Last Second Giants Kick Spoils Patriots Comeback

FOXBOROUGH, MA — If you have any concerns or worries about any of the New England Patriots on the field Thursday night, don't worry, most of them won't likely be here by 4 p.m. Saturday.

A throwaway game even by the low standards of a fourth preseason game, the Patriots used their last second 40-38 loss to the New York Giants to get one last look at second and third string players prior to Saturday's roster cut. Fans of roster talks got plenty of looks at the defensive players on the bubble, who spent 35:34 on the field, attempting to stop the Geno Smith-led Giants offense.

On to the highlights.

Not working with a lot, quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a nice little night, throwing for 341 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception on 28/39 passing. The expected third string quarterback also scored on a four-yard run.

The Patriots put the first points on the board with 11:28 left in the first quarter. On third and six from the New York nine-yard line, a leaping Jacob Hollister pulled down a Brissett pass to take an early lead.

After that, it was a lot of Giants offense, in fact over 21 minutes of it in the first half alone. With the game tied at 7-7, Brissett made his worst pass and most notable mistake of the evening.

Aside from that, Brissett had three three more touchdowns in the air and one on the ground to keep New England in the game.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Patriots took a 38-37 lead, their first since 7-0. The almost game-winning field goal from Stephen Gostkowski came from 55 yards out on a seven-play, 32 yard drive. The Giants, however, with only 44 seconds to work with, came back to win on a 48-yard Aldrick Rosas kick.

Now for the bad news.

Cornerback Cyrus Jones suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury on a non-contact play in the second half. He did not leave the field on his own and an MRI is scheduled for Friday morning. The team believes the injury will end Jones' season.

With Jones likely done for the year, there are now questions about who will be featured in the punt and kick return game. Of last year's return group of Dion Lewis, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, and Jones, only Amendola remains and Lewis was not prominently used as a returner during his injury shortened season.

The Patriots finish the regular season at 1-4. The regular season starts next Thursday when the Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs for opening night.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Winslow Townson