New York Giants tight end Darcy Johnson breaks away from the Pats’ James Sanders to score a 26-yard touchdown.

AP / Bill Kostroun

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Sometimes improvement can’t be measured or quantified or even witnessed.

But sometimes it can. Witness Kevin O’Connell.

Three months ago, his main concern was just calling plays properly.

By his own admission, three weeks ago he probably would not have been able to make the check down and complete the pass to Chad Jackson that resulted in the New England Patriots’ second touchdown of the night against the New York Giants.

Yet there he was last night, under center and at the 16-yard line with two options, depending on what he saw from the Giants’ defense. O’Connell’s eyes didn’t deceive him; he checked to the new play and executed a beautiful sideline pass to Jackson.

Though he led the Patriots on two scoring drives, it wasn’t enough to keep New England from losing, 19-14.

The Pats went 0-for-the-preseason for the first time since 1990; that regular season the team was a dismal 1-15. Clearly all involved in New England are hoping there isn’t a repeat of that this year.

New England’s first scoring drive began in Giants territory, thanks to a 44-yard kickoff return by C.J. Jones — who then fumbled the ball, though it was recovered by defensive back Mark Dillard.

Rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis got the ball on three straight plays, picking up 20 yards — and looking every bit like someone who was running for his professional life, which he was. Three plays later, O’Connell connected with Jackson.

“Kevin did a nice job (on the touchdown play),” Bill Belichick said. “I thought he made a nice throw and Chad ran a nice route.”

An unheralded third-round pick from San Diego State, O’Connell was just trying to convert his teachings into positive results.

“All I’ve been doing since I got here is trying to do what I’ve been coached to do. We made the check and Chad made a great catch,” he said. “It’s pretty fun when it goes to plan like that.”

It was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise forgettable game.

Nearly all of New England’s presumed starters on both sides of the ball played the first two series of the game. Quarterback Matt Cassel once again failed to march the offense into the end zone — in 17 preseason possessions with Cassel under center, the Patriots scored just six points.

It’s probable that the defense will be getting a blow-by-blow look of the Giants’ opening drive: on New York’s very first play, Brandon Jacobs cut through almost everyone on his way to a 19-yard run; two plays later, he picked up 11 more yards. A couple of quick passes and another 11-yard scamper, this one by Derrick Ward, and New York had second down at the Pats’ 26.

Quarterback David Carr — a former No. 1 pick who is trying to hold on as New York’s third-stringer — then his Darcy Johnson with a short pass on the right sideline. Johnson ran through James Sanders’ knee-level block, and then pushed Fernando Bryant backward the last five to seven yards on his way into the end zone.

In each of their four exhibition games this year, the Pats allowed the opponent to get into the end zone.

The results were better for the defense on New York’s second possession, as it forced a three-and-out.

Matt Gutierrez took over for Cassel late in the first quarter, but unlike last week, when he served up some offensive fireworks, the second-year man struggled to move the team downfield.

Gutierrez ceded the ball to O’Connell in the fourth quarter; New England had just one possession in the third.

Jackson, the beleaguered wideout, sounded confident when asked whether he felt he had shown the coaching staff enough to remain on the roster.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow and the next few days,” he said. “I think so, but enough might not be enough.”

smanza@projo.com