Two touchdown passes by quarterback David Carr and a ground game that racked up 222 yards and scored three touchdowns propelled the New York Giants to a 41-13 win over the Chicago Bears at New Meadowlands Stadium on Monday night.
New York jumped out to a 20-6 score halftime lead behind a pair of field goals by Rhys Lloyd, an 18-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs and a five-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Domenik Hixon. The Giants’ first-team defense would take a major hit with the loss of fourth-year cornerback Terrell Thomas to a torn ACL in his right knee late in the first half.
The Giants extended their lead to 21 points in the third quarter when No. 3 running back Danny Ware plunged into the end zone from a yard out. The Bears would respond with a 16-play, 62-yard drive that ended when running back Marion Barber was stopped for no gain at the Giants’ one-yard line on fourth-and-goal in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
Carr would connect with veteran Daniel Coats for a 17-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to give the Giants a 34-6 lead and, after another goal-line stand, seventh-round running back Da’Rel Scott would take his first carry of the game 97 yards for a touchdown. Giants undrafted rookie linebacker Mark Herzlich picked up his first career interception, getting his hands on a fourth down pass from Caleb Hanie on the play before Scott’s long touchdown run.
Hanie guided the Bears on a 10-play, 76-yard drive that ended in a Kahlil Bell touchdown run with 24 seconds remaining to cap the scoring.
The Giants continues their 2011 preseason schedule at home against the New York Jets on Saturday, while the Bears travel to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.
For more on the Giants, check out Big Blue View, and for more on the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.