Giants 24, Patriots 20: Tom Brady Suffers First Regular Season Loss At Gillette Since 2006

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots lost their second game in a row, falling 24-20 to Eli Manning and the New York Giants on Sunday. This marks the first time Brady has lost a home game since 2006, after 31 straight wins for the 2010 NFL MVP at Gillette Stadium. It's also the first time that the team has lost at home since the 2008 season.

The Pats technically lost the game in its waning seconds, but anybody who watched the game in its ghastly entirety knows that New England had dug their own grave far before that.

Recap: First Half

After the first half of the game, the score was 0-0. It was hard to tell who seemed more inept and unprepared. It played out in a way you would imagine a game between these two teams playing out if they'd been forced to play a regular season game the day after the lockout ended.

It left that feeling in the air that whoever could make one halfway decent drive in the third quarter would probably give their team enough momentum to win 10-3. It was as deflating a first half of NFL action as the league has seen all season.

Tom Brady and Eli Manning entered today's game with the 2^nd and 3^rd quarterback ratings in the league, respectively. At the end of the first half, Brady was 13/19 for 14 and an interception; a QB rating of 66.6. Manning was 8/18 for 71 yards; a QB rating of 55.6.

The run game for the Patriots was a bit less abysmal as they amassed 58 rushing yards, mostly due to solid help from 8 carries for 43 yards from BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The Giants sans Ahmad Bradshaw were working with mostly with Brandon Jacobs who managed to contribute 37 yards yards to their team first half total of 46.

Brady and the Patriots offense showed a glimmer of rhythm in the waning minutes of the second quarter, driving 83 yards on 12 plays into the red zone. Aaron Hernandez was perfectly placed in the end zone on a third down touchdown pass attempt, but a bad throw by Brady went incomplete and forced the field goal attempt.

Stephen Gostkowski then proceeded to miss the 27 yard field goal; a range from which he had been 45 for 48 since joining the Patriots in 2006.

That's about as much as can be said about a completely scoreless, horrendously executed first half.

But that's why there are two halves in a football game right? There are two halves so that the teams can collect themselves, make adjustments, and come back either re-inspired or ready to continue momentum.

Recap: Second Half

But alas, the third quarter started in such horrible fashion that to the untrained eye it looked like Brady and Manning had gone through some type of invasion of the body snatchers switch in which their bodies were being inhabited by Blaine Gabbert and Rex Grossman. The Patriots' offensive line which was so out of sync and mismanaged they were almost as unrecognizable as their quarterback.

In the first 6 minutes of the quarter Brady managed to throw another interception and get stripped for a fumble. The Giants scored a field goal and then a touchdown on the turnovers, and went up 10-0. The Patriots responded with a field goal of their own on a 32-yarder from Gostkowski to bring the game back within one possession at 10-3.

On the ensuing Giants drive, Manning took his team back within the Patriot 10 yard line. On a 3^rd and 5 pass intended for Mario Manningham, Manning was picked off in the end zone by Kyle Arrington.

After what seemed like an eternity since Brady had been able to pull his offense together, the Patriots drove the field 80 yards and tied the game up on a short touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez.

The touchdown came in the first half a minute of the 4^th quarter, leaving about 14 minutes left with the score 10-10. On their next possession, the Patriots took 3:35 seconds to drive the field close enough for another Gostkowski field goal to go up 13-10.

But in a quarter that would be defined by lead changes, the Giants took back the lead on their next possession after some pass interference help from Kyle Arrington that gave the Giants 35 yards. Manning connected with Manningham on a 10 yard pass to go back up 17-13.

The Patriots got some help of their own help after Manningham was penalized for excessive celebration and the fifteen yard penalty was enforced on the kick. With three minutes left, Brady was faced with doing what Brady does, despite the fact that he had barely even resembled himself for most of the game. After some help from Deion Branch, Rob Gronkowski and Danny Woodhead, the Pats offense was looking at a 2^nd and 9 at the Giant's 14 yard line. Brady threw two straight incompletion to Gronkowski before finally getting to him across the middle on a huge 4^th down conversion.

The Patriots were up 20-17 with 1:36 to go. Eli Manning completed a pair of big passes to  Victor Cruz and Jake Ballard as the clock was ticking. On a possibly intercept-able, overthrown pass in the direction of Manningham from the Patriots 21 yard line, safety Sergio Brown ran directly into the receiver, incurring another pass interference penalty. This time it took the Giants' offense to the 1 yard line, and on third down Manning converted the winning touchdown pass to Jake Ballard leaving just 16 seconds on the clock.

Check back tomorrow morning to catch my full analysis of the game, including who's to blame, who did their best, and if it's possible for the Patriots to save their season after two damaging losses in a row. 

Patriots 3, Giants 10, End 3rd: Turnovers Wreak Havoc On Patriots

Tom Brady and the Patriots have not been on their game Sunday against the Giants, with three straight turnovers leading directly to 10 points as the Giants took a 10-3 lead in the third.

Brady picked up his second interception of the game just three plays into the second half. Looking for all the world like he had chosen his target before the play even began, the struggling quarterback fired the ball in the direction of a heavily covered Rob Gronkowski. Deon Grant was the man in position to make the grab, setting up the Giants for their first scoring drive of the game. A rather put-upon defensive unit would allow large chunks of yardage in a short period of time, but stood strong near the goal line, forcing the Giants to settle for three.

They would not be able to stop New York on their next drive, however. Facing a 3rd-and-10, the New England offensive line allowed Michael Boley to work around the left side and back towards an unsuspecting Brady. Hit as he loaded to throw, Brady's arm came forward without the ball. The Giants fell on it, and on the very next play Brandon Jacobs covered all 10 yards to get into the end zone.

The offense still was not in sync for New England, but a bit of luck finally helped them get on the board. A muffed punt from Aaron Ross set the Patriots up with a very short field, and while an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-3 held them out of the end zone, Stephen Gostkowski was able to get the ball through the uprights this time for three.

The Giants nearly allowed another turnover on the ensuing kickoff, but it was the Patriots who would seemingly be undone by their special teams. After his defense forced a 3-and-out, Julian Edelman made an ill-advised attempt to return to punt, but found himself stripped to put the Giants in terrific position to go up by two scores. They would come as close as the five-yard line, even, but no closer. Eli Manning attempted to lift a pass in to Mario Manningham, but a leaping grab by Kyle Arrington provided what could prove to be a key interception, leaving the Patriots down by just seven points, with the ball, and driving as the third quarter came to a close.

Patriots 0, Giants 0, Half: Missed Opportunities Keep Patriots Stuck In Scoreless Tie

If anyone had money on Patriots - Giants to be the first game to go to halftime as a 0-0 tie, they deserve the rather significant payout they're about to receive.

While the levels of offensive incompetence for New England were not as high as they were in the first quarter, a tipped pass and a shanked field goal kept the team off the board in the second even as their defense stifled the Giants' offense for another 15 minutes.

The Patriots started off the quarter with a fair bit of momentum, having pushed their way into New York territory to end the first, but it took just one play to squander it. Trying to find Deion Branch, Tom Brady was off target with the pass, and instead found a defender's hand and then Mathias Kiwanuka's open arms for an interception.

A pair of big (and fairly obvious) holding calls kept the Giants from mounting an attack while a pair of perfect passes (including a near-miracle after a high snap) from Brady were dropped by Rob Gronkowski and Danny Woodhead to ruin a New England drive in-between.

It was the final drive of the half that would prove the most disappointing, however. Some big grabs by Wes Welker and the aforementioned pass droppers brought the Pats within 8 yards of pay dirt before the drive fizzled. Still, it seemed like the Patriots were set to take a 3-0 lead into halftime right up until Danny Woodhead pulled the short kick to the left of the uprights. A wasted opportunity if ever there was one.

VIDEO: Patriots And Giants Fight After Whistle On Sunday At Gillette Stadium

Patriots Vs. Giants: Shooting At Gillette Stadium

The Patriots are currently in the second quarter of play. However, WCVB TV is currently reporting that an hour before kickoff the police were called to the Gillette Stadium parking lot in Foxborough to deal with a shooting. At 3:05 p.m. the police were called as a man had shot himself in the leg. 

There is no word yet on if this was a gang related shooting or if the man just wanted to imitate Plaxico Burress who famously shot himself in the leg in 2008. There is no current update on the condition of the man nor is there any information if he is a Patriots or Giants fan. There also hasn't been a statement released regarding why he brought a gun to the game today. The Foxboro police as well as the Norfolk County District Attorny's office are both currently investigating the situation. 

SB Nation Boston will keep you updated as this story unfolds. 

Patriots 0, Giants 0, End 1st: Surprisingly Defensive Opening Quarter Leaves Teams Scoreless

The idea that the Patriots' defense was bailing out its offense last week against Pittsburgh was a bit hard to swallow when they forced not a single punt until the very end of the game. 

Through one quarter against the Giants, however, it's abundantly clear that this is the case. A surprisingly strong defensive effort has held New York off the board on their first three drives, while Tom Brady and the offense have only been able to grab a few first downs.

After a quick 14-yard completion to Mario Manningham to open up the game, a couple of dropped passes (credit to big hits and strong pressure from the defense) left the Giants forced to punt it away. 18 big yards from BenJarvus Green Ellis proved enough to give Tom Brady some space behind him on the ensuing drive, but a pass to Aaron Hernandez came up a yard short of the first and the Giants found themselves right back where they started around the 20-yard line.

It was Brandon Spikes who put an exclamation mark on the second defensive stop of the game for the Patriots, reciprocating the Giants' holding the Patriots one yard short by leveling Jake Ballard on third down with a huge hit after a short pass brought him within feet of the first. The Patriots could do nothing with their next possession, however, with some very questionable play calling including a draw for Danny Woodhead on 3rd-and-1 leaving them again empty-handed.

Patriots' Brandon Spikes Levels Giants' Jake Ballard In First Quarter

Giants Injury Report And Inactive List, Week 9: Nicks, Bradshaw Out

The inactives for the afternoon Patriots-Giants tilt are out, and the names on New York's list include some heavy hitters. The inactives for the Giants in Week 9 are cornerback Prince Amukamara, star wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, guard David Baas, starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw, tackle James Brewer, guard Stacy Andrews and fullback Henry Hynoski.

Obviously, the absence of Nicks and Bradshaw will draw all the headlines. Nicks has emerged this season as Eli Manning's top target and one of the best young receivers in the league. Bradshaw has also been dynamic at times this season, contributing five touchdowns. Receiver Victor Cruz could be slated for a big day for New York in Nicks' absence. Long-time Giant battering ram Brandon Jacobs will get the start at running back.

The other notable inactive for New York is rookie Prince Amukamara. The rookie corner was New York's first round pick out of Nebraka this year and has not played yet this season.

Visit Big Blue View for complete Patriots coverage throughout the season and our team page for schedules, statistics, news and more.

Patriots-Giants Inactives: Kevin Faulk, Shaun Ellis, Taylor Price Among Six Inactives

The inactives are in for both New England and New York. The Patriots will have quaterback Ryan Mallett, running back Kevin Faulk, wide receiver Taylor Price, guard Donald Thomas, defensive lineman Shaun Ellis, and linebackers Jermaine Cunningham and Dane Fletcher inactive today.

Here’s what ESPN’s Mike Reiss says about Faulk’s surprising scratch:

While he was questionable with a knee injury, running back Kevin Faulk’s deactivation is still a surprise. Faulk played 39 of 58 snaps last week in his first game back, and it could have been a case of too much, too soon. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen are the four active backs today.

For New England, the fact that wide receiver Wes Welker’s name isn’t on the list is the most encouraging news of all. Welker twisted his neck last week against the Giants. His availability was in doubt earlier in the week.

Visit Pats Pulpit for complete Patriots coverage throughout the season and our team page for schedules, statistics, news and more.

Patriots Wideout Wes Welker Likely To Play Sunday Vs. Giants

Breathe easy, New England, Wes Welker is going to play Sunday. According to a report from ESPN.com, the Patriots wide receiver has a "99 percent" chance of taking the field in New England's contest against the Giants this afternoon. Welker twisted his neck this past Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the injury likely being sustained during a hit from Steelers safety Troy Polamalu in the fourth quarter.

The second most important cog in the Patriots offense after quarterback Tom Brady, Welker leads the National Football League with 57 receptions this season and is second in the league with 824 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. Welker's matchup with Giants safety Antrel Rolle will be of great interest during the the 4:15 p.m. game, the result of comments Rolle made earlier in the week praising Welker, but saying he did not expect the Patriots wide receiver to give him or the New York secondary much trouble.

Visit Pats Pulpit for complete Patriots coverage throughout the season and our team page for schedules, statistics, news and more.

Giants Vs. Patriots: Game Time, TV Schedule, Radio Streaming And More

The 5-2 New England Patriots will host the 5-2 New York Giants in a battle of two division leaders on Sunday. The Giants will be without two of their most dynamic offense weapons in Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Patriots Vs. Giants Preview: Brady, Manning Meet For First Time Since Super Bowl

What's that you say? You don't remember there being a Super Bowl that year?

Giants Friday Injury Update: Hakeem Nicks And Ahmad Bradshaw Listed As Doubtful

The New York Giants named both wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and running back Ahmad Bradshaw doubtful for Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots after Bradshaw cracked a bone in his foot in last week's game against the Miami Dolphins and Nicks injured his hamstring in the same game.

Center David Baas is also listed as doubtful with a knee injury, while offensive tackle Stacy Andrews will miss the game with a back injury. Rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara has been healing steadily from his foot injury and is listed as questionable for the game, along with fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (concussion).

The following Giants are listed as probable: linebacker Michael Boley (knee), wide receiverMario Manningham (illness), tight end Bear Pascoe (finger), defensive end Justin Tuck(groin) and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee, shoulder).

Visit Big Blue View for complete Giants coverage and our team page for schedules, statistics, news and more.

Patriots Friday Injury Update: Wes Welker, Albert Haynesworth and BenJarvus Green-Ellis All Questionable

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Walker made limited participation in practice Friday for the second straight day and is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest against the New York Giants. Welker missed practice Wednesday after sustaining a neck injury last Sunday against the Steelers from a hit by safety Troy Polamalu.

Welker was one of nine players to participate in limited practice Friday and be listed as questionable for the Giants game. The others: safety Josh Barrett (thumb), defensive end Shaun Ellis (rib), running back Kevin Faulk (knee), running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (toe), defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (back), tight end Aaron Hernandez (knee), linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back).

Linebacker Dane Fletcher, still recovering from a thumb injury, is the only player definitively ruled out for the game. Guard Donald Thomas is listed as probable for reasons unrelated to injury.

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Giants Thursday Injury Update: Ahmad Bradshaw Out Indefinitely, Hakeem Nicks Misses Second Straight Practice

The big news out of Giants practice Thursday was that running back Ahmad Bradshaw has a broken foot and is out indefinitely, but New York also has other injury concerns leading up to Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul practiced only on a limited basis with a neck injury he suffered during practice, while wide receiver Hakeem Nicks sat out for the second straight day as he recovers from the hamstring injury he sustained this past Sunday, as did offensive tackle Stacy Andrews (back) and center David Baas (knee).

Rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara (foot) and fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) both practiced on a limited basis for the second time this week, along with tight end Bear Pascoe(finger). 

The Giants did have some good news in the form of defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee, shoulder), who praticed on a limited basis after missing practice Wednesday and defensive end Justin Tuck (groin, neck), who participated in full after being limited Wednesday. Wide receiver Mario Manningham also had full participation in practice after being out sick Wednesday.

For complete Giants coverage throughout the season, visit our blog, Big Blue View, and our team page for schedules, statistics, news and more.

Patriots Thursday Injury Report: Wes Welker Returns, Albert Haynesworth Limited

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, a day after sending a surge of anxiety throughout the region when he missed practice with a neck injury sustained this past Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Welker's participation Sunday against the New York Giants would certainly make things interesting after New York safety Antrel Rolle made a few semi-controversial comments before praising Welker's talents.

"I don't know," Rolle said when asked what made Welker so difficult to cover. "You've got to ask those guys he's giving trouble to. I don't plan on having to answer to those questions."

The only other change from Wednesday's injury report was that defensive end Albert Haynesworth practiced on a limited basis with his back injury after going full-speed the day before. Linebacker Dane Fletcher was the only player to sit out practice completely, having missed the past several weeks with a thumb injury.

-Visit our blog, Pats Pulpit, for complete Patriots coverage and our team page for news, statistics, schedules and more.

Patriots' Wes Welker Returns To Practice After Neck Injury

The New England Patriots took in a welcome sight Thursday - wide receiver Wes Welker returned to practice after missing Wednesday's activities with a neck injury.

The injury was never believed to be serious, but Welker's return to practice increases the likelihood that he will participate in Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

New York's Antrel Rolle, part of a secondary which will attempt to stop Welker Sunday, has praised Welker repeatedly but said he plans to shut down the NFL's leading wide receiver this weekend.

"I don't know. You've got to ask those guys he's giving trouble to," the Giants safety said when asked about what makes Welker so difficult to cover. "I don't plan on having to answer to those questions."

Welker likely suffered the neck injury Sunday against Pittsburgh. Midway through the fourth quarter, Troy Polamalu tackled Welker by the neck and shoulder. Welker was slow to get up but did not leave the field.

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