OVERVIEW

The New York Giants (0-0) face the Carolina Panthers (0-0) this Sunday, Sept. 12 in the first regular season game ever in the New Meadowlands Stadium.

THE SERIES

The Giants and the Panthers have met five times in the regular season, with the Panthers leading the series, 3-2. The teams have also met once in the postseason when the Panthers defeated the Giants, 23-0, in the first round of the 2005 NFC playoffs.

Last Dec. 21, the Giants hosted the Panthers for the final game in Gaints Stadium. The Giants lost, 41-9.

THE LAST MEETING

The Giants wrapped up the 2010 preseason with a 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots in the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Quarterback Eli Manning and the first team executed Big Blue's finest drive of the preseason, moving 86 yards in nine plays, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss on second-and-eight. Matt Dodge was unable to handle Zak DeOssie's snap on the extra point and instead threw an interception to Jerod Mayo for a failed two-point conversion.

Following Thomas Clayton's 55-yard kickoff return to the Giants' 45-yard line, Tom Brady and the Patriots first team offense covered the remaining territory in eight plays, including a fiveyard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski. A successful extra point gave New England a 7-6 edge.

After an Antrel Rolle interception, an exchange of field goals in the second quarter gave the Patriots a 10-9 halftime lead. Lawrence Tynes booted a 24-yarder with 12:01 remaining, and Stephen Gostkowski's 46-yard try cleared the goal post despite first hitting the right upright.

The Giants took possession at the 50 after Jonathan Goff intercepted Brian Hoyer's pass for Laurence Maroney. Tynes' second 24-yard field goal gave the Giants their third lead, 12-10, with 3:53 remaining in the third quarter.

DeAngelo Willingham intercepted a Rhett Bomar pass early in fourth quarter, and three plays later Darnell Jenkins scampered for a 66-yard score, giving the Patriots a 17-12 lead.

On the first play after the two-minute warning, Bomar threw to Duke Calhoun, who caught the ball at the Patriots' 43-yard line and ran through the entire secondary without being touched. Gartrell Johnson ran the ball in for the two-point conversion and the Giants would win by three, 20-17.

On the Horizon

The Giants face the Indianapolis Colts, the defending AFC Champions, Sunday, Sept. 19 at 8:20 p.m. on NBC. Big Blue is 6-7 against the Colts all-time, with an 0-2 record in the postseason. In 1958 and 1959, the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants played in the NFL Championship Game. The Giants lost in overtime in 1958 (23-17), and also fell in 1959 (31-16).

Eli and Peyton Manning are scheduled to start for their respective teams, making this the second game in NFL history in which two brothers will lead their offenses on the same field. In their last meeting, the Colts beat the Giants, 26-21, on Sept. 10, 2006 in Giants Stadium. The Giants rallied from a 16-7 halftime deficit to pull within two, 23-21, before Adam Vinateri made a 32-yard field goal that sealed the Colts win.

PANTHERS CONNECTIONS

Head coach John Fox served as the Giants defensive coordinator from 1997-2001. Assistant head coach/running backs tutor Jim Skipper was the running backs coach for the Giants from 1997-2000. Special teams assistant Sam Garnes played safety for the Giants from 1997-2001. Secondary coach Mike Gillhamer was an offensive assistant with Big Blue from 1997-2000, and became running backs coach in 2000. Secondary coach Ron Milus mentored the defensive backs for the Giants from 2004-2005.

TELEVISION

This week's game will be broadcast on FOX affiliates across the country (Channel 5, WNYW in New York). Kenny Albert will handle the playby-play while Daryl Johnston will provide color commentary. Tony Siragusa will be reporting from the end zone or sidelines.

GIANTS RADIO NETWORK

WFAN 660 AM will carry this week's radio broadcast. Anita Marks and Paul Dottino will handle the pre-game, beginning at 11:30 a.m., and the post-game show. Bob Papa will deliver the play-by-play, joined by color commentator Carl Banks. Howard Cross will be the sideline reporter.

Fans in the Northeast and Mississippi can listen to the call on the following stations:
New York: WPYX (106.5 FM) Albany; WAAL (99.1 FM) Binghampton; WIRY (1340 AM) Plattsburgh; WAUB (1590 AM) Auburn; WGVA (1240 AM) Geneva; WFLR (1570 AM) Dundee; WCGR (1550 AM) Canandigua; WLTB (1310 AM) Utica; WRNY (1350 AM) Rome; WIXT (1230 AM) Little Falls; WENY (1230 AM) Elmira; WENI (1450 AM) Corning; WGMM (98.7 FM) Corning; WTLA 1200 AM, North Syracuse; WSGO (1440 AM) Oswego; W249BC (97.7FM) Mattydale; W261AC  (100.1FM) Oswego
Connecticut: WPOP (100.1 FM) Hartford 
Pennsylvania: WEEX (1230 AM) Easton; WTKZ (1320 AM) Easton
Mississippi: WLEZ (100.1FM) Jackson