The Giants’ Darcy Johnson scores a touchdown as the Patriots’ Fernando Bryant, left, and Jerod Mayo attempt a tackle.

AP / Bill Kostroun

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In his other preseason performances, Matt Gutierrez was efficient and productive.

Last night didn’t exactly go that way.

The second-year quarterback, in another chance to prove to the coaching staff that he’s worthy of the title of Tom Brady’s backup, faltered a bit, going 5-for-9 for 69 yards and an interception against the New York Giants. Gutierrez was sacked twice and was credited with a fumble that could have been blamed on LaMont Jordan.

And the interception wasn’t necessarily his, either: on second-and-goal from the two-yard line, he threw to the spot on the left side of the end zone, where Chad Jackson was supposed to be.

One problem: Jackson was on his behind, having gotten tangled up with corner R.W. McQuarters. The ball was easy pickings for the veteran.

But Gutierrez, as measured as they come, wasn’t about to point fingers.

“It’s how things happen in the game,” Gutierrez said. “The important thing is for us to be able to overcome those.”

Wrapping up his second preseason, Gutierrez said he’d learned “a whole lot. It’s good to see different things and be put in different situations.”

With the final roster cuts being made tomorrow, the California native was asked whether he felt he’d done enough to persuade the coaching staff to keep him around.

“It’s a stressful time for a lot of people,” he said. “I know I’ve worked hard and done my best.”

In this preseason, Gutierrez completed nearly two-thirds of his passes (29-for-45).

Super Bowl memories

The video board at Giants Stadium showed the top five plays from Super Bowl XLII, and the thin crowd — the stands had to be less than a quarter full — cheered each one louder than the previous. Number two was Plaxico Burress’ game-winning touchdown catch, and number one was Eli Manning’s great escape and the amazing catch by David Tyree on the other end of his throw.

Tyree will have to wait at least six weeks to get back on the field; the Giants placed him on the reserve/PUP list with a knee injury this week.

Substitutions

Though many of New York’s regular starters did play last night, Manning had the night off. Former No. 1 draft pick David Carr, currently listed as the Giants’ third-string quarterback, started and played into the second half. Carr was pulled for rookie Andre Woodson, but was reinserted after Woodson fumbled back-to-back snaps. … Rookie LB Bo Ruud suffered a right leg injury in the fourth quarter. … New England recorded just one interception in the exhibition season, by rookie Shawn Crable against Baltimore. … The following players did not dress for the game: QB Tom Brady, DB Brandon Meriweather, CB Mike Richardson, C Dan Connolly, G/C Russ Hochstein, T Oliver Ross, WR Wes Welker, TE Benjamin Watson, WR Sam Aiken, DL Le Kevin Smith, LB Adalius Thomas.

smanza@projo.com