Giants vs. Patriots: 7 things we learned

What did we learn from the New York Giants’ 17-12 loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday night? Let’s take a look.

Donte Deayon is making the roster

When you make two excellent interceptions on a team with a coach like Pat Shurmur who values balls skills, like Deayon did Thursday, you pretty much guarantee yourself a spot on the roster. Deayon should rest easy this weekend when roster cuts are made.

Shurmur admitted after the game that Deayon “helped himself” with the performance.

Pat Shurmur and Bill Belichick like to torture us

Both head coaches actually challenged calls in this meaningless, slow-moving, final preseason game. Belichick actually challenged an incomplete pass with 9:04 left in the fourth quarter. C’mon, Bill! What were you thinking?

The helmet rule is still a mess

The new “lowering the head to initiate contact” rule wasn’t a major issue in the Giants first three preseason games. It was Thursday, as the Giants were called for three penalties. I’m honestly not sure what the defenders on two of them, Mark Herzlich and Chris Lewis-Harris, could have done differently.

“When we went through this helmet thing it was said ‘these are the certain plays that we want out of our game’ and those are pretty obvious,” Shurmur said. “Some of the plays we’re getting flags ... those aren’t part of the game I don’t know if we have a game.”

B.W. Webb and Curtis Riley are starters

Webb, the slot corner, and Riley, a free safety, were held out of Thursday’s game. That’s a sure indication they have won the jobs they were in competition for.

James Bettcher doesn’t like breakdowns

When New England quarterback Danny Etling went 86 yards for a touchdown on a read option, Bettcher went ballistic on the sideline. Never mind that there were four minutes left in a meaningless game and most of the Giants defenders on the field won’t be on the 53-man roster. The defensive coordinator didn’t like what he saw, and everybody knew it.

Kalif Raymond couldn’t catch a break

The wide receiver/return man had a 24-yard punt return wiped out by a penalty on Calvin Munson. He caught only one pass in seven targets, but was open on a couple of deep balls where he and Kyle Lauletta couldn’t connect. With any luck, Raymond’s stat line could have been an impressive one.

Fourth preseason games are torturous

Especially when there are a combined 15 penalties called. Plus, the two challenges. However long this game took, it took too long.