Patriots Vs. Giants: Giants Strike In Fourth Quarter, Edge Patriots, 18-17

After what has been a relatively eventful offseason for the New England Patriots finally came to a close on Thursday night, after they played their final preseason game of 2011. After holding a commanding lead at halftime, the Patriots team of backups couldn't hold the lead as they fell to the New York Giants on Thursday night 18-17 at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots got off to an excellent start to begin the game, even on the opening play of the game. After catching a 12 yard catch from Giants starting quarterback David Carr, wide receiver Domenik Hixon fumbled the football after being brought down by Rob Ninkovich. Patriots safety Patrick Chung was able to recover the ball and bring it all the way back to the one yard line; putting the Patriots in business.

At the one yard line, the running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was able to punch the ball in for a one-yard touchdown that put the Patriots ahead early, 7-0.

After a Giants three-and-out, the Patriots were once again set up for another scoring opportunity at the Giants' 33-yard line. Tom Brady and the Pats offense was able to bring the ball all the way to the 13-yard line, which allowed Stephen Gostkowski to kick a 31-yard field goal to the Pats ahead, 10-0.

Later in the first quarter, the Giants were able to scratch across their first points of the game off a Rhys Lloyd 48-yard field goal. The Giants still trailing, 10-3 at that point.

After the Giants score, the Patriots were able to get the ball back just before the expiration of the first quarter, and scored once again. Thanks to some big pass plays including a 64-yard bomb from Tom Brady to Matthew Slater, the Patriots were once again set up in good field position. At the Giants' one-yard line, Green-Ellis was able to punch the ball in on second and goal for his second touchdown of the game. The Patriots holding the commanding 17-3 lead.

After that, it all went downhill for the New England second team. After relatively quiet second and third quarters from both teams, the Giants suddenly found their rhythm. 

After failing to convert on the first three downs of the possession, the Giants set up to punt back to the Patriots; down by 14 points. Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin decided to pull out the trick plays and executed a fake punt for a gain of 65 yards and a touchdown. The 'G-Men' now trail the Pats, 17-10.

With the lead in hand and under 10 minutes to go in the game, the Patriots seemed to feel pretty comfortable with their lead. However, it was for not. Richard Medlin could not hold onto the ball and gave the ball right back to the Giants, who recovered the football and ran in all the way into the endzone for the six points.

In another gutsy coaching decision, Coughlin decided to run out the offense and go for the two point conversion and the lead. The Giants were able to successfully convert the two-points after a Jerrel Jernigan catch in the endzone. The Giants now held the 18-17 lead over New England.

With no offensive starters left in the game, rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett and the rest of the Patriots offense could not get into field goal range and could not scratch across another point for the remainder of the game. The Patriots falling in their final preseason game in heartbreaking fashion, 18-17.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Giants Hold On To Late Lead For 18-17 Win

The New York Giants played a sloppy three quarters of football, as to be expected given they played a hurricane-delayed game just three days ago. But the Giants took a late lead on a fumble recovery and held on to take a 18-17 win in the last preseason game for both teams.

A Richard Medlin fumble allowed Giants safety Derrick Martin to run in for the game-tying score. Giants wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan barely caught a reception in bounds on the two-point conversion attempt to take the lead.

The Giants game within one touchdown of the Patriots after a fake punt attempt that started the fourth quarter. Da’ Rel Scott surprised every Patriots player on the field and ran 65 yards for a touchdown untouched.

Ryan Mallett played the entire fourth quarter at quarterback for the Patriots, and tried to lead a last minute scoring opportunity as time expired. Mallett was flustered by the Giants defense, and couldn’t get much going with his receivers. Mallett finished the night passing for 57 yards and completing 6 of 16 attempts.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Giants Take 18-17 Lead Over Patriots

The New York Giants capitalized on a New England Patriots fumble to take an 18-17 lead in the fourth quarter.

Patriots running back Richard Medlin fumbled the ball near the Patriots 11 yard line. Giants safety Derrick Martin recovered and ran it in for a touchdown.

The Giants then attempted a two point conversion in an effort to take the lead. Ryan Perrilloux passed to Jerrel Jernigan on the successful attempt, and the Giants took their first lead of the game.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Despite Sloppy Third and Surprising Start To Fourth, Patriots Still Lead 17-10

Both the New England Patriots and New York Giants played a slightly sloppy third quarter, with no scoring. But as the fourth quarter started, the Giants caught a napping Patriots defense to score their first touchdown of the game.

The Giants Da’ Rel Scott ran 65 yards with barely any Patriots around him to score a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Rhys Lloyd kicked the extra point.

Brian Hoyer finished his evening near the end of the third quarter. He went 3 for 5, with 31 passing yards on the night. Rookie Ryan Mallett will take the remainder of the Patriots’ preseason snaps.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Patriots Take 17-3 Lead Over Giants Into Halftime

The New England Patriots and New York Giants played a second quarter that was full of “close, but no cigar” moments.

The Patriots recovered Giants quarterback David Carr’s fumble at the Patriots’ two yard line, stopping a touchdown that seemed to be a given for the Giants. However, Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer couldn’t move the chains, leaving the Patriots to punt off the opportunity.

The Patriots nearly gained a second opportunity on the resulting punt. Guy Guyton recovered a muffed Jerrel Jernigan catch, running it to within the Giants five yard line. However, the referees cited the Patriots for an illegal formation, giving the Giants a do-over that Jernigan was able to hold onto.

The Giants then went on a 13 play drive, but it resulted in a missed 49 yard field goal by kicker Rhys Lloyd.

Patriots’ starting quarterback Tom Brady finished up his brief night going 5 for 9, for 116 yards. Hoyer jumped in and amassed 27 passing yards during the second quarter.

All eyes are on Patriots defensive back Patrick Chung, who was shaken up near the midpoint of the second quarter. His injury did not seem serious.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Green-Ellis Gains Second Touchdown Of Night, Patriots Lead 17-3

New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored his second touchdown of the night as the first quarter ticked down to give the Patriots a 17-3 lead over the New York Giants.

The Patriots again found themselves in fantastic field position, right on the Giants four yard line. Matthew Slater took a pass from Tom Brady 64 yards to earn them that field position.

Stephen Gostkowski hit the extra point for the Patriots at the very beginning of the second quarter.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Patriots Take 10-3 Lead in First Quarter

The New England Patriots defense came up big early on in the first quarter of their preseason game against the New York Giants.

Patriot Patrick Chung jumped on a Domenik Hixon fumble on one of the game’s first plays, gaining the Pats prime field position right on the Giants one yard line. Quarterback Tom Brady handed the ball off to Benjarvus Green-Ellis on the next play for a short jog into the end zone to give the Pats the game’s first touchdown.

On the Patriots’ next drive, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 31 yard field goal to give them a 10-0 lead.

The Giants finally settled things down on their offense, and moved down the field to give kicker Rhys Lloyd a chance to boot a 48 yard field goal to get the Giants on the board.

Patriots Vs. Giants: Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis Set To Make Patriots Debuts Thursday Night

According to Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Shaun Ellis are both suited up and will make their Patriots debuts on Thursday night against the Giants.

After sitting out for an extended period with an unknown injury, Haynesworth was able to finally get back on the practice field last weekend and practiced with the team in full pads all this week. Patriots fans will finally be able to see both Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork working together in the middle of the team’s defensive line.

Ellis was also forced to sit out of most of Training Camp after signing with the Patriots this summer. Like Haynesworth, Ellis was able to practice all of this week in pads and will be ready to go on Thursday night.

Also dressed for the Patriots on Thursday is defensive lineman Mike Wright, who returned to practice on Tuesday after missing all of training camp with an injury.

Follow along with Thursday’s game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit

Patriots Vs. Giants: TV Schedule, Broadcast Info, Time And More

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium in the preseason finale for both teams.

Event: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots, NFL Preseason Week 4.

Date/Time: Thursday, September 1, 2011 - 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Broadcast Info: Thursday night's game between the Patriots and Giants will be televised locally on Channel 4 (CBS). The game will be aired on WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub, the flagship station of the New England Patriots.

Storyline: If Thursday night's match-up between the Patriots and Giants were a regular season game, there would actually be a pretty good storyline. You've got the Boston-New York rivalry going. Eli Manning put himself in the same class as Tom Brady, so there's that myth to disprove. Plus, BC's own Mark Herzlich is returning to the area.

Unfortunately, this is a preseason game, and the uneventful fourth and final one at that. Tom Brady and the starters may not see playing time, despite their poor showing in the supposedly important third preseason game against the Lions last Saturday. 

For the Patriots, this will be the final chance for some UDFA's and other players on the fence to prove that they deserve a roster spot. With that being the case, it will be interesting to watch various position battles.

On the Giants side, it's a similar situation. Herzlich has reportedly been looking solid for New York, and is making a strong case to make the roster. Keep an eye on his, as with a little work, he could easily be a starting linebacker.

Even though there are still roster spots to be determined, don't expect this to wind up as one of the greatest games of the decade.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.   

Patriots Vs. Giants: Pats Wrap Up Preseason With Super Bowl Rematch

(Sports Network) - Eli Manning drew plenty of attention with his recent self- comparison to Tom Brady, though the New York Giants quarterback may not get the opportunity to support his case when his team takes on Brady's Patriots Thursday at Gillette Stadium in the final 2011 preseason test for both clubs.

The Giants will be entering the game on a mere two days of rest after Hurricane Irene postponed their originally-scheduled showdown with the in-city rival New York Jets from last Saturday to Monday. Though head coach Tom Coughlin hasn't publicly said whether Manning or the rest of his starters will play after such a short layoff, odds are their participation will be limited as best.

Manning may need the additional work, though, after struggling all throughout the preseason's first three weeks. Operating an offense that lost wide receiver Steve Smith, tight end Kevin Boss and longtime linemen Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, the eighth-year pro has completed just 49.1 percent (27- of-55) of his attempts for 301 yards and no touchdowns while throwing two interceptions.

Both of Manning's picks came in Monday's 14-3 setback to the Jets, in which the 2004 No. 1 overall selection finished with 200 yards on 15-of-30 passing.

If Manning isn't on the field Thursday, veterans David Carr and Sage Rosenfels will continue their battle to be the primary backup. Carr had a chance to take control of the job after entering Monday's loss in the second half, but went just 5-of-12 for 36 yards.

Rosenfels hasn't played in either of New York's last two contests due to a strep throat infection as well as an ailing back.

It's been a rough preseason as well for the Giants' defense, which has been beset by injuries to cornerbacks Terrell Thomas (torn ACL, out for season) and Prince Amukamara (broken foot) as well as standout pass rusher Osi Umenyiora (knee surgery). Two more key players, All-Pro end Justin Tuck (shoulder) and linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka (groin), were forced to exit Monday's game, though neither's ailment is believed to be serious.

The Patriots began their 2011 schedule with a flourish, delivering lopsided wins over Jacksonville (47-12) and Tampa Bay (31-14), before running into a determined Detroit squad this past Saturday. The up-and-coming Lions piled up 468 total yards, 354 of which came through the air, on the New England defense, while harassing Brady all evening long en route to an impressive 34-10 rout.

Brady was off the mark against Detroit's heavy rush, with the reigning league MVP hitting on only 12-of-22 throws for 145 yards with one touchdown and one interception before being replaced early in the third quarter.

While it's unclear if for or how long Bill Belichick will run out his regulars this week, Brady did work the entire first quarter in New England's 20-17 loss to the Giants in last year's preseason finale. Two starters that are almost certain to be held out, however, are wide receiver Wes Welker and guard Dan Connolly after both got hurt in the Detroit game.

Welker sustained a mild neck injury late in the first half, while Connolly suffered an apparent ankle sprain.

On the flip side, rookie running back Shane Vereen may make a belated pro debut in Thursday's tilt after returning to practice this week. The Pats' second-round pick in April's draft had been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Giants and Patriots have met in the preseason 20 times previously, including every year since 2005. New York extended its lead in the series to 12-8 with its aforementioned three-point home win in 2010.

The teams will also battle in Foxborough during Week 9 of this year's regular season in the first meaningful matchup between the two since Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants upset the then-unbeaten Patriots by a 17-14 score at University of Phoenix Stadium in February of 2008.

Bill Belichick Discusses Patriots Shortcomings In Preseason Loss To Detroit Lions

'Bill Belichick: A Football Life' Premieres September 15th on NFL Network

Patriots Vs. Lions: Tom Brady, Pats Couldn't Really Get Into Rhythm

So much for focusing on the tempo. Tom Brady and the Patriots just never found their comfort zone and couldn't put together more than two successful drives in their 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night at Ford Field.

Brady, who threw for 145 yards and a touchdown - as well as a rare interception - on 12-of-22 passing, admitted so after the game, telling the media that

"From the first series on, we just could never really get into rhythm," Brady said in his postgame press conference. "It was just a bad night all around. We don't make excuses for it, it just wasn't a good night. We didn't play the way we needed to play - miss open receivers,and a careless interception there - you're not going to win games if you play like that. There's only one way to get better, just get out to practice, get back to work. Try to improve the things that we didn't do very well and hopefully play better next week."

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Bill Belichick: 'Obviously, I Did A Poor Job'

Patriots Vs. Lions: Matthew Stafford, Lions Burn Patriots, 34-10

Matthew Stafford put forth his best game of the preseason, completing 12-of-14 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Detroit Lions burned Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 34-10, in the all-important third preseason game on Saturday night at Ford Field.

Brady, on the other hand, had the worst game of the preseason, completing 12-of-22 passes for 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception - something he threw only four times all of last season.

Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett didn't have much success either backing up Brady, with Hoyer completing 6-of-12 passes for 88 yards and Mallett throwing for 65 yards on 9-of-14 passing.

New England's rushing attack was essentially non-existant, with Danny Woodhead leading all rushers with four carries for 28 yards. Starting back BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 18 yards on eight carries.

Wes Welker led all Patriots' receivers with 71 yards on three catches and a touchdown. Matthew Slater had one catch for 53 yards and Aaron Hernandez collected five catches for 46 yards. Chad Ochocinco didn't have a catch.

Sergio Brown led the Pats' defenders with eight tackles (seven solo) and Jerod Mayo registered seven tackles (five solo). Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis did not play once again, leading to speculation about their health.

Ian Johnson led all Lions' backs with 11 carries for 32 yards and Jerome Harrison had three catches for 51 yards to lead Detroit's receiving core. Calvin Johnson had one catch for 30 yards. Ndamukong Suh recorded one solo tackle in the game and the Lions sacked Brady twice - both of which were recorded by Cliff Avril.

Jason Hanson opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal with 12:26 left in the first quarter, capping off an eight-play, 65-yard drive that lasted 2:38. After the Pats' offense sputtered out in their opening drive, Stafford led the Lions on a four-play, 57 yard drive that ended in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Nate Burleson with 7:32 to go in the first, putting Detroit on top, 10-0.

Stephen Gostkowski broke onto the scoreboard for the Patriots with his 33-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, which brought a 16-play, 69-yard drive to a close with three points, trimming Detroit's lead to seven.

Stafford went to work again, taking the Lions on a three-play, 51-yard drive down the field and finding Tony Scheffler for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give his team a commanding 17-3 advantage with 8:51 to go in the opening half.

Brady's lone score of the day came with 4:03 remaining in the second quarter. Brady juked the Lions' defense with a perfect play-action fake and found Wes Welker wide open up the middle for a 44-yard touchdown, bringing New England within seven.

Not to be outdone, the Lions tacked on a field goal - a 46-yard strike from Hanson with 1:11 left - and a touchdown - a nine-yard pass from backup Shaun Hill to Aaron Brown with 12 seconds left - to take a 27-10 halftime lead.

The situation didn't improve for the Patriots, who were held scoreless through the final 30 minutes and surrendered another touchdown - a four-yard pass from QB Drew Stanton to Derrick Williams with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter - en route to their first loss of the preseason.

New England concludes its preseason action with a rematch of Super Bowl XLI against the New York Giants at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 1 at Gillette Stadium.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Lions Come Away With The 34-10 Win

Ryan Mallett took the reigns for the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter Saturday night against the Detroit Lions, but couldn’t find an offensive spark. The Patriots fell to the Lions 34-10.

Mallett threw for 65 yards, going 9 of 14 on the evening. He had a good series going at the very close of the game, carefully working the Patriots down field with a 12 play drive. Time ran out before Mallett could convert the drive into points.

The Lions’ Drew Stanton threw a four yard pass to Derrick Williams to close a 12 play drive at the start of the fourth quarter to give the Lions their closing points. Stanton finished the game with 93 passing yards.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Drew Stanton's Four-Yard Touchdown Increases Lions Lead Over The Patriots To 34-10

Well, luckily it’s only the preseason. The Detroit Lions of struck yet again as they put together a 12 play, 70 yard drive that results in yet another touchdown. New quarterback Drew Stanton delivered a four-yard touchdown to Derrick Williams. The Lions continue to rout the Pats, 34-10.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Quiet Third Quarter Keeps Lions Up 27-10

The New England Patriots had a sloppy third quarter – but for the first time tonight, so did the Detroit Lions. The third quarter saw no scoring, and the Lions remained up 27-10 at the end of the quarter.

Brian Hoyer stepped in in relief of Tom Brady in the third, throwing for just 15 yards. The Patriots offensive line is struggling, not allowing the offense the time to get plays off.

In contrast, the Lions offense is allowing quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton time to set up plays and move down the field.

The biggest news of the third quarter was that the Patriots’ announced two troubling injuries from the night. Wide receiver Wes Welker has left the game with a neck injury allegedly suffered on a second quarter closing Brady interception. Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite had his bell rung in the third quarter, and hasn’t come back to the game.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Wes Welker, Jonathan Wilhite Leave Game With Injuries

With the Patriots already losing big in this one, we have more discouraging injury news to report to you.

The Patriots announced (via Twitter) that Wes Welker has left the game with a neck injury. His return is questionable and seems unlikely at this point. He appeared to injury his neck after attempting to make a tackle after Tom Brady threw his second quarter interception.

Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite left the field under his own power after he looked a little shaken up after a play in the third quarter. Wilhite’s status remains uncertain at this point.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Lions Take 27-10 Lead Into Halftime

A chippy half of football has left the New England Patriots frustrated and down 27-10 to the Detroit Lions.

Tom Brady played for the entire half, but was only able to connect for one touchdown. That second quarter touchdown was a 44 yard pass to wide receiver Wes Welker. Welker has received his fair share of looks this evening, with 71 yards so far. Brady finished the first half completing 11 out of 20 with 142 yards passing.

The Pats have encountered problems with a Lions defense that looks to turn the game into a Saturday night HBO boxing match. The Lions’ DE Ndamukong Suh has had many opportunities to go after Brady, and has caused some ruckus after the whistle as well.

Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford exited the game in roughly midway through the second quarter, having thrown for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Shaun Hill came into the game after, and connected with Aaron Brown late in the second quarter to pad the Lions’ lead heading into halftime.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Tom Brady's Interception Leads To Detroit Touchdown, Lions Lead 27-10 At Halftime

Before the end of the half, Tom Brady looked to piece together one more scoring drive to give the Patriots some extra momentum heading into halftime. Brady’s efforts were cut short after he was intercepted by Ricardo Silva. Silva’s interception led to a five play, 46 yard touchdown drive by Shaun Hill and the Lions offense. Hill connected with running back Aaron Brown on a nine-yard touchdown pass to extend the Lions lead over the Patriots, 27-10.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Jason Hanson's Second Field Goal Of The Game Extends Lions Lead To 20-10

The Lions offense continues to shine on Saturday night, as they have put together yet another scoring drive. Behind new quarterback Shaun Hill, the Lions put together an eight play, 52 yard yard drive that ended in a 46-yard field goal by Jason Hanson. The Lions now lead the Patriots 20-10.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Tom Brady's 44-Yard Touchdown To Wes Welker Trims Lions Lead To 17-10

After watching the Lions extend their lead to 17-3, Tom Brady and the Patriots offense put together their first touchdown drive of the game on just two plays. After a nice kickoff return by Julian Edelman, Tom Brady finished the drive by with a 44-yard pass to a wide open Wes Welker for a touchdown. The Patriots still trail the Lions, 17-10.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Matthew Stafford Tosses Second Touchdown Of The Game, Lions Extend Lead To 17-3

After the Patriots’ first scoring drive of the game, the Lions put together another scoring drive on just three plays. Starting the drive at their own 49 yardline, the Lions pieced together a 51 yard drive that ended in a 22-yard touchdown from Matthew Stafford to tight end Tony Scheffler. The Lions lead the Patriots 17-3

Patriots Vs. Lions: Dan Connolly Leaves Game With Left Ankle Injury, Return Is Questionable

With the first quarter almost in the books, Patriots starting right guard Dan Connolly was seen walking off the field with team trainers after suffering a left ankle injury.

His return to action is questionable. Connolly had been battling injury issues during training camp, which forced him to miss significant time. We will have more on Connolly when more information becomes available.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Lions Find Offensive Success Against Patriots In First Quarter

For the first time this preseason, the New England Patriots ran into trouble getting their offense started. At the close of the first quarter, they trail the Detroit Lions 10-0.

Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford has had luck connecting with his receivers, especially former San Francisco 49er Nate Burleson, with whom he connected for a touchdown.

The Lions defense has come out strong against the Patriots, including a hard hit against quarterback Tom Brady. Brady was unable to get too much going with his receivers early on. At the close of the first quarter, Brady and his offense were starting to find their rhythm and moved down the field to get them in position for a field goal attempt.

Brady has thrown for 64 yards so far this evening. Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis has run for 13 yards on six carries. Aaron Hernandez has amassed 33 yards receiving so far this evening for the Pats.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Stephen Gostkowski's 33-yard Field Goal Puts Patriots On The Board, Lions Lead 10-3

After allowing a touchdown to the Lions on the previous drive, the Patriots were able to put together a scoring drive of their own. A 16 play, 69 yard drive culminates in a 33-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots still trail the Lions, 10-3

Patriots Vs. Lions: Matthew Stafford's Nine-Yard TD Extends Lions Lead To 10-0

After a sloppy offensive position from the Patriots, the Lions got the ball back in relatively good field position close to their own 40-yard line. A 52-yard Jerome Harrison run set up a nine yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Nate Burleson; extending the Detroit lead to 10-0.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Jason Hanson's 33-Yard Field Gives Detroit An Early 3-0 Advantage

After a seven play, 65-yard opening drive by Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense, 20-year veteran Jason Hanson capped off the drive with a 33-yard field goal. The Lions lead the Patriots 3-0.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Broadcast Info, Time, Location And More

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots face the Detroit Lions in their third preseason game at 8:00 p.m. EDT at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Here's everything you need to know.

Event: NFL Preseason, Week 3 - New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions.

Date/Time: Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Location: Ford Field (Capacity: 64,500), Detroit, Michigan.

Broadcast Info: Saturday night's game between the Patriots and Lions will be televised on CBS (Channel 4 in Boston). The game can also be heard on the radio in New England on 98.5 The Sports Hub, the flagship station of the Patriots.

Storyline: Entering the all-important third preseason games, the starters for both teams should see the most playing time of any point in the preseason. That means that Tom Brady, Wes Welker, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Chad Ochocinco and the rest of the starters will get to showcase their talents for up to three quarters, or even more.

However, pregame reports - one specifically from Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston - has stated that new defensive stars Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis are not expected to play against the Lions. Neither has made an appearance in either of the Patriots' two preseason games to date.

Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh are the players to watch for the Lions. Stafford missed a chunk of last season after going down with an injury, but has looked polished in the preseason. Suh has emerged as one of the best defensive lineman in the sport, and will have the Pats' most prized possession - Tom Brady - in his sights.

Previews: Read the game previews at Pats Pulpit and Pride Of Detroit. You can also prepare for Saturday's game with SB Nation's preview. Follow @SBNBostonLIVE for live-Tweeting from the game.

Follow along with Saturday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Lions: Albert Haynesworth, Others Not Expected To Play

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis are not expected to play in Saturday night’s game against Detroit. The highly touted defensive line additions both returned to practice this week after suffering injuries and have yet to officially suit up for the Patriots this preseason.

Joining Haynesworth and Ellis on the sideline will be rookies Shane Vereen and Ras-I Dowling.  Vereen and Dowling have also missed significant practice time with injuries of their own. The two second round picks were able to join their teammates on the field for practice this week in hopes that they could finally play their first NFL downs.

The Patriots do have so good news to report as left tackle Matt Light has reportedly made the trip with the team to Detroit and will likely start on Saturday night in his first preseason game of the season protecting Tom Brady’s blindside.

Light and the rest of the offensive linemen will be able to breath easier tonight as Lions defensive linemen Kyle Vanden Bosch and Nick Fairly will both not suit up on Saturday night. Running back Jahvid Best will also not suit up this evening for Detroit.

For New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit

Patriots Vs. Lions: Tom Brady, New England Prepare To Face Detroit

It's the all-important third preseason game, and Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will take on the Detroit Lions and their revamped roster - led by Ndamukong Suh - on Saturday evening at Ford Field (8 p.m EDT; CBS).

As is customary, the starters for both teams - Brady included - should see the most playing time of any preseason game, as the third preseason contest has always been seen as the most important regarding the team's makeup.

While Brady and other starters like Wes Welker, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Chad Ochocinco have already seen some playing time, defensive stars Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis still haven't suited up for the Pats on gameday. The statud of either for Saturday night's game is unknown, but both have practiced this week.

The last time Brady and the Patriots took on the Lions was on Thanksgiving Day last year, and the Pats stomped them 45-24. Brady was 21-for-27 for 341 yards and four TDs in the blowout win. Deion Branch collected 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns on three receptions and Wes Welker had eight catches for 90 yards and two scores.

It's unlikely that the Lions will lay an egg like they did last season, seeing as how this year's team is looking like the one that snaps Detroit's lengthy streak of losing football seasons. However, the Patriots have scored no less than 31 points in a game this preseason and have outscored their opponents 76-26 through eight quarters of football.

Detroit has looked strong this preseason, blowing out the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-3, and edging the Cleveland Browns, 30-28, in their first two preseason tilts. Lions QB Matthew Stafford has had a solid preseason, throwing for 156 yards and three TDs on 12-of-17 passing. Stafford has yet to be touched by opposing defenses, but that's likely to change with New England's high octane defense.

Provided that the starters perform well for the Patriots, it's likely that you will see very few of them in action in the Patriots' preseason finale against the New York Giants - a rematch of Super Bowl XLI - next Thursday night.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

New England Patriots Preseason 2011: Role Call From Pats' Practice

There were several players missing from New England Patriots' practice on Thursday, with Brandon Spikes and Stevan Ridley highlighting the group of missing players, according to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald.

No word on why Leigh Bodden, Jermaine Cunningham, Mike Wright and Dane Fletcher were missing from today's practice just yet. Spikes, on the other hand, has been absent from Patriots practice for several days now, but is still with the team and working towards a return.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

New England Patriots Preseason 2011: Tom Brady Focuses On Tempo

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told ESPN Boston Chris Forsberg that tempo will be the top focus for him as the Pats face the Detroit Lions in Week 3 of NFL Preseason action on Saturday evening at Ford Field.

"Tempo is always something we talk about," Brady said at his weekly Q&A with the media Wednesday at Gillette Stadium. "Coaches really think it's important. You get into rhythm out there and it's hard when you have a bad tempo, a slow rhythm to the offense. Guys are walking back to huddle, walking to line. You have a bad play and you're walking back to huddle. To me, when we get a good tempo, I like to keep the pressure on the defense rather than give them time to catch their breath. I really enjoy that. That's why I love being in the two-minute drill as well, it's mandatory fast tempo. You rush to the line of scrimmage, see the coverage, the ball snaps, you make throw, and you're right on to the next play. If we do that well, it can be a great strength for our team."

Brady found his rhythm for the most part in his preseason debut against the Tamp Bay Buccaneers last Thursday, completing 11-of-19 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-14 win for New England.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

New England Preseason 2011: Albert Haynesworth Returns To Practice

For the first time since August 4, defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth joined the Patriots in practicing Tuesday.

It's not clear what has kept Haynesworth off the field for the past couple of weeks, with Bill Belichick only going so far as to call him "day-to-day" during his absence.

Haynesworth wore full-pads Tuesday, three days after attending but not participating in a Saturday walkthrough. With Bill Belichick suggesting that Haynesworth could play in the Patriots' upcoming preseason game in Detroit, this is an important first step towards getting ready to make the impact fans are hoping for from the former pro-bowler. This return to practice comes--perhaps coincidentally--just one day after Haynesworth pleaded no contest to a simple assault charge in Washington D.C.

Also making his return to action was Danny Woodhead, who took a bad shot to the head in the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Given the severity of the hit and Woodhead's response, it would not have been surprising to hear he was down long-term with a concussion, so seeing him back so soon is a very good sign.

New England Patriots Preseason 2011: Haynesworth To Play Saturday?

Albert Haynesworth could suit up for the New England Patriots in a game as soon as this Saturday when the Pats take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, according to Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick.

"If he's ready, yeah," Belichick said when asked of Haynesorth's status.

Asked whether he was ready, Belichick responded, "Well I don't know. He's day-to-day."

"I can't [elaborate]," Belichick said when asked for more details. "We'll go out there tomorrow, and if he's ready to go, he'll practice. If he's not, then he'll do the other things to get ready to go, and then we'll try it again on Wednesday." (via WEEI)

Haynesworth returned to the practice field over the weekend, but did not practice, instead watching from the sidelines. While Belichick says Haynesworth could play Saturday, it's very unlikely if he can't even practice this close to game day.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Jerod Mayo Confident Pats Will Have Made Transition To 4-3 Defense In Time For 2011 NFL Season

Patriots Thump Buccaneers, 31-14: Tom Brady Post-Game Press Conference Transcript

If the first two games of the 2011 preseason are any indication of what’s in store for the regular season, the New England Patriots look like they’ll be extremely difficult to contain. On Thursday night, the Patriots thrashed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-14, in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested. The Pats led 28-0 at halftime thanks to TD drives on their first three possessions. After a three-and-out on their fourth series, the Pats found pay dirt for a fourth time.

Tom Brady was sharp in his 2011 debut, completing 11-of-19 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, including a 14 yard TD strike to Chad Ochocinco who was making his Pats’ debut. The ;10 MVP sat out the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Chiefs last week. After the imrpessive win, Brady took to the podium to field questions about his first taste of live action this year. Here’s part of Brady’s press conference:

On whether or not he was happy to be back out on the field.

“It was fun. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to be out there. After sitting last week, I think a lot of the guys were antsy to be out there. I’m glad we put some points on the board, but obviously a lot of things that we could do better too. We’ll use it really as a tool to get better, and hopefully come out and play better next week.”

On the fact they got Chad Ochocinco involved, and whether it was nice to see him get a touchdown

“It was. He’s really finding a role for himself. He’s been practicing hard, he’s very competitive. It’s a good group we have out there. We’ve just got to continue to build. All of us, it’s just, we haven’t played in a long time so everyone’s a bit rusty out there. It will be good to get back to practice this week so we can really take what we learned from the game and try to get better in practice.”

On their offensive performance in the first half

“I mean, we expect to go out there and score. I think we had six drives, four of them ended in touchdowns, we were good in the red area. The one drive we got penalized, and didn’t make much out of that drive, and the last one was the two minute drive. So there was some good, there was plenty of bad, I’m sure we’re going to – I’m sure I’m going to see the film tomorrow – and be disappointed with some of the things that I wish I probably could have done better. We’ve just got to build on it and understand there were things we did wrong, and try to make the corrections.”

On his conversations with Chad Ochocinco and getting in sync

“You know, we’ve missed a lot of time. I think that’s the reality of what’s happened this offseason. We’ve missed a lot of time over the course of six months where we really couldn’t do anything football-wise. So a lot of it is just trying to continue to talk and the only way you can make corrections is to communicate. So we’re always trying to communicate between the two of us. And even with Deion [Branch] and Wes [Welker], we haven’t played football together in eight months either being on the field together. So a lot of it is the receiver group, the tight end group, the quarterbacks and the skill guys really being on the same page so you can anticipate the things that are going on out there, you can play with confidence, and then you can go out there and make the tight plays in those tight situations.”

For more Pats coverage and conversation, head on over to Pats Pulpit.

Patriots 31, Buccaneers 14: Tom Brady, Starters Lead Pats Over Bucs

Tom Brady and the starters came out strong, leading the New England Patriots to a 31-14 win over the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

Brady completed 11-of-19 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pats. Brady's first touchdown came on a 16-yard strike to aw wide open Aaron Hernandez with 11:51 left in the first quarter. His second touchdown was an eight-yard pass with 6:55 left in the first to veteran Chad Ochocinco, who finished with 14 receiving yards and a TD in his debut.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the game's other star, racking up 51 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Green-Ellis' first touchdown, a one-yard scamper, came with 12 seconds left in the first quarter, giving the Pats a 21-0 lead. Green-Ellis scored again on another one-yard touchdown run with 5:56 left in the second quarter.

Elbert Mack put the Buccaneers on the scoreboard when he intercepted a pass from Patriots' backup quarterback Ryan Mallett and returned it 69 yards for the score, trimming the Patriots' lead to 28-7 with 12:12 to go in the third.

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 44-yard field goal to account for the first points of the second half for the Patriots, who took a 31-7 lead after the field goal with 3:22 to go in the third quarter.

Allen Bradford scored the second touchdown for the Buccaneers on a two-yard dash into the end zone with 9:34 remaining in the game, but the Bucs were unable to cut into the lead any further.

Brian Hoyer and Mallett backed up Brady, with Hoyer completing 1-of-4 passes for six yards and Mallett throwing for 71 yards on and an interception on 9-of-14 passing. Stevan Ridley shined in garbage time, rushing for 84 yards on 14 carries.

Tracy White led the Patriots' defenders with five tackles - all solo - and Jerod Mayo had five tackles (three solo) and two sacks. Darius Butler recorded four tackles, all of which were solo.

New England faces the Detroit Lions in the always important third preseason game on Thursday, August 27 at 8:00 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Allen Bradford Rushes For TD, Pats Lead Cut To 31-14

Allen Bradford scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 9:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, marking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers second touchdown of the game and cutting the New England Patriots’ lead to 31-14.

Bradford’s score concluded a 12-play, 84-yard drive for Tampa Bay.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Stephen Gostkowski FG Gives Pats 31-7 Lead

Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 44-yard field goal with 3:22 left in the third quarter, giving the New England Patriots a 31-7 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium.

The field goal capped off a seven-play, 31-yard drive that spanned 3:36.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Ryan Mallett Throws A Pick-Six, Bucs Score TD

Ryan Mallett threw the first interception of his NFL career (unofficially, of course) to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender Elbert Mack, who returned it 69 yards for the Bucs’ first score of the game with 12:12 left in the third quarter, but the New England Patriots still hold a 28-7 lead.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Tom Brady, Pats Lead Bucs, 28-0, At Halftime

Tom Brady completed 11-of-19 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns and the New England Patriots stormed out to a 28-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccanears at halftime at Raymond James Stadium.

Brady found Aaron Hernandez for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 11:51 left in the opening quarter and found Chad Ochocinco on the next drive for an eight-yard touchdown pass with 6:55 remaining in the quarter. BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left in the quarter, putting the Pats up by three scores.

Green-Ellis scored the only touchdown of the second quarter, scrambling one yard into the endzone for his second one-yard rushing TD of the game with 5:56 left before the break. Green-Ellis has 51 rushing yards and two TDs on 11 carries for New England.

Wes Welker leads all Pats receivers with five catches for 56 yards. Stephen Gostkowski connected on all four extra point attempts.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: BenJavrus Green-Ellis Scores Again, Pats Lead 28-0

BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored another touchdown – his second of the day and second one-yard TD run – to put the New England Patriots on top of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-0, with 5:56 left in the second quarter.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Pats Score Three Times In First Quarter

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' offense were in perfect harmony in the first quarter, scoring three touchdowns in the opening fifteen minutes to give the Pats' a 21-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after one quarter at Raymond James Stadium.

Brady found Aaron Hernandez for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 11:51 left in the opening quarter and found Chad Ochocinco on the next drive for an eight-yard touchdown pass with 6:55 remaining in the quarter. BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left in the quarter, putting the Pats up by three scores.

Stephen Gostkowski has made all three extra point attempts for the Pats.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: BenJarvus Green-Ellis Scores, Pats Lead, 21-0

BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored on a one-yard touchdown run and the New England Patriots lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 21-0, with 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

Ellis’ TD came after a 16-yard run on the play before and capped off a seven-play, 53-yard drive that lasted 3:22.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Tom Brady, Chad Ochocinco Hook Up For TD, Pats Lead 14-0

Tom Brady has done it again, this time finding new toy Chad Ochocinco for an eight-yard touchdown pass to put the New England Patriots on top of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 14-0, with 6:55 left in the opening quarter.

Brady’s TD pass capped off an eight-play, 61-yard drive that lasted 3:15.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Tom Brady, Aaron Hernandez Connect, Pats Lead 7-0

Tom Brady found a wide open Aaron Hernandez for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 11:51 left in the first quarter and the New England Patriots lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-0, early in the first quarter.

The touchdown capped off a five-play, 64-yard drive that spanned nearly two minutes.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Broadcast Info, Time, Location And More

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their second preseason game at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Here's everything you need to know.

Event: New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Preseason Week 2.

Date/Time: Thursday, August 18, 2011 - 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Location: Raymond James Stadium (65,857), Tampa, FL.

Broadcast Info: Thursday night's game between the Patriots and Buccaneers will be televised locally on Channel 4 (CBS), and can not be seen beyond the local viewing regions. The game will be aired on the radio on WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub, the flagship station of the New England Patriots.

Storyline: Tom Brady is expected to make his preseason debut, along with the rest of the Patriots' starters. Included in this group is veteran wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who will be making his Pats debut after being traded to the team this offseason. Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis, the team's biggest defensive acquisitions, are not expected to play. In addition, backup quarterback Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett will battle for playing time.

The Buccaneers coasted to a 25-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium last Friday. Bucs starting QB Josh Johnson was sharp in his short time in the game, completing 7-of-12 passes for 108 yards and a TD. Johnson also ran for 57 yards on five carries. Dezmon Briscoe had four catches for 60 yards to lead Bucs' receivers.

Previews: Read the game previews at Pats Pulpit - our New England Patriots blog - as well as Bucs Nation - our Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog. You can also read more at SB Nation.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Buccaneers: Tom Brady, Pats Duel With Bucs In Tampa

Tom Brady is expected to make his preseason debut as the New England Patriots take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their second preseason game at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium (TV/Radio: CBS/WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub).

Brady and the starters sat out in the Pats' preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars - a 47-12 victory for the Pats. Quarterbacks Brian Hoyer (15-for-21, 171 yards, TD) and rookie Ryan Mallett (12-for-19, 164 yards, TD) stole the show in the win.

The storyline for Thursday night's match-up is the return (and debut) of the Pats' starters. Chad Ochocinco is expected to make his debut with the team, offering coaches and fans a glimpse of the veteran receiver. Many have doubted that Ochocinco can be as effective as he was earlier in his career in Cincinnati, but no one will know until he hits the field.

As for Brady, the game will be a prime opportunity for him to get back into game shape if he hasn't already from training camp. Earlier in camp, Brady was misfiring to receivers on occasion, which is to be expected. However, if Brady is ineffective on Thursday night, it would be somewhat concerning.

Even though Brady will likely play, Hoyer and Mallett will likely see ample time, as Brady would probably only play for one quarter at the most. Both Hoyer and Mallett had strong showings in the Pats' preseason opening win, creating an interesting dynamic as to who has the hand up on being Brady's top backup.

For more angles to watch from Thursday's game, check out this feature by Chris Price.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots 47, Jaguars 12: Brian Hoyer Thrives In Preseason Opening Win

Brian Hoyer did his best to make New England forget about Tom Brady, completing 15-of-21 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown as the New England Patriots stomped the Jacksonville Jaguars, 47-12, in the preseason opener for both teams on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.

Hoyer looked excellent in the Pats first game post-lockout, finding his target 71 percent of the time. Hoyer's favorite target of the day was second-year receiver Taylor Price, who had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Ryan Mallet was strong in his debut as well, completing 12-of-19 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Stevan Ridley scored three touchdowns - two on the ground and one in the air - and ran for 64 yards in the win. Richard Medlin rushed for two touchdowns and finished with 54 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Brandon Meriweather, Darius Butler and Dane Fletcher lead the Pats on defense, with Meriweather recording five tackles (one solo), Butler recording five (five solo) and Fletcher making five tackles (four solo). Darryl RIchard had two sacks and Jermaine Cunningham recorded one sack.

Blaine Gabbert started the game at quarterback for Jacksonville and finished with 85 passing yards on 9-of-16 completions. Todd Bouman completed 2-of-10 passes for 35 yards and an interception in place of Gabbert.

New England dominated the ground game, rushing for 141 yards and four touchdowns, and had 335 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Jacksonville had 98 rushing yards and 95 passing yards as a team in the loss.

The Pats got off to a rough start, as the Jaguars put up two field goals to open the scoring - a 41-yard strike from Josh Scobee with 9:47 left in the first quarter and a 40-yard field goal from Sam Swank with 8:43 left in the opening quarter.

On the Patriots' first play from scrimmage, Hoyer completed a short pass to Aaron Hernandez, who immediately fumbled the ball and turned it over, leading to the Jaguars' second field goal.

While the Patriots would struggle with drops and special teams miscues for most of the first half, they would survive and eventually build a solid lead over their counterparts.

Stevan Ridley capped off am eight-play, 49 yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run - the first touchdown of the preseason for the Pats - with 1:32 to go in the first quarter, giving New England a 7-6 lead after the extra point.

Hoyer connected with Price early in the second, finding the young wideout for an 11-yard touchdown pass. New England botched the extra point attempt, but the Patriots took a 13-6 lead.

Scobee answered with his second field goal of the game, this time from 29-yards out, with 12:11 to go as the Jags cut their deficit to 13-9. However, a pair of field goals from Stephen Gostkowski - a 46-yarder with 9:40 left and a 43-yard strike as time expired in the first half, to give New England a 19-9 edge heading into halftime.

Ryan Mallet entered the scene in the second half and didn't miss a beat, finding Taylor Price for a 50-yard gain down the sideline, ultimately setting up a one-yard touchdown run for Ridley, which put the Pats up 26-9.

Ridley found the end zone for the third time in the game with 5:25 left in the third after Mallet found him for a 16-yard touchdown pass, putting the Pats up 33-9.

Scobee's 31-yard field goal with 14:51 left in the game put the Jaguars into the double-digits in the scoring column, but it was far too late for Jacksonville to mount a comeback of any sort.

Richard Medlin tacked on six more points for the Patriots with 10:23 left, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots up 40-12. Medlin added another score on another two-yard TD run with 7:39 left in the contest.

New England heads to Raymond James Stadium to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of the 2011 NFL Preseason on Thursday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Medlin Tallies His Second Touchdown Of Fourth Quarter, Pats Lead 47-12

Rookie running back Richard Medlin tallied his second touchdown in as many drives, giving the Patriots a 47-12 lead in the fourth quarter.

Medlin took a two yard run into the end zone for the score. The touchdown capped off a six play, 31 yard drive by the Patriots.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Rookie Medlin Gives Patriots 40-12 Lead

The rookies continue to make their cases for roster spots in the fourth quarter of the New England Patriots’ Thursday night game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rookie running back Richard Medlin scored the Patriots’ fifth touchdown of the evening after a 12 play, 80 yard drive led by fellow rookie Ryan Mallett. Medlin’s run gave the Patriots’ a 40-12 lead over the Jaguars.

Medlin played his college ball at Fayetteville State.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Josh Scobee And Jaguars Tally Another Field Goal, Trail 33-12

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee closed a 13 play, 73 yard drive with a 31 yard field goal to get the Jaguars into double-digits. The Jaguars still trail the New England Patriots, 33-12, in the fourth quarter.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Pats' Offense Continues To Show Depth In Third Quarter

The New England Patriots’ offense showed encouraging depth in the third quarter of their preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Patriots exited the third quarter with a 33-9 lead over the Jaguars.

Rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett took the reigns at the top of the second half, and showed a nice level of mobility and an eagerness that translated to many offensive opportunities for the Patriots.

Stevan Ridley continued having an impressive game, as he had two touchdowns in the third quarter. Ridley scooted around the Jaguars defense to get a one yard touchdown on the Patriots’ first possession of the third. He then connected with Mallet for a 16 yard receiving touchdown near the close of the quarter.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Ridley Scores Another Touchdown, Pats Lead 33-9

Stevan Ridley is making a case to survive training camp cuts in Thursday night’s New England Patriots – Jacksonville Jaguars game. Ridley connected with rookie quarterback Ryan Mallet for a 16 yard pass that gave the Patriots a 33-9 lead in the third quarter.

The rookie running back from LSU has 50 rushing yards on the evening so far.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Mallett Hammers It Home In First Preseason Drive, Pats Lead 26-9

Rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett showed mobility and command of the offense in his first drive as a New England Patriot. Mallett handed off to running back Stevan Ridley to score the Patriots’ third touchdown of the evening, giving them a 26-9 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Patriots Take 19-9 Lead Into Halftime

Despite a valiant attempt by the Jacksonville Jaguars to eat up time offensively in the second quarter, the New England Patriots took a 19-9 lead into halftime on Thursday evening.

Second year wide receiver Taylor Price was stellar for the Patriots in the second quarter, making a touchdown catch on the very tips of his fingertips to give the Patriots a 13-6 lead. Punter Zoltan Mesko was inserted to attempt a two point conversion, but was unsuccessful. The Jaguars answered with their third field goal of the night, the second by kicker Josh Scobee, to cut their deficit to four points. The Patriots then added a 46 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal to bring their lead to 16-9.

Led by Blaine Gabbert, the Jaguars tried up a lot of time offensively after Gostkowski’s field goal. Gabbert closed an 11 play, 5 minute, 18 second drive with a near interception by the Patriots’ Patrick Chung. The ball dropped just in front of Chung, who was visibly embarassed.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer connected with a wide receiver Price on a 30 yard reception after the two minute warning to move the offense down the field. Gostkowski ended the half with a 43 yard field goal to give the Patriots a 19-9 lead heading into halftime.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Gostkowski Field Goal Gives Pats 16-9 Lead

Stephen Gostkowski hit a 46 yard field goal to give the New England Patriots a 16-9 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of Thursday evening’s preseason game. The field goal was Gostkowski’s first three point attempt of the night. He made an extra point in the first quarter.

Follow along with Thursday’s game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Scobee Sends Jags Third Field Goal Through The Uprights, Still Trail 13-9

The Jacksonville Jaguars had help from a long run off the New England Patriots’ kickoff, and it allowed kicker Josh Scobee to send the Jaguars' third field goal of the night through the uprights. The Jaguars now trail the Patriots 13-9.

Follow along with Thursday’s game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Price Puts Pats Ahead 14-6

Second year wide receiver Taylor Price nabbed a touchdown by the tips of his to put the New England Patriots ahead 13-6 in the second quarter. 

Price’s catch from quarterback Brian Hoyer was reviewed by the officials because it was not clear he had control of the ball, but the initial touchdown ruling on the field was upheld.

Follow along with Thursday’s game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots vs. Jaguars: Patriots Take 7-6 Lead Coming Out Of First Quarter

At the end of the first quarter of the New England Patriots’ first preseason game, they are leading the Jacksonville Jaguars 7-6.

The Jaguars scored field goals on their first two posessions to give them the 6-0 lead. The Patriots answered with a Stevan Ridley touchdown and Stephan Gostkowski extra point to take the 7-6 lead.

Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer attemped to take advantage of a bad punt by the Jaguars’ Matt Turk in the waning seconds of the first quarter, handing off to Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez got a nice chunk of yards, but the Jaguars’ defense finally put a stop on him to end the first.

Hoyer went 5 for 6 with 59 yards for the Patriots in the first quarter.

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Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Stevan Ridley's TD Run Gives Pats 7-6 Lead

Stevan Ridley scampered into the endzone for a one-yard touchdown run and Stephen Gostkowski made the extra point, putting the New England Patriots on top, 7-6, over the Jacksonville Jaguars with 1:32 left in the first quarter.

Ridley's score finished an eight-play, 49-yard drive that spanned 3:57.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Sam Swank's FG Gives Jags 6-0 Lead In First

Make it two field goals to open the game for the Jaguars, as Sam Swank connects for a 40-yard field goal to put the Jacksonville Jaguars up 6-0 over the New England Patriots with 8:43 left in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium.

Swank's field goal concluded a four-play, three yard drive for the Jags.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Josh Scobee's 41-Yard FG Puts Jags Up 3-0

Josh Scobee connected on a 41-yard field goal to put the Jacksonville Jaguars on top of the New England Patriots, 3-0, with 9:47 remaining in the first quarter of the preseason openers for both teams at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

The field goal capped off a 12-play, 57-yard drive that spanned just over five minutes.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Broadcast Info, Time, Location And More

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium in the preseason opener for both teams. Here's what you need to know about the game.

Event: New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Preseason Week 1.

Date/Time: Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 7:30 p.m. EDT

Location: Gillette Stadium (Capacity 68,756), Foxboro, MA.

Broadcast Info: Thursday night's game between the Patriots and Jaguars will be televised locally on Channel 4 (CBS), and will not be viewable beyond the New England region. The game will be aired on WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub, the flagship station of the New England Patriots.

Storyline: There are several things to watch in the Patriots' first (unofficial) game post-lockout, but the top story is what base defense the Pats use. Will it be the usual 3-4, or is Belichick going to switch it up to the 4-3? In addition, the backup quarterback battle should be good between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallet. Stay tuned. Tom Brady shouldn't play that much (watch how he performs post foot surgery, too), so we will see a lot of Hoyer/Mallet.

Blaine Gabbert is the Jaguars' top storyline entering Thursday's game, as this is the first time the rookie will be starting for Jacksonville with starter David Garrard out with a non-serious injury.

Missing Patriots: The Pats had 19 players who didn't suit up for the pre-game walk though, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston. Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, Brandon Spikes, Shane Vereen, Brandon Tate and Kevin Faulk are a few of the names on that list. See more players unlikely to play for the Pats over at ESPN Boston.

Follow along with Thursday's game with our stream and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Patriots Vs. Jaguars: Tom Brady, Pats Face Jaguars In Preseason Opener

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will take the field for the first time since the NFL's longest work stoppage ended in July as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason opener at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Gillette Stadium.

Brady and company have been hard at work, going through the rigors of training camp over the past few weeks in preparation for the 2011 regular season, which begins unofficially on Thursday night.

For the Patriots, there are several angles to watch in this game. First and foremost, all eyes will be on Brady, the league's reigning MVP, as he will be playing in a game for the first time since having offseason foot surgery.

Brady hasn't exhibited any signs of foot pain during training camp, but has shown signs of rust as hasn't been as sharp as he usually hopes to be, missing his targets from time to time. Yet with Brady, you rarely have to worry.

In true preseason fashion, Brady isn't expected to see a lot of time under center in the first preseason game, making the battle between backup quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and rookie Ryan Mallett very intriguing.

Hoyer has shown flashes of solid play in his first two seasons in the league, both of which he has spent as a backup to Brady. In 10 career games, Hoyer has thrown for 122 yards and one TD, completing 26-of-42 passes.

As for Mallet, a start quarterback at the University of Arkansas, no one has ever questioned the level of talent he possesses, it's just a matter of molding his ability to make him into a quality NFL quarterback. 

While Mallet has an extremely powerful arm, his accuracy needs work, and he has even been called 'lost' at points throughout Patriots' training camp.

Of course, there is also the debut of veteran wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to address. Ever since being traded to New England this offseason, Ochocinco has said all of the right things and has insisted he is dedicated to winning.

In addition to Ochocinco and  the quarterback rotation, the Patriots' defensive base is worth watching. With the acquisition of Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis and Andre Carter, it's suspected that Belichick will be using a 4-3 base defense this year.

Even though many analysts believe this will be Belichick's route, some still think that the Patriots will stick with a 3-4, which Belichick has used for the majority of his time in New England.

On the other sideline, the top story for the Jaguars will be the debut of rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who is starting in place of David Garrard, who suffered an injury that coach Jack Del Rio pegged as "nothing major."

In addition, the Jags made a stir on Thursday by signing free agent defensive end/linebacker Matt Roth - who many had going to the Patriots - to a one-year deal worth $3 million. No word on whether or not Roth will play.

There will be plenty more storylines from this game, and for more Pats' angles, check out this preview at Pats Pulpit, the SB Nation Patriots' blog. Here the game preview over at Big Cat County, the SB Nation Jaguars blog.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

New England Patriots Preseason 2011: Pats Open Up Against Jaguars

The New England Patriots will open up their 2011 preseason schedule against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who they face on Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. The game will not be televised.

In addition, the Patriots face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and New York Giants in preseason action. Only one of their games will be televised, their match-up with Detroit, but that could change based on local coverage.

Here's a look at the Pats' complete 2011 preseason schedule. All times ET.

2011 NFL Preseason Schedule - New England Patriots

• Week 1: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium) - Thursday, August 11; 7:30 p.m.
• Week 2: New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Raymond James Stadium) - Thursday, August 18; 7:30 p.m.
• Week 3: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions (Ford Field) - Saturday, August 27; 8:00 p.m. (CBS)
• Week 4: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium) - Thursday, September 1; 7:30 p.m.