This game will be re-broadcast at 7 p.m.
Friday Sept3 on WWOR-TV (UPN 9).

Gamegirl thought it was an exciting game to watch despite the results.
"Yes, it was a dogfight from start to finish, and was a great time for the Baltimore fans who risked their jobs or took extra vacation time to make the game.
Now the Ravens are 4 and 0 and undefeated under their new new head coach Brian Billick. I'm sure it's a great thrill for them as they harbor secret thoughts about going for a totally undefeated season.

I didn't expect that the last preseason game would keep my interest or be so entertaining. Unfortunately, just what you didn't want to happen, happened.
Our starting running back, Gary Brown, went down with a knee injury in the first series, and it didn't look like the kind you just shake off.
Even if it turns out to be minor, he was out for the rest of the game and didn't get the playing time he needs to prepare for next week against Tampa Bay."

What about Sean Bennett filling in?
"Well, he looked really good on some plays, but he got stopped quite a few times as well. Charles Way and Leshon Johnson came up big on that one touchdown drive but Leshon also fumbled one.
You have to remember that he didn't play at all last year, and he's still nursing a bad injury to his right thumb.
So, we don't have much consistency in our running attack and opening day is upon us next week. Who knows? This whole thing could maybe turn into a make or break opportunity for Tiki Barbar, working in and out with Leshon Johnson and Charles Way."

The running back shuffle. It's back to square one just like last year.
"Right, with the exception that this year, at least we have a passing game. I love to see Kent Graham out there. He's turned into an exciting player who can maybe give Jason Sehorn a run for his money as far as being a fan favorite."

Talking about Jason Sehorn, like we said, it's back to square one.
"Don't even try to make jokes about this stuff. Poor Jason did everything he could to get ready for this season. He worked his body into super shape to be ready and then ran into problems."

You said you'd wait until preseason was over to give us your prediction for the year.
"Mikefan committed himself to the Giants going 12 - 4 a few weeks ago,
but we know much more now. It would be easy to say 10 - 6 and go with that, but I'm looking at our schedule, and the regular cast of characters and teams we face every year.
I'm mixing in the new passing game, some new players we have in the lineup, and tossing in the guidance of coach Jim Fassel as he grows this team more to his image.
So, I'll match what Mikefan said, and even give him a chance to back down. It's the Giants 75th year, and I'll say 12 - 4, because more than anything else I'm a Giants fan and I believe in the magic of the Giants!"

What did you think Mikefan?
"As far as the game goes, it was somehow very well balanced.
Their first unit was a good match for ours, and somehow the game stayed close throughout, even with all the crazy substitutions they do in a last preseason game.
Of course, you hated to see Gary Brown go down on the very first series and that's a major setback. I know people are all excited about Sean Bennett, and he definitely has a role on this team running the ball wide and being part of screen plays, but he can't seem to punch the ball up the middle.
I don't know if we have anyone now who can, and once an opposing team realizes that, they can stop you from getting outside as well.

Look at the stats. Last week against the Jets, the Giants had 31 attempts and averaged 3.1 yards a carry. This week there were 24 attempts for an average of only 2.2 yards a carry.
Gary Brown was 9 for 21 yards in his first game back last week, and this game had 1 carry for 4 yards with the promise that maybe more was on the way. We really need him.
Sean Bennett had 13 carries for only 19 yards, and all the great action you saw from him came from receptions where he was 5 for 44 yards.
LeShon Johnson, had 19 yards on 6 carries, and will most likely be the starter against Tampa Bay.
Thankfully, he has more than a week for his hand injury to heal."

How about the Quarterbacks?
"Kent Graham looked sharp as usual and went 8-for-11 for 70 yards in his one quarter of play. Even without Gary Brown, Kent Graham worked his first-team offense and they came away with a touchdown and a field goal against the Ravens' starting defense.
The Giants are going to have to rely on Kent Graham's keen ability to make things happen in order to get rolling for these first few games without a strong running game.

Kerry Collins was a bit rusty at first, and the Giants didn't score in the second quarter, but then he settled in and finished going 12 for 21 for 198 yards and 2 TDs.
Collins did throw one INT, but that was uncharacteristic of his gameplay which was pretty sharp. Kerry also had to work with a degree of difficulty, handling a number of bad snaps working with the second unit.
It's been a long time since the Giants had not one, but two strong Quarterbacks on the team."

The penalties piled up.
"Yes, and that really bothers me. There were a total of 13 penalties for 138 yards. When penalties happen on this team I worry. It's a sign that other things aren't working as well as they should, and you shouldn't be giving the other team all these second chances at you.
What was with that facemask grab that Christian Peter put on QB Scott Mitchell?"

Gamegirl's putting it to you with her 12 - 4 prediction. Are you backing down on yours?
"Yeah right. Look at the way she put it!
Do I have any room to back down and save face?
No, I'll stick with 12 - 4, but not because of her challenges.
If the Giants can get over .500 and manage to go 3 - 1 on the first four games against Tampa, Washington, New England and Philadelphia, they have a shot. I'd certainly feel more comfortable if Gary Brown turned in a great performance and was healthy, but I believe the Giants will be in the groove for game 5 against Arizona, and even Jason Sehorn should be healthy for the Monday nighter against the Cowboys the following week."

Anything else Mikefan?
"Sure, we could do two pages on instant replay, but will save that for another time. Let's just talk about some players.
David Patten had an outstanding game, he had a great return run where he really made people pay for going after him, and finished with 4 catches for 103 yards.
Amani Toomer had a great catch on a third down and 13 to keep a drive going and had 2 catches for 21 yards.

Shaun Williams had a beautiful tackle on a punt return and it should have been called a fumble if the Giants challenged it, but they didn't and it probably would have gone against them anyway, but we're not talking about that right now.
Shaun also recovered a fumble in the end zone and looked sharp throughout the game.

Bashir Levingston showed what he could do with a big return in the third quarter.

Despite that foolish facemask penalty Christian Peter had against Ravens QB Scott Mitchell, he played extremely well and looks ready for Tampa Bay.
Brad Daluiso had to redo some kicks more than once because of penalties, but it didn't shake him. He had to complete a 35 yard extra point kick after repeated penalties, and you began to wonder what was the longest extra point kick on record.

Defensive tackle George Williams, and rookie corner Andre Weathers became my favorites when they teamed together to nullify a bad Instant Replay call in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens were on the Giants 1 as a result of the IR call, and Williams deflected a pass and Weathers intercepted the ball in the end zone."

But we're not going to talk about Instant Replay right?
"Right, not today. One last thing, you had to feel bad for Lyle West who tried to come up with a spectacular play in an effort to nail down a spot on the team.
He went after the ball rather than making the tackle, and allowed Ravens QB Stoney Case to complete a 37 yard pass deep down the right sidelines to rookie free agent Brandon Stokley, who took it in for the winning TD.

All in all, there were a lot of good things happening throughout this game, and for any Giants fans who are worrying, just remember that the Giants have a lot more 'tools' to work with this year, and they are going to surprise a lot of teams."

Update on the Gary Brown injury - He said he would need a miracle to play next week, stating, "I think we're talking weeks here."
He's scheduled for an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage.

If anyone is interested in that 75th Anniversary Giants Football that Harry Carson was hawking on TV, the phone number they put up was:
888 230-9379x1055, and the yearbook was 888 777-4759.

It was fun to listen to the banter by Phil McConkey, Harry Carson and Sam Rosen who covered the preseason games with just the right touch.
UPN9, WWOR hosts the Giants Football Preview show on Saturdays at 9PM.

Next Week - Regular Season Opening Games
Giants are at Tampa Bay on September 12 at 4 PM.
The Ravens are at St. Louis and play at 1 PM.

Preseason Game 4 - Preview

Preseason Game 3 - Review