Brady's line in the exhibition season: 0 for 4

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Patriots better hope quarterback Tom Brady responds to missing the preseason the same way Randy Moss did last year.

Brady, who is suffering from a sore right foot - a bone bruise, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen - missed his fourth straight exhibition game. The reigning league MVP, who was in California Tuesday and photographed recently playing with his young son, was not expected to be on the sideline for last night's 19-14 loss to the Giants.

Asked if Brady was under consideration to play last night, coach Bill Belichick indicated the team wanted to take one last look at Brady's understudies - Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, and Kevin O'Connell - before trimming the roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Cassel got the start.

"I think really we wanted to see Matt [Cassel] play, and Tom wouldn't have played very much in this game anyway," said Belichick. "We wanted to see how Matt played and we wanted to see how [Gutierrez] and Kevin play, and that's what we got."

Brady has maintained he will be ready for the season opener Sept. 7 at Gillette Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he hasn't had game action since the Patriots' loss in Super Bowl XLII Feb. 3.

Frequently during training camp, Belichick has referenced Moss, who missed all of last preseason, then responded in the season opener against the New York Jets by catching nine passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Last year, in the preseason, Brady was 32 of 48 (66.7 percent completion rate) for 346 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

The other Patriots who did not suit up last night were wide receiver Wes Welker, who injured his ribs against the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday; linebacker Adalius Thomas; tight end Benjamin Watson; safety Brandon Meriweather (leg); cornerback Mike Richardson (undisclosed injury); center Dan Connolly; guard/center Russ Hochstein; wide receiver Sam Aiken, who injured his knee in the first preseason game; and defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith.

Light returns
Matt Light, who returned to practice this week after being out since July 27, was in uniform for the first time during the preseason. He got the start at left tackle and played the first two series.

Belichick said it was good to have Light back on the field.

"Yeah, it was good to have all the players that were able to participate," he said. "It was good for Matt to get a few snaps. I don't think it's monumental or anything, but it's good to have them all out there."

The Patriots went last night with what will likely be their starting offensive line on opening day, with right guard Stephen Neal starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. The starters were Light, Logan Mankins at left guard, Dan Koppen at center, Billy Yates at right guard, and Nick Kaczur at right tackle.

Yates was back in the lineup after missing last week's game against Philadelphia. He suffered a pinched nerve in his neck/shoulder during the second half of the Patriots' 27-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aug. 17.

Jordan gets a shot
Running back LaMont Jordan was active last night for the first time since the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens Aug. 7. In that game, Jordan ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The 29-year-old Jordan entered last night's game in the second quarter after Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris. He finished with six carries for 27 yards and caught a 23-yard screen pass that gave the Patriots first and goal at the Giants' 2 just before the half.

Jordan is one of five running backs the Patriots are expected to keep, but he won't feel safe until rosters are announced tomorrow. Jordan appreciates the opportunity to be with the Patriots, even after being a starter in Oakland for most of the last three seasons.

"It felt good to get back out there," he said. "I feel like I picked up where I left off with the first game. I just have to wait and see what happens and, hopefully, I'm getting ready for Kansas City."

Jackson inconsistent
Third-year wide receiver Chad Jackson, who could be on the bubble, had an up-and-down night. In the first half, he snuffed out a scoring drive by falling in the end zone on a fade route on second and goal from the 2. Gutierrez's pass was intercepted by R.W. McQuarters.

"Just going up for the ball, and just being a DB, being a receiver, you know it's going to be physical, and I think I got my feet caught up a little bit," said Jackson. "I was going for the ball and it was just competition."

Jackson came back in the fourth quarter and made a nice 16-yard catch in the end zone on an audible by O'Connell. That marked the second straight game Jackson, who finished with two receptions for 32 yards, caught a touchdown pass. He scored on a fade route last week.

"I thought he made several good plays out there," said Belichick. "When the ball is in his hands, he does a good job with it."

Slater on the ball
Rookie Matthew Slater, who has played safety and wide receiver, stripped Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw on a 3-yard gain in the second quarter. Slater separated Bradshaw from the ball on a third-down run in which Bradshaw appeared to have some space. The fumble went out of bounds . . . Rookie linebacker Bo Ruud limped off the field after getting injured on kickoff coverage following the Patriots' first fourth-quarter touchdown . . . Last night marked the seventh straight year the Patriots and Giants met in the preseason and the fourth straight year they closed out exhibition play against each other. It was the 18th time overall the teams played in the preseason. The Patriots' most frequent preseason opponent has been the Washington Redskins, whom the Patriots have faced 19 times.