Aug 14, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver David Sills (84) is tackled by New York Jets cornerback Lamar Jackson (38) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. — Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants Drop Preseason Opener to Jets, 12-7

The Giants offense, which sat most of its starters, struggled in the preseason opener.

Author:
Patricia Traina
Publish date:
Aug 14, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--The Giants lost their preseason opener to the New York Jets 12-7 at MetLife Stadium Saturday night. But that score was the least of the Giants' worries.

New York's starting offensive line had an up and down evening in its limited snaps. And its depth took another hit when second-year man Kyle Murphy left the game in the third quarter on a cart with an ankle injury.

And the Giants' offense managed just 92 net yards in the first three quarters of play, including minus-9 yards in the third quarter.

Still, the Giants managed to make a game of it as midway through the fourth quarter, linebacker T.J. Brunson delivered a hit and forced a fumble after Jets tight end Kenny Yeboah caught a pass.

Cornerback Rodarius Williams alertly scooped up the loose call and returned it 29 yards to the Jets 17-yard line, and then three plays later, Thorson found receiver Damion Willis in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown to get the Giants on the board with 7:06 left.

For the first three quarters, it was all Jets. On their opening drive, Gang Green got on the board when rookie quarterback Zack Wilson, who finished his first preseason action completing six of nine passes for 63 yards, engineered a 12-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Chris Naggar and ate 6:06 off the clock.

The Jets then made it 10-0 with 3:27 left in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by running back LaMical Perine, putting the icing on an 11-play, 68-yard drive that saw New York surrender a 20-yard reception by receiver Denzel Mims from quarterback Mike White on a 3rd-and-18.

The final points came when the Jets recorded their fifth sack of the day, a sack shared by Jonathan Marshall and Hamilcar Rasheed against Clayton Thorson in the end zone for the safety.

The Giants offense, which other than for most of its starting offensive line sat its starters, was lifeless on the first drive, a three-and-out that saw starting quarterback Mike Glennon pressured twice and sacked once.

But the Giants, on a later drive, actually had a chance to at least tie the game when they crossed into the red zone. Unfortunately, running back Corey Clement lost the handle on the ball at the Jets' 7-yard line, the defense recovering it and squashing the scoring drive.

The Giants will visit the Cleveland Browns next weekend for a pair of joint practices before their preseason meeting on Sunday, August 22, a game in which the Giants are expected to field more of their starters on offense and defense.