Giants Start Slow, for Openers - Final

BALTIMORE – Jared Lorenzen led New York to a comeback 17-16 victory over Baltimore Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Jay Feely drilled a 29-yard field goal as the clock expired as the Giants captured their preseason opener.

New York’s offense battled some inconsistency playing without Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey, but Eli Manning batted .333, leading New York on an 80-yard TD drive after starting the game with possessions of four plays and a three-and-out.

“Well, we have a lot of work to do, let’s face it,” Tom Coughlin said.

“Overall, we did alright,” Manning added. “On our third possession, we were able to get a good drive going. I hit Plax on a big play down the sideline and the other passes to Tim Carter and Amani Toomer helped to get us in the end zone. We got some points on the board and we got into the end zone one time.”

The Giants defense – sans Michael Strahan and LaVar Arrington – hardly shot out of the gate either, allowing the Ravens to march 80 yards in 12 plays on their first drive of the game.

“That wasn’t the way we wanted to start the preseason in giving up seven points on the first series of the game,” Antonio Pierce said. “But that is what the preseason is for, to get the wrinkles out. We just need to get back to work in practice on Sunday and continue to come together as a defense.”

“I was disappointed in the way we came out on defense,” Osi Umenyiora said. “We really allowed them to make too many plays, and we weren’t making any plays. We have a lot of things we need to get back to work on and we’ve got three more preseason games to work those things out before we start the regular season.”

Here are some highlights and lowlights from New York’s preseason opener:

Michael Jennings beautifully returned a punt 57 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter. The electric Jennings bounced off several would-be tacklers en route to the end zone…

On three successive plays in the third quarter, first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka posted a half-sack on Ravens QB Kyle Boller, blasted Boller right after he released the football and then brought Boller down himself. Not a bad start for the Boston College product…

After gaining 14 yards on his first carry, Brandon Jacobs was only able to muster up four additional yards on his other five carries. He did score the Giants’ only first-half TD…

Tim Hasselbeck, who got the first chance in his backup QB battle with Rob Johnson, finished 7-of-13 passes for 79 yards. Johnson is scheduled to back up Manning next week against Kansas City…

William Joseph jumped offsides in the first quarter…

Ravens QB Steve McNair bulled over CB Corey Webster at the end of his six-yard TD run…

Eli Manning, who finished four-of-seven for 74 yards, found Plaxico Burress for a 43-yard reception…

Rookie OT Guy Whimper was flagged for holding in the second quarter…

Jay Feely missed a 44-yard field goal wide left late in the second period…

The Giants second-string offensive line consisted of LT Bob Whitfield, LG Grey Ruegamer, C Rich Seubert, RG Matt Lentz and RT Guy Whimper. On shotgun snaps, Seubert and Ruegamer switched spots…

Between injuries and precaution, the Giants' list of sidelined players in Baltimore was expansive, to say the least. Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan were both held out of action despite being fully healthy. Other players out of action due to injury included P Jeff Feagles, RB Derrick Ward, LB Carlos Emmons, LB Brandon Short, LB LaVar Arrington, RG Chris Snee, TE Jeremy Shockey and WR Sinorice Moss…