Some highlights from the 3rd quarter:
New England opened the second half with a 21-yard completion to Chad Ochocinco to start things off, and two plays later had a 17-yard pick-up by BenJarvus Green-Ellis which got them to the Giants 33 yard line. Four plays later Tom Brady completed a short pass to Aaron Hernandez, who took it in for a 12-yard touchdown and just like that the Patriots were up 17-9 to with 11:20 to go in the third quarter. That finished an 8 play, 79 yard drive for New England.
The Giants put together another long drive, marching down to the Patriots 25 yard line. However Patrick Chung gave Hakeem Nicks a huge shot to force an incompletion, followed by another incompletion to Jake Ballard and a great play by Sterling Moore to hold Mario Manningham to a 5-yard gain. The Giants would settle for a 38 yard field goal, which cut the Patriots lead to 17-12 w/6:43 to go in the third quarter.
On New England's next possession, they couldn't answer. They went three and out after a 2 yard run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis followed by an incompletion to him. On the 3rd down play Brady ended up taking a sack after all of his receivers were covered, and Zoltan Mesko punted the ball away.
The Giants got the ball to start their next drive with great field position, starting at the Patriots 47 yard line. They drove all the way down to the Patriots 9 yard line, but facing 3rd and 8 Eli Manning was sacked, which forced New York to settle for a 33-yard field goal, cutting New England's lead to 17-15 with :35 left in the quarter. That finished a 9 play, 33 yard drive for the Giants where they held the ball for 5:01.
The Patriots lead 17-15 to finish the quarter.
Brady's passing stats for the 3rd quarter: 6-of-8 for 65 yards and a TD
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