Giants’ Rolle recognizes what Brady was trying to do

One of the highlights of the Giants’ defensive efforts last night was an interception by Antrel Rolle on a deep ball thrown from Tom Brady to Randy Moss late in the first quarter.

“It's all about recognition,” Rolle said.

“I know with Randy Moss, you have a great receiver, so I watch a lot of film on him. A lot of time by formation, I can recognize the kind of route he's going to run. I knew they were trying to get a matchup of an elite receiver against a safety, and I know once Tom Brady gets that matchup, he's going to test me.”

Brady had time but threw the ball short. Rolle was able to stop and come back to the ball while Moss kept running downfield.

“It was kind of hard for me to see the ball in the air,” Rolle said, “so I just played to get good position and there it was.”

Dodge bumbles snap

Matt Dodge had his best game punting. It was his other responsibility that needed some work. Dodge has adjusted well in his first year holding for kicker Lawrence Tynes, but he couldn’t handle the snap on the extra point following the Giants’ first touchdown. The snap appeared to be a bit high, and after bobbling it Dodge tried to throw it into the end zone. It wound up intercepted harmlessly by Jerod Mayo.

Bulluck starts

Last week, Clint Sintim was supposed to start at outside linebacker but he never saw the field in the first half because the Giants were in nickel. This week it was pretty clear who has the starting job.

Keith Bulluck was on the field in base and sub packages for virtually all of the first half. He and linebacker Michael Boley, in fact, were the only starters on defense to play until the intermission.

Giant steps

Starting LB Jonathon Goff had to play the second half with backup Phillip Dillard sidelined by a hamstring injury . . . RB Andre Brown did not dress for the game (turf toe) . . . DE Mathias Kiwanuka had a sack despite being held in the second quarter . . . WR Tim Brown handled the first three kickoff returns for the Giants and had a 30-yarder on his third one . . . WR Mario Manningham appears to be the Giants’ primary punt returner.