By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- All eyes were on New England's secondary in its 20-17 loss to the New York Giants Thursday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

That's because Leigh Bodden's season is over, and now the Patriots will likely start the season with the youngest cornerback tandem in the NFL in second-year pro Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty.

"They are both smart, competitive guys who are [eager] to get out there and show what they can do and there's no doubt in my mind that they'll be ready [for the regular season]," said veteran safety James Sanders of Butler and McCourty after New York's 20-17 victory over the Patriots Thursday night.

New England's first team defense only played two series against the Giants, and they didn't look good on the opening drive of the game.

New York quarterback Eli Manning completed 5-of-6 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown on New York's opening drive which lasted nine plays, 4:17, and 86 yards.
Manning completed passes of 22, 2, 12, 17, and 13 yards, the last of them for a touchdown to tight end Kevin Boss.

That's not what coach Bill Belichick was hoping for from his secondary, but they can't take all the blame. Manning had more than enough time to find an open target with just an average pass-rush coming at him.

"We had some ups and downs the couple of series that [we] were in but I mean that's the game," Butler said.

The good news is that the Patriots first team defense was able to stop New York's first-string offense on the second series.

"Anytime we get off the field as a defense without [the offense] putting points on the board, that's good for us," Butler said.

The Giants attacked McCourty early. He racked up four tackles and a pass deflection during his time on the field.

"He's a good player," Butler said. "I've seen him play in college. I've seen him play here. He's a good player. He's coachable and athletic so he has a bright future."

"He plays calm under pressure," Sanders said of McCourty. "He's a real talented guy. He's eager to learn. He works hard each and every day and that's all you can ask from a young player."

Butler said that the players in the Patriots secondary don't feel like they are under any more pressure to perform with Bodden out.

"We're professionals," Butler said. "We're prepared to play every snap."

"They're all eager to get their opportunity to play," Sanders said of New England's young secondary. "Whoever's number is called, they have to step up and play at a high level.
"We have a lot of talent. Obviously we have some youth...I'm the oldest of the group and I'm only a six-year player. We have a lot of talent but at the same time we have a lot of [inexperience] so some of the guys with experience are going to have to pull the young guys along."

As a team, the Giants completed 18-of-33 passes for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception. On New York's game-winning 60-yard touchdown reception from Rhett Bomar to Duke Calhoun, former Brown standout receiver Buddy Farnham was the player in coverage, not a normal Patriot defender.

With Leigh Bodden out for the season, Farnham tried his hand as a defensive back Thursday night in an attempt to make the team.