Giants could not overtake the Jets
QB Kerry Collins was effective again.
Tiki Barber proves his value week after week.
Joe Jurevicius came up strong on a number of plays.
The Jets are ready for regular season play.

How does it feel to watch the Giants in an "away" game?
"It's always fun to be at the game, and sitting next to my Jetfan boyfriend at the game added an extra dimension, even if his seats aren't as good as mine. It was a real dogfight at times and a close game. Unfortunately, the dogfight was more between us than on the field.
I'm just kidding about that. I have to say I came away with more of an appreciation of some of the Jet players. I remember Ray Lucas did a number on us last preseason game. He's always very good, and was very effective tonight. Curtis Martin was running on us whenever he wanted. Bryan Cox of course is a great defensive team leader, and everyone knows about Wayne Chrebet and how dangerous he is out there.
I think my dummy boyfriend sees that Kerry Collins is for real, Ike Hilliard and Toomer are great targets for him, and Tiki just gets better and better."

The Giants lost in the end.
"Yeah, I don't know what happened in that second quarter. Suddenly there were a lot of penalties against the Giants defense. There was a lot of booing at that point, but I like to think it was the Jet fans here trying to make things worse for us. It's too bad they didn't get that Brad Daluiso field goal attempt off right at the end of the first half. It would have been a good pick-me-up for the team. Instead the Giants had to go for the 'Hail Mary' pass that was intercepted in the endzone. The offense played a little sloppy, but they still put enough points up on the board.
Anyway, my Giants tied it up in the third quarter, and then their second team players lost it to the Jets first team. My Jetfan boyfriend doesn't see it that way, but that's how I see it."

Last thoughts?
"Well, I don't understand this Jets team. Ray Lucas looks so good, and he's only their third string quarterback. Vinny Testaverde must be just fantastic when he plays. Also, It would be nice to see the Giants win for a change next week. I enjoy a good football game, but I also like to see my team win some of them. To all you Jet fans out there and my boyfriend, 'Wait until next year!'
Oh, and one last thing. Since I was able to go to this game as a visitor, and see the Giants away uniforms in person I feel a little different about them. Last week I said I didn't like them, but they look better than how they show up on my TV. Maybe I need a new set."

How did you see this game Mikefan?
"I'm hoping this was just a case of one team that's played 2 preseason games, losing to another that was more game ready, having played 3. The Jets were a bit sharper, and that was a big edge. Of course, saying that, I don't want to take anything away from Lucas, Cox, Chrebet or Martin. They are great players and are always tough to go up against anytime."

Now the Giants are 0-3 in preseason.
"That's right, and next week they face the Baltimore Ravens. This is a team that seems to really care about winning preseason games, based on the fact that they were 4-0 last year, and currently stand at 3-0 this year.
The Giants lost to the Ravens last year, but it didn't matter all that much then because they still finished up 2-2 in preseason. If they lose next Friday, they will be 0-4. Having said that, it's obvious that preseason games are just that, and don't really matter. From a coach's standpoint, you like your players going into the regular season games with the confidence that they can win."

What's was good?
"Collins was good again. Tiki was good as usual in all areas. Toomer was very good. Ike Hilliard was good with Collins really putting it hard and fast to him in some really tight spots. Ron Dixon was good. He played better this game returning kicks and broke one for 51 yards. He returned three overall for 101 yards. Joe Jurevicius was good this game, catching four passes for 86 yards.
The Giants mixed it up great throwing to Howard Cross and they handed off to Ike Hilliard once. I think we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg as to what the offense has been working on. It's too bad that Sean Bennett is injured. They had a lot planned for him. It will be great when tight end Pete Mitchell returns. Cedric Jones was really hustling, blocking that field goal attempt in the third quarter."

Anything else?
"If Phillipi Sparks (retired by the Giants), was watching the game, he had the satisfaction of knowing that if he was there, the Giants could have won. Also Percy Ellsworth (Cleveland) would have provided some nice help as well. There were times when the Giants got a good pass rush going, and Lucas was able to get a desperation pass off and it was caught. I would say Giants CB Dave Thomas let them down a few times. I did notice that he tightened up his coverage later in the game.
On the plus side of all this, try to remember that the Giants starting defense had not allowed a touchdown in the first two preseason games. Also, the Giants lost to the Jets last preseason too, and still the defense was great in regular season play for most of the year."

Next week?
"It's the last game of the preseason for the Giants, and as I said before, Baltimore plays a tough preseason game. They've won their 11th straight exhibition game, and the Ravens stopped these same Jets 10-0 just last week. They will be a great test for our offense.
Also, I'm sure Lyle West will be thinking about this upcoming game all week. Last year he was the rookie who blew the game, when he made a play for the ball instead of going for the tackle. The pass was complete and it was the winning TD for the Ravens."

Passing
Giants - Kerry Collins 16-28 for 275 yards 2 TDs 1 INT, Jason Garrett 10-15 for 117 yards 1 TD.
Jets - Ray Lucas 19-26 for 286 yards 3 TDs, Jim Kubiak 0-1 for no yards.

Rushing
Giants - Tiki Barber 9-59, Ron Dayne 12-37, Jason Garrett 2-9, Kerry Collins 2-3, Ike Hilliard 1-1, Joe Montgomery 1-1.
Jets - Curtis Martin 18-107, Windrell Hayes 2-31, Jerald Sowell 7-23, Richie Anderson 1-4.

Receiving
Giants - Joe Jurevicius 4-86, Tiki Barber 4-28, Amani Toomer 3-124, Ron Dixon 3-47, Ike Hilliard 3-44, Joe Montgomery 3-21, Greg Comella 2-14, Howard Cross 2-8, Brian Alford 1-12, Kevin Prentiss 1-8.
Jets - Dedric Ward 4-49, Wayne Chrebet 3-79, Richie Anderson 3-29, Fred Baxter 2-33, Vincent Brisby 2-30, Curtis Martin 2-22, Jim Kubiak 1-(-1), Jermaine Wiggins 1-30, Windrell Hayes 1-11, Anthony Becht 1-3.

Net yards rushing
Giants - 110
Jets - 164

Net yards passing
Giants - 377
Jacksonville - 282

Scoring:

1ST QUARTER:
NYJ - TD, RICHIE ANDERSON 5 YD PASS FROM RAY LUCAS (JOHN HALL KICK), 4:33. NY JETS 7-0
NYG - FG, BRAD DALUISO 33 YD, 13:18. NY JETS 7-3
2ND QUARTER:
NYJ - TD, WAYNE CHREBET 52 YD PASS FROM RAY LUCAS (JOHN HALL KICK), 0:07. NY JETS 14-3
NYG - TD, AMANI TOOMER 73 YD PASS FROM KERRY COLLINS (BRAD DALUISO KICK), 1:32. NY JETS 14-10
NYJ - FG, JOHN HALL 26 YD, 11:32. NY JETS 17-10
3RD QUARTER:
NYG - TD, IKE HILLIARD 10 YD PASS FROM KERRY COLLINS (BRAD DALUISO KICK), 12:35. NY GIANTS 17, NY JETS 17
4TH QUARTER:
NYJ - FG, JOHN HALL 39 YD, 0:48. NY JETS 20-17
NYJ - TD, JERMAINE WIGGINS 30 YD PASS FROM RAY LUCAS (JOHN HALL KICK), 7:47. NY JETS 27-17
NYG - TD, JOE JUREVICIUS 16 YD PASS FROM JASON GARRETT (BRAD DALUISO KICK), 14:45. NY JETS 27-24.

Notes:
The Giants still lead the all-time Jets / Giants preseason series, 16-15-1.

Next Game
Aug 25, Ravens at Giants 8:00 PM.

Game 1

Game 2

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