Patriots edge Giants 22-20, complete unbeaten preseason

The stars of Patriots preseasons past have often been lost to history.

This year should become an exception.

Mac Jones is the team’s quarterback of the future. Running backs J.J. Taylor and Rhamondre Stevenson just made one-time starter Sony Michel expendable with impressive summers. And Josh Uche should torture opposing offensive lines for years to come, as a second-year pass-rusher on the precipice of a breakout season.

On Sunday night, they led the Pats to yet another exhibition win, a 22-20 triumph over the Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Patriots deployed their offensive and defensive starters for two series in the preseason finale, then called on their reserves to close it out.

“I feel like we made progress in preseason,” Pats coach Bill Belichick said post-game. “And we still have some more work to do, obviously. That’s clear. But we’re headed in the right direction.”

Jones replaced Cam Newton in the second quarter, after Newton started his third preseason game and left with a 3-0 lead. Newton finished 2-of-5 for 10 yards and an interception Giants linebacker Blake Martinez wrestled away from Jakobi Meyers running down the left seam.

Trailing 7-6 coming out of halftime, Jones captained back-to-back touchdown drives before finishing his last series with a third-down sack. His first score was a 17-yard frozen rope to Isaiah Zuber unloaded after Jones looked off a deep safety in the end zone. Jones (10-of-14, 156 yards, TD) opened his next possession by firing an equally fabulous back-shoulder throw to tight end Devin Asiasi that covered 30 yards.

“Just reaction. I’m not assuming he’s coming back-shoulder or anything,” Asiasi said of the play. “(Jones) put it in a good spot, I reacted to it and made a good play on the ball.”

Three snaps later, he handed off to Stevenson, a fellow rookie, for a 9-yard touchdown. Stevenson finished the run by bowling over a hapless Giants defender at the goal line, another August highlight to his resume. He totaled 23 rushing yards on five carries. Taylor posted a game-high 76, while playing deep into the fourth quarter.

Another rookie, kicker Quinn Nordin, hit field goals from 48 and 37 yards out, after Nick Folk struck first on a 41-yarder in the opening quarter. Nordin also missed a 54-yard attempt with 0:27 remaining.

His misfire allowed the Giants, trailing 22-14, a chance to tie, which backup quarterback Mike Glennon seized by rolling left and uncorking a 43-yard touchdown to Damion Lewis with eight seconds left. His ensuing fade throw to Dante Pettis on a 2-point conversion try fell incomplete, well-defended by new Pats cornerback Shaun Wade. Wade had just been victimized by an uncalled offensive pass interference penalty the play before.

Wade, acquired from Baltimore via trade Thursday, finished with two tackles.

Defensively, the Patriots harassed Glennon and Giants starter Daniel Jones through four sacks and a steady stream of pressure. Jones was sacked twice and hit four more times, as he went 17-of-22 for 135 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jones arched a perfect tight end Kaden Smith for a 23-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter just over the reach of reserve safety Adrian Colbert.

Two drives earlier, little-known Pats corner D’Angelo Ross picked him off in the end zone on a terrible throw rifled across his body in the second quarter. The interception followed a tackle at the 1-yard line by Joejuan Williams. Ross started at nickelback and made a late push for a roster spot after a quiet summer.

Uche, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise and Bill Murray and linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Chase Winovich all finished with at least a half-sack.

Backup linebacker Harvey Langi, another star of the preseason, led in the tackles department again with seven. He called signals for the second-string defense and was a pillar on special teams. He will await his regular-season fate, along with the rest of the Patriots’ roster bubble candidates, Tuesday.

Here were the best and worst Patriot performances from Sunday night:

Best

RB J.J. Taylor The Pats trusted Taylor to serve in a James White-like role in the first half, and he delivered with sure hands, excellent pass protection and shifty moves. The 5-foot-6 sparkplug should be a fun watch this season.

Pass rush It would be an upset if Daniel Jones isn’t having nightmares of Uche and Co. the next few nights.

Worst

CB Michael Jackson Jackson was seemingly responsible for a twelve-players-on-the-field penalty in the first half and gave up multiple key catches.

OT Justin Herron The second-year lineman was called for holding for the second time in as many games.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2WzuW0U