(Sports Network) - The New York Giants will seek to enter the 2010 regular season on a strong note on Thursday night, as they welcome the New England Patriots to town in the final summertime tune-up for each team.
The Giants' first unit did not look particularly crisp in last Saturday's 24-10 loss at the Baltimore Ravens, and the starters will be looking to show progress in what is expected to be a brief amount of action on Thursday.
The quarterback position will be worth monitoring for the Giants, as the team has had injury difficulties that have stunted their progress there throughout the preseason.
Starter Eli Manning, who missed the previous week's game after suffering a large gash on his head versus the Jets, was just 9-of-18 passing for 63 yards with an interception against the Ravens. With Jim Sorgi (shoulder), who has since been placed on season-ending injured reserve, absent against the Ravens, third-stringer Rhett Bomar was a mediocre 10-of-20 for 140 yards with a touchdown.
As of press time, the only other quarterback on the Giants roster was former Holy Cross star Dominic Randolph, who has not thrown a pass in the 2010 preseason to date. The Giants are widely expected to sigh a veteran quarterback to back Manning in time for the regular season opener.
The story for the Patriots on Thursday could be in the backfield, but not at quarterback where Tom Brady is likely to be kept out of harm's way in favor of backups Brian Hoyer and Zac Robinson.
It is the running back picture that remains clouded, as the likes of Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis are all vying for position on a crowded depth chart.
Morris, who got the start in last week's 36-35 loss to the Rams, leads the Pats with 64 rushing yards and a 5.8-yard per-carry average during the 2010 preseason.
Following Thursday's games, all 32 NFL teams will have until 6pm ET on Saturday evening to trim their rosters to the 53-player maximum.
The Giants hold a 12-7 lead in the all-time preseason series with the Patriots, but were 38-27 road losers when the teams faced off prior to last season.
The most memorable contest between the two franchises was Super Bowl XLII, won by the Giants in 17-14, upset fashion in Glendale, AZ.
The Patriots open their regular season schedule on Sept. 12th when they play host to the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Giants welcome the Carolina Panthers to New Meadowlands Stadium the same day.