Giants and Daboll upend Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New York Giants hired Brian Daboll in the hopes he could get more production out of quarterback Daniel Jones and the offense.
The first preseason game of Daboll’s tenure revealed signs they may be heading in the right direction. Graham Gano hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired, Daniel Jones was solid in limited work and New York beat the New England Patriots 23-21 on Thursday night to open the preseason.
It gave Daboll a victory in his head coaching debut against his predecessor and the team he started his NFL career with.
Despite some breakouts by the offensive line, the Giants moved the ball well, with Jones completing 6 of 10 passes for 69 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley had four carries for 13 yards and one catch for 8 yards.
“I thought ( Jones) operated the offense well. He led them down on the first drive,” Daboll said. “We stalled there in the red zone. Good first start, but certainly things to clean up.”
Antonio Williams had a 2-yard touchdown run and Gano made three field goals.
“There’s going to be good, there’s going to be bad. We got to go back and watch film and learn from it, but that’s what the preseason’s for,” Barkley said. “Try to sharpen up the tools, sharpen up the game.“
Brian Hoyer and Bailey Zappe each threw touchdown passes for New England which, except for rookie left guard Cole Strange, gave quarterback Mac Jones and most of its projected starters the night off.
The Giants elected to play their starters for one quarter, which amounted to the first two series.
Zappe was 19 of 32 for 205 yards and touchdown. Hoyer was 5 of 8 for 59 yards and a TD. Kevin Harris had a 3-yard touchdown run and Kristian Wilkerson finished