Patriots: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Pre-season game 4)

Patriots 38 - Giants 27

The Good:

The Patriots scored 38 of the game's final 41 points to rally from a three-touchdown, first-quarter deficit. New England wraps the exhibition season at 3-1 overall, its only loss a 7-6 defeat here at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis rumbled on a 32-yard touchdown run, his third touchdown of the night. His other two TDs were 1 yard runs.

Defensive back Brandon McGowan returned an errant Andre Woodson offering 27 yards for the Patriots first score of the night.

Rookie wide receiver Terrence Nunn returned a kickoff 49 yards and also drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on kicker Lawrence Tynes (tackling out of bounds) to set up a short field.

The Bad:

The Giants completed all nine passes they attempted against the Patriots' reserve defense for 229 yards and 3 TDs to open a big lead early. David Carr was 6 of 6 passing for 153 yards and 2 TDs, while receiver Sinorice Moss reeled in a pair of touchdown catches.

Special teamer Matthew Slater injured his left arm while returning a kickoff after the Giants' third score of the night. Slater tried to brace his fall with an extended arm and it bent at an odd angle.

The Ugly:

Can't be too critical since it is the fourth exibition game of the season. Most of the starters were not playing.

Game Notes:

Patriots owner Robert Kraft used "executive privilege" to add recently retired linebacker Tedy Bruschi to the team's 50th anniversary squad, naming the 13-year standout the defensive captain.

This year, less than a week after the Patriots released second-year QB Kevin O'Connell, Bill Belichick gave all the snaps to undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer while veteran Andrew Walter remained on the sideline. Hoyer completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards for one touchdown with no interceptions. (Note - Andrew Walter's was cut by the Patriots the next day)

Quotes:

"OK, well that’s, I thought, a good way for us to end the preseason. Obviously, spotting them 21 points isn’t the way we want to start the game. But I thought we came back, competed hard and played at a good level after we kind of got the things righted a little bit there in the second quarter." -- Patriots Coach Bill Belichick

“The game is four quarters. We were down early but we try to play four quarters and try to pull out the win and keep doing our job and keep competing on every play and things just turned around for us.” -- Patriot RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

“I just looked to help backside and he threw me ball. I looked at him, but I didn’t expect him to throw it since I was sitting right there. Obviously he gave me a gift.” -- Patriots S Brandon McGowan

Additional News:

The Patriots have released backup quarterback Andrew Walter. Walter's release leaves the Patriots with just Tom Brady and rookie Brian Hoyer at quarterback and could be a precursor to the acquisition of a veteran backup QB.

Info from Reiss Pieces, boston.com