10/07 — That first Big Blue first down didn't take long to get in the second frame as Eli Manning scrambled and kept for 13 yards to move the sticks. Then the Giants tested the Jets' run defense, seemingly improved after their showing vs. Marshawn Lynch and the Bills, and the Jets gave way. Three carries by big Brandon Jacobs were sandwiched around a play-action pass to TE Jeremy Shockey for 20 yards, with S Eric Smith late in coverage.

Then Derrick Ward came back in and went the last 11 yards on two carries to enter the end zone standing up. The Jets' first-quarter defense was fine, but this drive was a setback.

Giants 7, Jets 7

Five minutes into the quarter, the Jets face a key offensive series. They moved the ball well at times in the first quarter, converting three of six third downs, but scored no points.

They get another 3DC when Chad Pennington hits Jerricho Cotchery for 9 yards on third-and-8, but the downside of the play is that C Nick Mangold is lying on his stomach in pain. During the commercial break, Mangold is helped to his feet and walks off slowly, with Wade Smith coming on at center. If past dings are any indication, Mangold figures to be back in the middle of the action quickly.

Smith, who struggled at times in the summer with shotgun snaps, snaps too quickly, before Pennington is ready. Chad falls on it, but because he was moving forward conveying the play to the left side of his offense at the snap, he's flagged for a false start.

One more play with Smith at C and Mangold is back. And Pennington celebrates with a brilliant throw-and-catch with Laveranues Coles, who brings the high sideline pass in with one hand, then is forced out by two Giants defenders. The call: catch and forced out. Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenges that Coles didn't have control.

Referee Bill Carollo comes back and says the call on the field stands, and so does an excellent 28-yard completion to the Giants 43.

But Pennington's throw and his subsequent third-down keeper — his second 3DC of the game — is undone when he tries to hit Jerricho Cotchery and Sam Madison jumps the route, makes the interception and returns the ball to the Jets 44. Shades of the Dolphins-Jets battles of the Nineties.

The Giants move to first-and-10 at the Jets 30 but then the Jets blitz finally starts to show up. S Kerry Rhodes comes off the edge to force a hasty Manning throw to Plaxico Burress that falls incomplete. And on third down, a five-man blitz frees Victor Hobson to grab Manning, who tries to toss the ball to someone. Trouble is, no player in blue is there. Referee Carollo properly calls intentional grounding, meaning not only is it fourth down but the line of scrimmage is not the 28 anymore but the 40, out of Lawrence Tynes' field goal range.

Time for another of those two-minute drills that the Jets practice every day. Specifically, after Jeff Feagles' surgical punt, Pennington takes over the offensive controls at his 7 with 2:19 to play.

On third-and-4 with 1:47 left, it looks as if the Jets might let the Giants have their own two-minute drive. But Pennington drops back and lofts a pass downfield to his left — and Coles makes another spectacular grab, this one leaping high over Sam Madison for 21 yards.

Then Pennington steps up, directs Brad Smith to a soft spot in the zone, and delivers a hard, direct throw that Smith gathers in at the Giants 32. With 1:09 left and one timeout left, the Jets are in great position.

Two more completions to Cotchery, the second running out of bounds, has the visitors at the Big Blue 16 with 40 seconds left. Then Pennington, again defying the vaunted but back-on-their-heels Giants pass rush, drops back and has Brad Smith singled up on CB Kevin Dockery. Smith, six inches taller, has position, Dockery gets turned around, and the former Missouri QB comes down with his first pro TD reception with 33 seconds to go to the break. That's the way you do a two-minute drive.

Jets 14, Giants 7

The 93-yard TD drive is the Jets' longest by distance they went 94-yards on Monday night vs. Miami in 2004.

The Giants are eager to try to get into field goal range with 28 seconds to go. But Manning puts the Jets in FG position instead when, trying to hit Burress in front of rookie CB Darrelle Revis, he doesn't account for LB Jonathan Vilma, who slides over and comes up with his first INT in 15 games to set the Green & White up at the Giants 27.

One 2-yard loss by Leon Washington later, Mike Nugent comes on to redeem himself for his miss toward the east earlier in the game. This time it's from 47 yards out, middle of the field, West end zone, and it's ... good at the final gun.

Jets 17, Giants 7

This one isn't turning out the way a lot of national pundits and critical Jets fans thought. But 30 minutes still remain to show whether the Jets are onto something big on the road at their home stadium or not.