New York Giants vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats On Aug 31, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 31, 2017

New England Patriots second-year third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett started the final preseason game of the summer and led an impressive comeback only to see victory pulled from his team's grasp as Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired for New York's 40-38 win on Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.

Though New England trailed 34-14 at halftime, Brissett led a second-half comeback that saw the Patriots take a 38-37 lead on a 55-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 44 seconds to play.

But Giants rookie backup David Webb completed five of his six ensuing pass attempts to move the visitors from their own 25 to the Patriots' 30 to give Rosas, looking to win the kicking job over veteran Mike Nugent, the chance for the game-winner.

Going the entire game under center, Brissett saw his most extended playing time of the preseason, the most since starting two games last September as a rookie, and took full advantage of the reps while Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo and New England frontline players watched from the sideline.

Brissett completed 28 of his 39 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns.

New York actually built an impressive lead in the middle quarters, in part because of a couple Patriots turnovers. The Giants took a 14-7 lead with scores on consecutive plays in the first quarter.

The first was a 25-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Geno Grissom to tight end Matt LaCosse. When Brissett got the ball back he made an ill-advised throw that was intercepted and returned 15 yards for the touchdown by defensive end Kerry Wynn.

Veteran running back Shaun Draughn led the Giants running game with 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. LaCrosse led the New York receivers with five catches for 60 yards and two scores.

One of the more interesting notes of the game saw Patriots undrafted rookie twins -- tight end Jacob Hollister and wide receiver Cody Hollister -- haul in touchdown passes in the losing effort. Second-year receiver Devin Lucien had a game-high 96 yards receiving on his five receptions, including a 12-yard touchdown.

New England's performance came a week before the defending champions will host the Chiefs in the NFL Thursday night season opener at Gillette Stadium.