Aug 10,
8:00 pm (UPN 9) - Giants at New England
Preseason Game 1 |
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
Giants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Patriots |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
Kerry Collins was just 3-of-8 for 18 yards and had
1 INT.
Giants totaled had just 92 yards and 6 first downs.
Rodney Williams averaged 44.8 yards on 8 kicks.
Standout players for the Giants were punter Rodney
Williams, cornerback Will Allen, running back Damon
Washington, and linebacker Brandon Short and linbacker
Dhani Jones.
Hey
this is something new. We have both of you at the
same time.
M
- Ah yes, the wonders of the Internet!
G - Not my favorite thing to be sitting here typing.
M - Yeah, careful Gamegirl - don't break a nail.
G - Can it Mikefan. You guys can expect a phonecall
next time.
Wouldn't
it be better to keep doing it this way?
G
- Oh sure... I'll bring a laptop to the game and
wear an antenna helmet of some kind. Sounds like
something Mikefan would like. BTW, what happened
to the game preview you usually do?
M - I decided that it was a waste of time for preseason
games. Does anyone really care that the Patriots
are 4-7 in preseason games against the Giants, and
the last time the teams met during the exhibition
season was 1991 when New England won, 24-6?
So,
no preseason game previews this year?
M
- With just one exception. The number four preseason
game against (oh I hate saying this), the Super
Bowl Champion Ravens. Expect a nice preview for
that rematch!
G - I'm really looking forward to that game.
OK you two, what's the smartest thing that Jim Fassel
did last year?
M
- Easy - he let coach Larry MacDuff escape from
the team. Now if only new special teams coach Fred
von Appen could kick a football himself....
G - Dummy, The answer is, Fassel made the promise
that took the Giants to the Super Bowl.
We'll
give Gamegirl half-credit here. Fassel was smart
enough to lose all the preseason games, and then
take the Giants to the Super Bowl. Now all the heat
is off the team every preseason he coaches.
M
- I see your reasoning. Fassel has the reporters
and fans at bay because he proved preseason wins
don't matter, since he has this higher loftier goal
for the team.
G - Sorry, I want full credit especially since I'm
stuck paying for those two extra preseason games
that "don't matter".
M - Too bad you won't be sitting at the last away
one against the Ravens. That's when the coaches
usually let the regulars stay in for three quarters
to break them in for the real game opener the following
week. I have a feeling that game will matter!
G - Sure rub it in. I'll be sitting in front of
the TV like you do all season long. Not my favorite
way to watch Giants football.
M - The last game I went to, there was more motion
in the stands than on the field. Everybody was up
and down the stairs all the time. The game commentary
between plays was limited to less than ten words
like "Kerry Collins - pass incomplete".
The people near me got more excited when a beachball
came our way more then anything else - never saw
one before I guess, and every replay started off
with a Toyota commercial. Give me the big screen
and close-ups any day.
G - Yeah, you can really get the feel of the game
at home Mikefan!! Is that what you're saying? At
the game I can see the whole field and sideline
action, and not just what the camera wants me to
see. Everything else you talked about just gets
blocked out once you get used to going to the games.
There's the tailgating, and the game doesn't just
start at kickoff time by the way, but you wouldn't
know that watching at home.
M - Yeah, I hear you. Even famous people like Andy
Rooney go to the games. I watch him on TV too.
Enough
guys, let that stuff rest, and welcome to the new
season. What did you both think of this game?
M
- Our offense was flat to say the least. The defense
had their moments, especially in the first quarter
when they forced the Patriots back into a 4th and
21, but still got beat when their punter, Pochman,
connected with a 53 yard field goal.
G - I was hoping for a lot more on offense, especially
from Ron Dayne.
M - Getting back to the point you made earlier,
the Giants were 0-4 in preseason, and still went
to the Super Bowl, but last year, the starters left
all the preseason games with a lead. That didn't
happen tonight, so it's not quite the same, and
more important than the actual score, was the lack
of offense.
G - What did you expect without Tiki Barber and
Ike Hilliard in the game Mikefan?
M - You're right Gamegirl. I'll just put my fan
hat on and figure things will be much better when
they're both back at full strength, maybe by the
third or forth game of the season.
G - Look, it was just the first preseason game,
and for me, it was great to see some football. It
seems like a long off time between seasons.
M - What? You didn't watch the XFL in between?
G - Like I said, it was great to see some football.
Gamegirl,
we got some email - Are you still seeing that Jet-fan
boyfriend of yours.
G - Yes I am. He's a great guy, and he even canceled
his season tickets to the Jet games. We'll still
hit a few select Jet games here and there instead.
Looks
like Giants fever got to him and he came to his
senses.
M
- More like Gamegirl fever got to him and he's lost
his senses. Did he sellout before or after the Jets
first round draft pick Santana Moss screwed up his
leg?
G - Shaddupp Mikefan!!!!!!.
--- That was from him not me. He's been looking
over my shoulder as I type this.
M - Tell him right back at you, and better watch
what you're wearing when that guy looks over your
shoulder Gamegirl.
G - Anyway, it was the price increases that got
to him.
Hey Mikefan - All the old Jets playing for Bill
Belichick, kicked the Giants butt, like when that
Kerry Collins pass was intercepted by Bryan Cox,
and the Giants have to face the real Jets in two
weeks.
M - Now it's my turn Jet Fan - Shaddupp!!!!! Besides,
we also had former Giant receiver Dave Patten kicking
our butt.
Anything
else guys?
G
- In the category of "It only happens in a
Giants game", it was really something to see
our kicker Rodney Williams draw an unnecessary roughness
penalty. Also, the Patriots looked good and will
certainly do better than 5-11 this year.
M
- The game was more bearable thanks to the fine
commentary of Sam Rosen, Harry Carson, and maybe
future governor Phil McConkey.
Make sure to include all of Gamegirl's misspellings
when you post this stuff.
G - You mean typos. I don't live at the computer
keyboard like you Mikefan. I'm not used to doing
this. You'll be getting a phone call instead anyway
after next week's game.
Early
Stats
Passing
Giants - Jesse Palmer 4-14 for 23 yards, Kerry Collins
3-8 for 18 yards and 1 INT, Jason Garrett 2-6 for
10 yards.
Patriots - Tom Brady 8-14 for 92 yards, Damon Huard
9-12 for 85 yards, Drew Bledsoe 3-4 for 37 yards,
Michael Bishop 2-7 for 21 yards.
Rushing
Giants - Damon Washington 9-41, Ron Dayne 4-11,
Omar Bacon 3-3, Kerry Collins 1-0, Jason Garrett
1-0, Jesse Palmer 1-0.
Patriots - Antowain Smith 10-50, Walter Williams
10-24, Marc Edwards 4-19, Jr Redmond 6-12, Patrick
Pass 3-12, Kevin Faulk 3-1, Drew Bledsoe 1-0.
Receiving
Giants - Amani Toomer 2-12, Adam Young 2-9, Omar
Bacon 1-9, Damon Washington 1-9, Greg Comella 1-6,
Marcellus Rivers 1-5, Ron Dixon 1-1.
Patriots
- Curtis Jackson 3-40, David Patten 3-31, Troy Brown
2-33, Tony Simmons 2-21, Charles Johnson 2-19, Kevin
Faulk 2-10, Rod Rutledge 2-7, Patrick Pass 1-22,
Torrance Small 1-20, Shockmain Davis 1-11, Johnny
Mcwilliams 1-9, Jermaine Wiggins 1-8, Jr Redmond
1-4.
Interceptions
Patriots - Brian Cox 1.
Net
yards rushing
Giants - 55
Patriots - 118
Net
yards passing
Giants
- 37
Patriots - 220
Time of Possession
Giants
- 21:43
Patriots - 38:17
Scoring:
1ST
QUARTER:
NE
- FG, Owen Pochman 53 Yd, 7:35. NYG - 0 NE - 3
2ND QUARTER:
NE - FG, Owen Pochman 23 Yd, 1:51.
NYG - 0 NE - 6
3RD QUARTER:
NE - FG, Owen Pochman 25 Yd, 9:09. NYG -
0 NE - 9
4TH QUARTER:
NE - Safety, M. Chatham tackled O. Bacon.
NYG - 0 NE - 11
NE - FG, Owen Pochman 20 Yd, 14:23. NYG - 0
NE - 14
Notes
Right defensive
tackle Keith Hamilton was excused from the game
to be the best man at his best friend's wedding.
Ryan Hale got the start instead..
Lomas
Brown and Ron Hale left the game with 1st period
injuries and did not return.
Next
Game
Jacksonville
at Giants Aug 16 at 8:00 pm on ESPN.
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