Highs and Lows: Another Ugly Loss
FOXBORO (CBS) - WBZ-TV's Levan Reid breaks down the Patriots-Giants showdown quarter-by-quarter.
4th Quarter/Final Thoughts
The Lows
- Going lows first, because it was that bad. The defense played well, until the fourth quarter. Where do we start? Their two final drives the Giants did whatever they wanted, and they got help from the Patriots as well. Bad pass interference calls gave the Giants new life, and they took advantage. Kyle Arrington was flagged for pass interference on a deep play to Mario Manningham. The ball was underthrown, but Arrington didn't know where the ball was. The penalty gave the Giants new life at mid-field, and led to the Eli-Manningham go-ahead score (over Arrington in the end zone). Then Sergio Brown was flagged for PI at the one-yard line, setting up the game-winning score. Overall the defense was not that bad, but anything good will likely be forgotten after the final eight minutes.
Stats: Pats-Giants Box Score
- Brady was pestered all day, and his performance showed. He threw a pair of picks and fumbled another one away. In all, Brady went 27-for-48 for 334 yards. The offensive line struggled with the Giants pass-rush, making it a long afternoon for Brady.
- Brady went to Chad Ochocinco five times today, and didn't hit him once. The two clearly are not on the same page, but they are going to try and make it work it seems.
- Don't look now, but there are three teams at 5-3 atop the AFC East. The Jets, Bills and Pats all share the record, making next Sunday's matchup in New York very interesting...
The Highs
- Brady did it again, or so we thought. He went to Gronkowski three straight times with the game on the line, and finally on fourth down the two connect. Gronk was wide open for his sixth touchdown of the season.
- On his 22nd birthday, tight end Aaron Hernandez fought his way in for a score to start the final quarter. Patriots turn Eli's pick into seven points and tie the game at 10. In all it was a seven play, 80 yard drive that took 2:40.
- Wes Welker was hit hard in the first half, but stayed in the game and made some key plays. He tallied his fifth 100-receiving yard game of the season, finishing with nine receptions for 136 yards.
- The defense did play well, until the very end. Not much more to say I guess...
Final Score: Giants 24-20
3rd Quarter
The Highs:
- The Pats red zone defense holds strong. The Giants had 3 cracks from the 11 and lower and had to settle for a field goal.
- The Pats catch a break, after a three and out, they punt and the Giants fumble the ball and the Pats recover and they turn it into 3 points. 32 yard field goal by Gostkowski. Effort on these sets of downs to get the ball to Chad Ochcocinco but he was covered. Good to see him involved though.
- After the field goal, the Pats defense plays a big role. They force the Giants into a 3 and out and get the ball back to the offense
- Kyle Arrington comes up big in the red zone and interception. The defense is saving the Patriots today. The Pats end the quarter and the offense is driving...
The Lows:
- The Pats start the third quarter and on the second play in, Tom Brady throws his second interception of the game. This time the Giants turn it into points. 22 yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes and New York is on the board.
- Second possession of the quarter and Tom is sacked and fumbles the ball away. Giants turn that into 7 points. Brady has three turnovers by himself to this point of the game...
- On the punt after the three and out, Julian Edelman fumbles the ball and the Giants get it.
Giants up 10-3 after three
2nd Quarter
The Highs:
- The Pats defense bails the offense out again. Slows down Eli and forces the Giants to punt on their first possession of the quarter. Brady's pick to start the second quarter does not hurt the Pats.
- The defense is playing spirited. Giants second possession of the quarter and they get nothing. Eli is being pressured in the pocket and being forced to fire the ball quicker than he wants.
- Giants third possession of the quarter and the defense forces a three and out. Who are these guys?
The Lows:
- First play of the quarter and Tom Brady's pass is tipped then intercepted by Mathias Kiwanuka. Giants get the ball.
- Giants ball and on a third down play the Pats get an offsides call that gives the G-men a first down. The refs missed a flinch on the New York line, but those are the breaks of the games sometimes.
- On the Pats second possession of the quarter there is just a comedy of errors. Rob Gronkowski has a drop, and then there is a bad snap which Brady recovered but the throw was dropped by Danny Woodhead. The offense is just off.
- Pats third possession of the quarter and some more errors. Pats have an illegal substitution on third down. Then Tom gets sacked that prompts a fight on the field. Just a messy game.
- New England with a long drive to end the quarter. Brady can't hit Aaron Hernandez in the end zone on third down, so and they try for a 27 yard field goal. Stephen Gostkowski misses it to the left and the Pats get nothing out of it. The fans are booing as the Pats are walking off.
-This is the first game in the NFL this season to be scoreless at the half.
No score at the half
1st Quarter
The Highs:
- The Giants get the ball first and the Pats defense gets off the field. New York comes out throwing and the Pats defense holds them on 3rd down and gets the ball to the offense.
- Giants second possession and the Pats get off the field again, showing some physicality along the way. Brandon Spikes with a huge hit on tight end Jake Ballard to stop him on a third and nine. The Pats defense is playing with some energy.
Read: Levan Reid's Patriots Blog
- Pats defense still standing tall. Giants third possession of the quarter and they are forced into a three and out. Good pressure by the Patriots on third down.
- Pats offense has the ball at the end of the quarter and they are finally moving. Tom Brady ran five yards on third down for a first down.
The Lows:
- Pats offense first possession and they come out running. Green-Ellis with a first down but the Pats would do nothing after that.
- Pats offense on their second possession and they go three and out. Not sure what is going on here.
No score after one
