Late FG gives Giants, Daboll 23-21 victory over Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Graham Gano hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired, Daniel Jones was solid in limited work and the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 23-21 on Thursday night to open the preseason.
The Giants gave Brian Daboll a victory in his head coaching debut against his predecessor and the team he started his NFL career with.
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Despite some breakouts by the offensive line, the Giants moved the ball well, with Jones completing 6 of 10 passes for 69 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley had four carries for 13 yards and one catch for 8 yards.
Antonio Williams had a 2-yard touchdown run and Graham Gano made three field goals.
Brian Hoyer and Bailey Zappe each threw touchdown passes for New England, which except for rookie left guard Cole Strange, gave most of its projected starters, including starting quarterback Mac Jones, the night off.
The Giants elected to play their starters for one quarter, which amounted to the first two series.
Zappe was 19 of 32 for 205 yards and touchdown. Brian Hoyer was 5 of 8 for 59 yards and a TD. Kevin Harris had a 3-yard touchdown run and Kristian Wilkerson finished with eight catches for 99 yards.
The Giants led 20-14 in the fourth quarter before the Patriots took the lead after a 20-yard TD pass from Bailey Zappe to Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
But New York responded on the ensuing series, with Davis Webb leading the Giants on an 11-play, 69-yard drive capped by Gano’s game-winner.
New York hired Daboll in the hopes he could bring better play out of Jones, who has underwhelmed since being taken sixth overall in the 2019 draft.
It wasn’t all positive for the Giants, though. Starting left guard Shane Lemieux played the opening series before leaving with a toe injury.
He was replaced by rookie Josh Ezeudu.



