For the first time in nearly two years, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will face off in an NFL game. It may be a preseason matchup but there’s a lot for both franchises to sort out ahead of roster cuts over the next few weeks.
New York’s enjoyed an exciting preseason thanks to rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart. The quarterback from Ole Miss led the team on three scoring drives in their last contest, a 31-12 win over the Jets. Dart went 14-of-16 passing with 137 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) to lead the way even as four Giants quarterbacks attempted at least four passes.
New England open their preseason slate with a bang in a 48-18 win over the Commanders. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took the opening kickoff – his first career NFL touch – 100 yards for a touchdown and New England never looked back. The Patriots earned another win a week later, 20-12 over the Vikings, thanks in no small part to backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs’ connection with rookie wide receiver Efton Chism III.
The starters on both teams aren’t expected to play much, if it all. It’s down to the backups and depth players to decide which of these 2-0 teams will leave MetLife Stadium with a win tonight.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking live updates from the Patriots vs. Giants contest. Here’s a look at the major highlights and scoring updates from the preseason Week 2 NFL battle:
Giants-Patriots score update: Greg Dulcich hauls in second TD
It’s the last preseason game and none of the starters are out there, but Giants fans have to be happy to seeing the scoring continue. Dulcich snags his second touchdown of the night to take a 32-point lead. Giants 42, Patriots 10
End of third quarter: Giants up big with 15 minutes to go
After a pair of touchdown drives led by DeVito and a defensive score, this one has gotten away from New England. The Giants take a 25-point lead into the final quarter as just 15 minutes remain in the preseason for each side.
Giants-Patriots score update: New York pouring it on with pick-six
And 16 seconds later, the Giants are back in the end zone. Wooldridge throws one behind his receiver into the arms of TJ Moore, who returns the interception 44 yards for six. Giants 35, Patriots 10
Giants-Patriots score update: Jonathan Ward takes screen pass for 41-yard TD
It was just a harmless screen from DeVito, but his short toss to Ward ends up with a celebration in the end zone for the 41-yard touchdown. New York takes an 18-point lead with about a minute to go in the third quarter. Giants 28, Patriots 10
Giants-Patriots score update: Tommy DeVito extends the lead
‘Tommy Cutlets’ has entered the program and promptly marched the Giants down the field for a touchdown to push the lead back to 11. The 11-play, 74-yard drive ends with the seventh-round rookie, Thomas Fidone II on the receiving end of the DeVito touchdown pass. Giants 21, Patriots 10
Patriots come up empty to open second half
The second half is underway and the Patriots can’t keep the momentum going to start the third quarter. A pass interference penalty put them behind the sticks and forces an early punt.
Halftime: Giants up by four at the break
The Giants were in control for nearly the entire first half, but the Patriots snuck their way back into it with 10 unanswered points. New England will try to complete the comeback in the second half while the Giants, and their fans, will likely continue replaying Jaxson Dart highlights for the next two quarters to close the preseason.
Giants-Patriots score update: Ben Wooldridge finds Jeremiah Webb for TD
Wooldridge marched the Patriots down the field for a touchdown before halftime, capping it off with a touchdown to Webb. New England took six minutes off the clock, using 14 plays to travel 80 yards, cutting further into the New York lead. Giants 14, Patriots 10
Kyle Dugger intercepts Jameis Winton on fourth down
The Giants aren’t settling for field goals in the preseason, so they opted to let Winston throw on fourth down. It naturally ended up in the arms of Dugger in the end zone, who didn’t have any competition for that ball from the quarterback. New England takes over with about six minutes to go in the opening half.
Giants-Patriots score update: Patriots cut into Giants lead
Borregales missed his first field goal, but didn’t miss this one. He connects on a 30-yarder, cutting the deficit to 11. New England benefited from a muffed punt from New York, which set them up at the Giants’ 12-yard line. It may only be preseason, but Mike Vrabel likely won’t be satisfied abut his offense’s performance after being given a gift. Giants 14, Patriots 3
End of first quarter: Giants up by 14
Only 45 minutes to go in the final preseason game for both sides and the Giants wasted no time getting out to a lead. Jaxson Dart put together another solid performance in limited action before giving way to Jameis Winston.
Giants-Patriots score update: Jameis Winston to Jalin Hyatt for six
One play after Dart exited, Winston delivered a 27-yard touchdown to Hyatt to put the Giants up by two scores. New York has been in control since the opening kickoff, especially with the clear quarterback advantage. Giants 14, Patriots 0
Jaxson Dart injury update
Dart was removed from the game by the officials after his head hit the turf on a run late in the first quarter. He was taken into the blue medical tent and evaluated before being cleared, according to Prime Video’s Kaylee Hartung.
Andy Borregales missed field goal
It’s a tough moment in the kicking battle for Borregales, as the rookie pushes the 49-yard field goal wide to the right. A sixth-round pick out of Miami, Borregales is competing with Parker Romo for the kicking job on the Week 1 roster. The Giants remain in control with a seven-point lead.
Who is Ben Wooldridge?
Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs have solidified their spots on the New England depth chart, checking in as QB1 and QB2. That allows the spotlight to shine on Wooldridge for one night in the preseason finale.
Undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, Wooldridge has seven years of college experience – spending three seasons at Fresno State and four at Louisiana, but didn’t play in the 2018 or 2021 seasons. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback has dealt with his fair share of injuries, however. Wooldridge dealt with a torn ACL, Lisfranc injury, sprained AC joint and a broken collarbone in recent years.
In 29 career college games, Wooldridge completed 60.9% of passes and threw for 4,769 yards, 38 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Patriots can’t answer, go three-and-out on opening drive
Ben Wooldridge is getting the start for New England tonight, but he can’t replicate the success Dart and the Giants had to open things up. A quick three plays forces a punt for the Pats.
Giants-Patriots score update: Jaxson Dart fires a dart for the lead
A star is being born in the Meadowlands. It may just be the final preseason game, but the Giants might’ve found something in Dart. His fingerprints were all over that opening drive, marching the Giants 65 yards in just five plays for an early touchdown. Dart was 2 of 3 for 57 yards, including the seven-yard touchdown to Greg Dulcich. Giants 7, Patriots 0
Patriots vs Giants start time
Date: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. ET
The New England Patriots and New York Giants kick off their final preseason matchup at 8 p.m. ET Thursday.
Patriots vs Giants TV channel, streaming
Cable TV: N/A
Local TV:
Boston: ABC 5 (WVCB)
New York: NBC 4 (WNBC)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
The Patriots vs. Giants preseason game will not be broadcast nationally as it’s being carried by Prime Video. Al Michael (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be calling the game with Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sidelines.
Fans in local markets can catch it on TV, though, with Patriots fans in Boston tuning in to ABC 5 and Giants fans in New York watching on NBC 4.
Watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ with Amazon Prime
Patriots vs Giants odds, moneyline, over/under
The Giants are favorites to defeat the Patriots, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2025 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Spread: Giants (-6.5)
Moneyline: Giants (-275); Patriots (+230)
Over/under: 37.5
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Are the Giants starters playing tonight?
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll hasn’t specified if the Giants will play their starters but they’ll likely play little, if at all. The final preseason game is traditionally for teams to make decisions farther down the roster and the Giants will likely fall into that mode.
Is Jaxson Dart playing tonight?
Yes. The rookie quarterback is expected to get at least a quarter of action as he has in the team’s prior two preseason games. Free agent signee Russell Wilson, the starter for the regular season, is not expected to play, giving more time for Dart to get reps against opposing NFL defenses.
Is Rob Gronkowski coming back to the Patriots?
One of the best players in Patriots history was back in Boston for the opening of ‘Gronk Playground’ earlier this week. Susan Hurley, who helps run his charity, has been pushing for him to sign a one-day contract to retire with the Patriots.
‘I like that a lot. The reason why we’re really going to do that is because of Susan Hurley,’ Gronkowski said. ‘She wants to see that happen. She’s been dreaming about that happening for a while… [Robert Kraft] gave her the thumbs up, so we’re going to make it happen in the future. It’s going to be a special moment. Come back for a day, a weekend, whatever it is. We’ll make it happen.’
Gronkowski won three Super Bowls in his nine seasons with the Patriots. He retired for the 2019 season but came back for a two-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won a fourth Super Bowl in the 2020 season.
Is there Thursday Night Football today?
Tonight’s Giants-Patriots matchup from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts will be the first ‘Thursday Night Football’ game on Prime Video of the season. Al Michael (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) return to the booth for the first time this season. Kaylee Hartung will be reporting from the sideline as well.
‘Thursday Night Football’ is off for Week 1 of the NFL regular season as NBC will carry the season opener. Michael, Herbstreit and Hartung will be back in action on Prime Video for ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 2 when the Green Bay Packers host the Washington Commanders.
