EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tommy DeVito replaced an injured Drew Lock late in the first quarter and led New York on two first-half scoring drives that Eric Gray capped with runs of 48 and 1 yard as the Giants beat the Detroit Lions 14-3 Thursday night in a preseason opener limited to mostly backups.
With the game played in a light rain, neither Dan Campbell of the NFC North champion Lions nor Brian Daboll of the Giants was going to risk any starters in the contest at MetLife Stadium, close to where the teams held two fight-filled joint practices on Monday and Tuesday.
The NFL was so upset with the fisticuffs, the teams were fined $200,000 apiece.
There was barely a shove in the game, and just as much scoring.
Brandon Joseph intercepted Lock’s pass over the middle and returned it 20 yards to set up a 53-yard field goal by former United Football League kicker Jake Bates with 3:21 left in the quarter.
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Lock, who finished 4 of 10 for 17 yards, hurt his hip on the ensuing series and did not return.
DeVito, who became a local hero when he made the Giants roster last year as an undrafted free agent and then started six games after Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor were hurt, combined with Gray to get New York on the scoreboard in the second quarter.
PATRIOTS 17, PANTHERS 3: Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, played one series in his debut with New England, and the Patriots played their first game in 24 years without Bill Belichick as coach, beating the Carolina Panthers at home.
New England’s new coach, 38-year-old Jerod Mayo, dressed in a white short-sleeved Patriots’ pullover, became the NFL’s youngest coach when he was hired on Jan. 12, one day after Belichick agreed to depart as coach and left the organization.
It was the first time since Jan. 2, 2000, that the Patriots played without Belichick on the sideline. He led them to six Super Bowl titles.
Carolina also played its first game under a new coach, with Dave Canales making his debut as the franchise’s seventh.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, didn’t play. Projected backup Andy Dalton was sidelined with a strained quadriceps.
Maye trotted onto the field with light rain falling for the Patriots’ second series and got a nice ovation from the sparse crowd. He completed his first attempt, a screen to Antonio Gibson for 13-yard pickup. He was high on his first throw down the field, ending his night 2 for 3 for 19 yards.
The crowd booed when Bailey Zappe came onto the field for the third series. Probable season-opening starter Jacoby Brissett went 0 for 3 in the first series.
