By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Don't tell the NFL players in the bubble that preseason games are meaningless.
While it's true the games don't count, it's also true that they matter.
Especially the fourth preseason games for those players on the bubble. Careers are on the line. One big game in the fourth preseason game could be the difference between having an NFL career and looking for employment in another field.
So Thursday night's Super Bowl XLII rematch between the Patriots and Rams, which New York won, 20-17, meant more than you can imagine for those players on the bubble.
Both the Patriots and Giants will cut 29 percent of their roster by Saturday's 4 p.m. 53-man roster reduction deadline, and Thursday night was the final time that those players on the bubble had a chance to leave a lasting impression.
They got their chance.
But New England's first team had something to prove first after being embarrassed last week by the lowly St. Louis Rams.
Unfortunately, the only thing the Patriots proved was that they still had a lot of work to do. Both New England and New York's respective first teams played two series. The good news was the fact that the Patriots were up, 7-6, when the first teams left the field (only because of a botched extra point).
The bad news is that New England's defense didn't look like it had improved much from last week's pitiful performance.
On New York's opening drive, the Giants marched 86-yards down the field on nine plays to take a 6-0 lead.
Patriots quarterback Eli Manning completed 5-of-6 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown on the drive. A 13-yard touchdown pass from Manning to tight end Kevin Boss gave New York the early 6-0 lead.
Tom Brady (4-of-8, 51 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) and New England's offense responded on their ensuing drive, thanks in large part to Thomas Clayton, who is fighting for a roster spot. Clayton returned the opening kickoff 55-yards to New York's 45.
That helped set up a five-yard touchdown pass from Brady to up-and-coming rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski, who beat safety Antrel Rolle on an underneath crossing route. It was Gronkowski's fourth touchdown of the preseason.

Brian Hoyer led the Patriots with 266 passing yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough.

Rhett Bomar completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Duke Calhoun for the game-winning touchdown with 1:49 remaining in the game.