It Is What It Is
NEED TO KNOW
Follow WEEI.com football writer Christopher Price at twitter.com/capeleaguer. In addition, get the latest WEEI.com updates at twitter.com/WEEI.
A WEEI.com Patriots Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
Halftime analysis from Patriots-Giants 09.02.10 at 8:34 pm ET
By Christopher Price

The Patriots hold a 10-9 lead on the Giants after two quarters at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Here are a few quick notes:

After some debate, the Patriots did indeed open with their complete group of starters on both sides of the ball, with the majority of each group on the field for two series’ each. Tom Brady, in his first action in a preseason finale since 2003, finished 4-for-8 for 51 yards with one touchdown (to Rob Gronkowski) and one interception (on an underthrown deep ball to Randy Moss).  Among the starters, tight end Alge Crumpler had one catch for 22 yards, Wes Welker added one catch for 14 yards and Randy Moss had one catch for 10 yards.

The Giants opened with a nine-play, 86-yard drive that took just 4:17. It was a bad series for the New England defense, as New York chewed up ground easily, on the ground and in the air, culminating the series with a 13-yard pass play from Eli Manning to tight end Kevin Boss. The Giants did a nice job exploiting some open space underneath — New York’s gains on its pass plays on the opening drive were for 22, 2, 12, 17 and 13 yards, the last being Boss’ score. No big gains, but a steady consistent series of passes that wore down the Patriots’ passing defense.

New England’s best defensive play — and one of the best examples of team defense it has shown all preseason — came on a third and 8 with just over three minutes to go in the first quarter. The Patriots, and Mike Wright in particular, did a good job pressuring Manning. When Manning got the pass off, rookie cornerback Devin McCourty did a nice job in coverage on Hakeem Nicks, and the ball went incomplete.

After the Giants’ first drive went for a touchdown, the Patriots answered with an eight-play drive of their own that went 45 yards (thanks to a nice 56-yard return by Thomas Clayton) and ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski, who ran a sharp route over the middle and hauled in the pass. It was a drive that culminated with a score and featured some nice work in the passing game (with passes to Crumpler and Moss), but unlike the first two games, New England struggled to execute on the ground — the Patriots ended the first half with 137 yards in the air, but just 46 on the ground.

While the Patriots opened with Fred Taylor at running back, Laurence Maroney saw his first action since the preseason opener when he came on with the backup offense on New England’s third offensive series of the night. He had two carries for seven yards on his first series, which ended with a three-and-out, and ended the first half with seven carries for 32 yards, tops among both teams. At the tight end spot, if Week 2 was Aaron Hernandez’s time in the spotlight and Week 3 was Gronkowski’s turn, the first half was Crumpler’s chance. Crumpler was targeted three times, but had one drop and wasn’t on the same page with Brady on another red-zone pass play. He did end up with one catch for 22 yards. Brian Hoyer relieved Brady, and went 7-for-12 for 86 yards. He got knocked around pretty good behind New England’s backup offensive line, with his helmet almost getting knocked clean off at one point.

Read More: Giants, Patriots, training camp, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • http://www.gamewow.info/archives/tag/mao/ Murray Gaslin

    Simply wanna input that you have a very decent website, I enjoy the pattern it actually stands out.

  • http://carauctionsmelbourne9w.wordpress.com/ Wilbert Stanbery

    Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks Nonetheless I am experiencing issue with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical rss drawback? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  • http://sigmakom.com/ Lashawn Debnar

    Nice Post. It’s really a very good article. I noticed all your important points. Thanks.

  • http://workspace38.digadesign.ca/member.php?u=432251 married affairs

    At last, I had to spend some time to fully grasp this. Thanks for spending time to write down that up. Remaining in contact in Bebo and Twitter. Maintain the high quality.

  • http://www.jcnt.org/%d7%a1%d7%95%d7%9b%d7%9b%d7%99-%d7%96%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a2%d7%95%d7%aa סוככי זרועות

    שלום, רציתי להמליץ לכם על חברה העוסקת בהתקנה ובניה של סככות. באתר, פרופיל החברה וכן עבודות עיצוב פרגולות נבחרות.

  • http://www.cheapnailproducts.com where can i buy cnd shellac

    thanks, i just ordered at cheapnailproducts.com , i love it and acrylic nails

  • http://www.directsoccer.org/ cristiano ronaldo safari shoes

    I’m often to blogging and i really admire your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and maintain checking for brand new information.

  • http://pacquiaoversusmarquez3live.blogspot.com pacquiao vs marquez

    I am usually to running a blog and i really recognize your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and keep checking for brand new information.

  • http://www.onto24.pl/najlepszy-kredyt-hipoteczny,s,392.phtml Alior pozyczka

    What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Good job.

  • http://perfectradiancesite.com perfect radiance skin care

    Will there be exercises to be able to get rid of cellulite? There most certainly are. Within speaking, exercise is amongst the best personal preference to remove the cellulite through the body. It burns away that extras that help with your problem plus it touches upward and details your system by helping your skin get it is actually elasticity once again. Name a lot of exercises that will serve get rid of cellulite?

  • http://tattoomanic.com/lower-back-tattoo-designs-attractive-designs Mitchell

    I got what you intend, thank you for putting up. Woh I am happy to find this website through google.

  • http://www.atv-oil-site.com/5007847 2-Cycle Racing Oil

    You have a lot of great stuff on here. I only have a small amount of time during the day, so I have it bookmarked and come back every few days to see everything that you have here. Thanks for taking the time to put all of this information up.

  • http://www.manantialwater.com.mx/ purificadoras

    Maintain the excellent job mate. This web blog publish shows how well you comprehend and know this subject.

  • http://www.sportstvlivestreaming.com/pacquiao-vs-marquez-live-streaming/ pacquiao vs marquez live streaming

    It’s arduous to seek out educated people on this subject, however you sound like you understand what you’re talking about! Thanks

  • http://www.oferta-banku.pl/oferta-kart-kredytowych.html karty kredytowe oferty bankow

    Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.

  • http://purasilkreview.net Purasilk Skin

    It seems too advanced and very broad for me to comprehend.

  • http://www.amazonfires.com Corrie Eckland

    I definitely wanted to compose a brief message in order to express gratitude to you for the lovely guidelines you are placing at this website My rather long internet look up has at the end been paid with reasonable suggestions to go over with my two friends I would assert that many of us website visitors are unquestionably endowed to exist in a really good network with so many outstanding professionals with very beneficial tips I feel very privileged to have encountered your entire web site and look forward to many more pleasurable minutes reading here Thanks again for all the details

  • http://gay.pornhub4u.com Karan Boronat

    http://www.pornhub4u.com is the best web site ever!

  • http://garryregier.net/empower-network-could-have-saved-me/ join empower network

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my friend were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a book from our area library but I think I learned better from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there..

  • http://rodrigoconwa24.posterous.com/avoid-suffering-with-hemorrhoids-and-heal-the Chauncey Marchaland

    I would like to express appreciation to the writer for rescuing me from such a circumstance. Right after researching throughout the internet and getting solutions which were not powerful, I thought my life was done. Existing minus the approaches to the issues you’ve fixed by way of your entire post is a crucial case, as well as ones that would have negatively damaged my career if I hadn’t noticed the website. Your main competence and kindness in taking care of the whole thing was excellent. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a subject like this. I can also at this point look ahead to my future. Thank you very much for your reliable and results-oriented help. I will not hesitate to refer your blog post to any individual who would like care on this issue.

  • http://homeincomecashmachine.net Home Income Cash Machine Reviews

    Hi there, I recently hopped across to your current internet site by way of Stumbleupon. Not really anything I might typically browse through, but I liked your ideas none the less. Cheers for creating something worth reading through.

  • http://blackhatrealm.com blackhat seo forum

    This web page can be a stroll-by means of for all of the info you needed about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll positively uncover it.

Patriots Box Score
Latest on Twitter
Christopher Price: Bill Belichick & Nick Saban spend the day on the links at Pebble Beach #Patriots #weei #NFL http://t.co/27fJSnNq
5 minutes ago
Christopher Price: Watching hilites from Pebble Beach: My 6-year-old son stops & says, "Hold on a second--is that coach Belichick? Why is he golfing?"
36 minutes ago
Christopher Price: Cosign RT @jeffphowe: Got 21 minutes? I strongly urge you to watch Kevin Faulk's NESN interview w/ @shalisemyoung. http://t.co/QmNkvVmD
2 hours ago
Christopher Price: @rr5rhoads Working on it as we speak... should be up by tonight.
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: HA! RT @bradfo: This guy is waiting to be cast in 'Cool' Still no Dickie Dunn http://t.co/7AZzRJG9 @DJ_Bean @capeleaguer @jeffphowe
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: @jeffphowe @DJ_Bean @bradfo "10 Things We Learned In The Coliseum This Week: The Lions Were Unstoppable."
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: @bradfo @DJ_Bean @jeffphowe 1 of most famous sportswriters on film. W Ed O'Neil from "Blue Chips," Oscar Madison & Max Mercy (The Natural).
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: A hockey guy not knowing Dicky Dunn? For shame..... RT @jeffphowe: @capeleaguer @DJ_Bean @bradfo Haha! Old-guy reference! This made my day.
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: @DJ_Bean @jeffphowe @bradfo Dicky Dunn. Sportswriter from Slapshot.
3 hours ago
Christopher Price: @SteveB7SFG Think he was out.
4 hours ago
Christopher Price: RT @RavensInsider: Former Patriots LB Shawn Crable: 'I stay in touch with Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, I'm still great friends with them.'
4 hours ago
Christopher Price: RT @RavensInsider: Former Patriots 3rd round LB Shawn Crable is also here today at NFL regional combine at Ravens' team headquarters
4 hours ago
Christopher Price: @RyanMokelke @injuryexpert In that same vein, this might be one of the best things ever http://t.co/cquIGdOk
11:29 PM Feb 10, 2012
Christopher Price: With help from @injuryexpert, we look at what lies ahead for TE Rob Gronkowski after his ankle surgery #Patriots #NFL http://t.co/8cPXQNoF
11:09 PM Feb 10, 2012
Christopher Price: Great read RT @Trags: I have all (or at least some) of the answers for what the #Patriots should do in '12. #TragsBag http://t.co/QfsThfmF
10:26 PM Feb 10, 2012
Patriots Headlines
NFL Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify