PRESEASON
Giants 17
Chiefs 0
Without any tangible signs of progress from one week to the next, a team can start doubting itself. That won’t be a problem for the Giants, who last night put together one of those solid and impressive preseason games that make training camp more palatable for all concerned.
Unlike last week’s 17-16 victory in Baltimore, both the Giants’ starting units came out in crisp, efficient fashion, easily outplaying and beating the Chiefs 17-0 at Giants Stadium.
On defense, Fred Robbins dropped running back Larry Johnson for a 4-yard loss on the second play, a good sign for the nose tackle whose starting job is hardly secure. On offense, the Giants opened up with a 20-yard end-around to Tim Carter, a play they’re sure to unveil during the season. That jump-started a nine-play, 60-yard drive finished off by Eli Manning’s 5-yard scoring pass to Amani Toomer.
“I thought it was a great start for our first team,” Manning said.
Manning (11 of 14, 80 yards) calmly took what the defense gave him, never looking downfield, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. Tiki Barber (5 carries, 22 yards) made his preseason debut and looked sharp. The only downside for the offense was that the Giants lost two starting offensive linemen early in the second quarter. Center Shaun O’Hara left with a sprained knee and left tackle Luke Petitgout was removed from the game because of back spasms. O’Hara was able to walk off the field.
“I am impressed and even more encouraged that we made big progressions from week one to week two and had all our guys playing,” Barber said. “It was impressive how we moved the ball down the field. We just have to keep building.”
Jeremy Shockey, playing his first game since suffering a concussion in practice, caught one pass for 10 yards and took a solid hit on the head from linebacker Kawika Mitchell without any damaging result.
Holding penalties on Shockey and Carter ruined the second possession, and on the third, Barber, Toomer and Shockey were all off the field, but the reserves kept things going. Brandon Jacobs ran for 14 yards, Carter caught two passes, and Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in one.
Jacobs scored on a 1-yard run, plowing through defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson on the goal line, with the extra point making it 14-0 with 9:23 left in the second quarter, signaling the end of Manning’s night. Jacobs celebrated by chest-bumping the blue padding on the goal-post support.
The Giants on defense had little trouble stopping Johnson, appearing in a cameo role. The Chiefs’ starters managed two first downs.
LaVar Arrington made his Giants debut and was not heavily involved, although on one play he faked coming on a blitz, a maneuver that spooked guard Chris Bober into a false-start penalty.
“It wasn’t a blockbuster performance,” Arrington said, “but their offense couldn’t get in a groove and we had good energy. I think the first unit did much better than it did last weekend.”
Rob Johnson, who had not played an NFL game since Dec. 22, 2003, replaced Manning with 6:17 left in the second quarter. Working with backup offensive linemen, Johnson (7 of 14, 62 yards) had to be nimble on his feet. He managed to lead the Giants on a third-quarter drive that resulted in Jay Feely’s 31-yard field goal. Johnson, 33, is attempting a comeback after reconstructive surgery to his right elbow.
