Giants Lose Game and Backup RB

Tim Tebow may have done just enough to make the New England Patriots.

In an up-and-down performance in both teams' last preseason game, the third-string quarterback threw two touchdown passes and one interception and the Patriots beat the New York Giants 28-20 on Thursday night.

He was 6 for 11 for 91 yards and gained 30 yards on six carries for the Patriots (3-1). He also was sacked four times but ended his game with a 9-yard touchdown pass with 6 seconds left.

All teams must reduce their rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 players by 6 p.m. EDT Saturday, and coach Bill Belichick has given no indication of whether he will keep Tebow.

Leading 21-20, the Patriots took over on downs at the Giants 9. Tebow then lofted a pass into the deep right corner and free agent rookie Quentin Sims came down with it for his second touchdown of the game.

Tebow had played poorly in the first two preseason games and didn't play in the third.

The Patriots went without nearly all of their starters, including Tom Brady, Danny Amendola, Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Devin McCourty.

The Giants (1-3) used their regulars, including Eli Manning, for the first three series.

Manning left with a 7-0 lead after throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.

It was only New York's third offensive touchdown in four games. Manning went 6 for 9 for 74 yards and a touchdown. After Manning left, Ryan Nassib, David Carr and Curtis Painter played quarterback.

Giants backup running back Andre Brown broke his left leg on the first play after the two-minute warning in the first half.

Ryan Mallett played the first half for the Patriots and Tebow had a solid start in the second with completions of 5 yards to Aaron Dobson and 11 yards to Daniel Fells on two of his first three plays.

Then he was sacked on four of the next six plays — having trouble finding a receiver on some and getting little protection from backup linemen on others.

Tebow had his best series of the preseason on his fourth possession. He showed a strong arm on three passes beyond the reach of receivers and completed two to Sims, an 11-yarder for a first down then the 52-yarder for the touchdown.

Tebow hit Sims over the middle and he ran the remaining 39 yards, scoring with 12:26 left in the game as the Patriots took a 21-20 lead.

Tebow trotted slowly to the end zone where he and Sims congratulated each other, then went to the sideline where he and Mallett jumped into each other in celebration.

But Tebow later launched a deep pass down the left side toward Dobson and Trumaine McBride stepped in front of him and picked it off.

Mallett went 10 for 16 for 117 yards with a 40-yard scoring pass to rookie Josh Boyce for a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Free agent rookie George Winn scored New England's first touchdown on a 1-yard run just 2½ minutes earlier.

Josh Brown kicked field goals of 35 and 48 yards for New York.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.