The New York Giants went into Thursday night’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots with a large number of their starters listed as inactive.
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How much stock should one put into Brady’s effort?
“I’ve made plays in practice, but to come in and do it in a game is huge, ” said Lewis, who punctuated the play with a dance in the end zone. “I just do the best I can do”. Brady has to stay away from anything related to the New England Patriots and the National Football League for four long weeks, the kind of punishment that could drive a man mad. He was sharpest on his fourth series, leading the Patriots team on a nine-play, 77-yard drive.
The Tennessee Titans forced and recovered a fumble on the game’s first play, setting up a one-yard touchdown by rookie Derrick Henry, as they beat the Miami Dolphins, 21-10. The Patriots moved him around a lot showing different looks and he played most of the game as the coaches were trying to get him as acclimated as possible in a short window. “He was like, ‘I got you after the game.’ So it’s pretty cool”.
All the while, tight end Rob Gronkowski remained in Foxboro and wide receiver Julian Edelman (three catches, 28 yards) was used sparingly.
“It will be tough to watch, but it will be fun to watch in some ways, to see what it looks like when you’re not there”, Brady said this week about his impending suspension. “At some point you have to get out there and play”. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Sports and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news organization.
“They did a great job, and I think those guys have been a real strength of this team all camp”, he said. How it all comes together in the regular season remains to be seen, and opinions have varied. The former Penn State quarterback, a second-round draft pick, was just 11 of 31 for 54 yards and an interception against the Eagles.
Thursday’s performance could determine the fate of the bubble players.
The Patriots, who get the first Sunday night game of the regular season when they visit Arizona on September 11, took the opposite approach, putting the majority of their starters on the field for the first quarter.
Ryan Nassib threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King for the Giants and set up Randy Bullock’s 25-yard field goal.
By the end of his extended stint, Nassib completed 16 of 29 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
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Jacoby Brissett played the entire second half while Jimmy Garoppolo, who is slated to the start the season opener September 11 in Arizona, suited up but did not play. Both victimized Patriots’ rookie nickel back Cyrus Jones.
