Giants had the lead for awhile
Ron Dayne scored the first TD of the game on a 5 yard run.
George Williams blocked a Ravens field goal in the 2nd quarter.
Reggie Stephens grabbed an interception in the 2nd quarter.
Ron Dixon returned a 3rd quarter kickoff 90 yards.
Giants finished winless in preseason 0-4.

How do you feel about the Giants losing the last preseason game?
"So what's different? All I do lately is shell out for Giants tickets and then watch them lose. Actually I felt kind of lonely at the game. The place was half empty. Even the starters left after the first quarter. I don't know why I stayed. Oh wait, maybe it's because they get paid and I don't. Still, that doesn't make much sense does it? They get paid to play, and they don't, and I'm still sitting and watching and paying."

Would you have Fassel leave them in longer?
"Yes, I know, and then they get injured and the season is shot and all that, and now it's what, my fault or something? Look a lot of the fans besides me grumble that they have to pay out for these preseason tickets. I don't know what the answer is. Maybe they should cost much less or be given out free to schools or something. Obviously a lot of fans couldn't even give their tickets away last night. I hung in there mostly for you guys. I could have been a lot of other places on a Friday night."

You would have missed that Ron Dixon kickoff return in the 3rd quarter.
"That's true, and that was a very exciting play to watch. It got most of the fans who were still paying attention up on their feet. I have to admit that the first quarter was good to watch. The Giants had that nice drive that ended in a touchdown. Kerry was passing real good, and Ron Dayne looked good, blasting through for more yards than he needed on a 3rd and one. He put it into the endzone at the end of that drive. It looks like he's been learning these first preseason games and is starting to put it together now."

He also had some other nice runs after that.
"Yes, and then, I know, we can't expect to see everything he can do after they pull the first string on him. They gave Kerry Collins a quick hook after seeing him take that one shot. He didn't even finish the first quarter. That's another argument on getting change back on my preseason tickets. Let's hope that the Giants win the opener against the Cards next week, and then maybe me and a lot of other paying Giants fans will be in a better mood."

So what's your assessment after watching these preseason games?
"You have to ask? I'm ready to give up football! I'm just kidding of course, but who can even tell? We barely saw the first string on the field, and they were trying all kinds of new things with a whole lot of new players. I think they seem to be putting it together, but then again, I make myself think back to last year when the Giants were looking great on offense the whole preseason, and it went totally nowhere after that. Who can tell?"

Can you tell where it's going Mikefan?
"Sure, put me on the spot. The Giants just went 0-4 in preseason after coming off a 7-9 season. How much does preseason count? Let me see, the Giants, with all their draft picks made and changes implemented, players dropped and free agents signed, coaching and quarterback changes completed, even field changes to natural grass and uniform changes for inspiration, just went 0-4. What does that mean? It's something to think about, but I'm hoping it means nothing."

It has to mean something.
"If you follow this team, you think about all the injuries last year and that was a big dose of that 7-9 finish. As for preseason, sure, it's tough to always be on the losing side, but the Giants starters were looking good on both sides of the ball tonight, and the starters they left with a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. As in the other preseason games, the Giants had a shot at winning, leading 10-0 at halftime, and 17-7 after the 3rd quarter, but then the Ravens went on to win it.
The fact that the second and third string players couldn't hold the leads shows that the Giants have no depth. They have what looks like a good team to field, but everyone has to stay healthy."

Anything else on the game?
"Looking at the first quarter, I would say it was great to see CB Jason Sehorn get his hands on the quarterback like he did on that one play. He also knocked down a 3rd down pass attempt. When the Ravens tried going to his side and it didn't work, they went after CB Dave Thomas, but he held up good this game.
Collins was looking sharp, although you couldn't tell much the way Fassel yanked him out so fast after the Ravens got their hands on him once. Ron Dayne looks to be coming along just fine, learning the system and showing just how effective he can be. Both Tiki Barber and Ron Dixon showed they can handle kickoff and punt returns. The receivers looked good as they have all preseason, and the offensive line held up well against a tough Baltimore defense. The pass rush could be a bit stronger, but Mike Barrow was playing only his second game so far, and I'm sure Armstead and Strahan were saving their best for next week when they play a full game."

So next week?
"Next week is football for real. Jim Fassel will unwrap all his top players and let them go all out. The Giants are catching the Cards at a bad time for them. Because of the recent injuries they've suffered, like the one to wide receiver Rob Moore and a host of other injuries, they are really hurting. The Giants are also lucky to be playing them at home. Maybe all the "paying fans" as Gamegirl likes to put it, will go home happy next week for a change."

Passing
Giants - Jason Garrett 6-15 for 68, Mike Cherry 6-13 for 66 yards, Kerry Collins 3-7 for 29 yards.
Ravens - Chris Redman 14-18 for 158 yards, Tony Banks 4-12 for 23 yards, Trent Dilfer 3-9 for 22 yards.

Rushing
Giants - Ron Dayne 15-60, Joe Montgomery 12-17, Joe Jurevicius 1-(-9).
Ravens - Jason Brookins 11-34, Priest Holmes 2-12, Jamal Lewis 4-9, Chris Redman 4-4, Alan Ricard 3-1.

Receiving
Giants - Thabiti Davis 4-42, Ron Dixon 3-48, Joe Jurevicius 3-27, Ike Hilliard 2-26, Brian Alford 1-15, Greg Comella 1-3, Craig Walendy 1-2.
Ravens - Germany Thompson 5-82, Jason Brookins 3-20, Obafemi Ayanbadejo 3-16, Jamal Lewis 2-32, Travis Taylor 2-19, Priest Holmes 2-10, Alan Ricard 2-7, John Jones 1-13, Ryan Collins 1-4.

Missed Field Goals
Baltimore (Matt Stover 46).

Net yards rushing
Giants - 68
Ravens - 60

Net yards passing
Giants - 137
Jacksonville - 103

Scoring:

1ST QUARTER:
NYG - TD, RON DAYNE 5 YD RUN (BRAD DALUISO KICK), 7:32. NY GIANTS 7-0
2ND QUARTER:
NYG - FG, BRAD DALUISO 34 YD, 14:57. NY GIANTS 10-0
3RD QUARTER:
BAL - TD, GERMANY THOMPSON 28 YD PASS FROM CHRIS REDMAN (MATT STOVER KICK), 3:22. NY GIANTS 10-7
NYG - TD, RON DIXON 90 YD KICKOFF RETURN (BRAD DALUISO KICK), 3:40. NY GIANTS 17-7
4TH QUARTER:
BAL - TD, RYAN COLLINS 4 YD PASS FROM CHRIS REDMAN (MATT STOVER KICK), 3:23. NY GIANTS 17-14
BAL - FG, MATT STOVER 32 YD, 7:07. BALTIMORE 17, NY GIANTS 17
BAL - TD, JASON BROOKINS 3 YD RUN (MATT STOVER KICK), 11:20. BALTIMORE 24-17.

Notes:

Giants finished winless in preseason 0-4 for the first time since 1971.

Giants lost the final preseason game for the 10th year in a row.

Third-round pick Ron Dixon returned a third-quarter kickoff 90 yards.

Kerry Collins in preseason was: 44-of-72 (61.1 percent) for 531 yards, 3 TDs and 2 Ints for a 86.1 quarterback rating.

First-round pick Ron Dayne ended preseason with 211 yards on 61 carries for a 3.5 yard average.

Brad Daluiso kicked off for the first time since having surgery on his plant leg last year.

Starting right guard Ron Stone went to the locker room for X-rays on a troublesome toe, but the tests revealed no fracture.

Next Game
Sept 3, Cards at Giants 1:00 PM

Game 1

Game 2

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