New England's newcomers made a good first impression on Thursday as the Patriots posted a 26-6 exhibition victory over the New York Giants.
Rosevelt Colvin and Tyrone Poole produced first-quarter turnovers that led to 10 points, and Fred McCrary caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter that gave New England a 20-6 lead.
PHOTO: AP
Nose tackle Dan Klecko, drafted in the fourth round out of Temple, had 2 1/2 of the Patriots' seven sacks. His father, former New York Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko, attended his pro debut.
The Giants played their first game since last year's first round of the playoffs when they blew a 24-point lead in the last 20 minutes and lost to San Francisco 39-38. On the final play, Trey Junkin's second poor long snap ruined a field goal attempt by Matt Bryant.
The Giants appear to have an improved offense although it didn't show as first-stringers played only the first quarter.
Kerry Collins went 6-for-10 for 56 yards and an interception, Tiki Barker rushed eight times for 10 yards and tight end Jeremy Shockey had one catch for seven yards.
The Patriots, eliminated from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season, had one of the NFL's worst rushing defenses.
So they concentrated on defensive players in free agency, signing Colvin, a linebacker, from Chicago and Poole, a cornerback, from Denver. From San Diego, they added fullback McCrary and safety Rodney Harrison.
Colvin forced a fumble by Barber on the Giants' second offensive play, and Ted Johnson recovered on the New York 29-yard line.
Two plays later, Tom Brady threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown.
Later in the quarter, Poole intercepted a pass by Collins intended for Shockey and returned it 11 yards to the Giants 10. That led to the first of Adam Vinatieri's four field goals, a 25-yarder.
Mike Hollis, competing with Bryant for New York's placekicking job, kicked a 29-yarder early in the second quarter, but Vinatieri made it 13-3 with a 39-yarder just over two minutes later.
Bryant cut it to 13-6 at halftime with a 34-yard field goal 3:20 before intermission.
Brady was 3-of-4 for 25 yards before Damon Huard took over for the first possession of the second quarter. Rohan Davey replaced Huard late in the quarter and threw a 6-yard scoring pass to McCrary with 3:43 left in the third.
Giants defensive tackle Keith Hamilton played the first quarter after missing the last 10 games last season after tearing his Achilles' tendon.
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