
7:13 p.m.: Jonathan Kraft appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub before tonight’s game and said the Patriots don’t intend to fight their Deflategate punishment — the first-round pick, fourth-rounder and $1 million fine — but to “never say never.”
He also said the team took down their 16-0 banner and that the Patriots wouldn’t have raised their Super Bowl XLIX banner without Brady.
7:04 p.m.: Wide receiver Brandon LaFell, safety/linebacker Brandon King and offensive linemen Marcus Cannon and Bryan Stork join Brady not in uniform on the field. King is the only surprise, as he’s been out at practice this week.
Running back Travaris Cadet and linebacker Eric Martin will make their preseason debuts for the Patriots.
6:47 p.m.: Apparently Patriots fans won’t be able to greet their starting quarterback tonight. Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Lindley just ran on the field in uniform without Brady, so it appears the starting QB, who had his suspension nullified, won’t dress for tonight’s game. Patriots fans will see Brady next week as the team opens their regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
6:27 p.m.: It won’t be the Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo show tonight. Ryan Lindley will start at quarterback, a source told CSNNE.com’s Mike Giardi.
Lindley isn’t expected to make the 53-man roster cut since Brady’s suspension was vacated.
5:15 p.m. ET: Get ready for the loudest New England Patriots preseason game of all time.
Fans already are filtering into the Gillette Stadium parking lot, and Tom Brady jerseys and “Free Brady” T-shirts are out in full force in Foxboro. Brady’s entrance onto the game field, set to Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement” is eagerly anticipated by the Gillette Stadium faithful.
Brady is unlikely to play against the New York Giants tonight, sources told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, but he’ll likely be in uniform on the sideline.
Most Patriots starters also are unlikely to play, which means a heavy dose of quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Lindley, and players fighting for the final spots on New England’s 53-man roster. Don’t expect to see wide receiver Brandon LaFell, center Bryan Stork or offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, all of whom missed practice Tuesday. Here are five players to watch in the Patriots’ preseason finale.
The game kicks off at 7:35 p.m. ET, so stay here for updates and analysis throughout the night.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images