Tommy DeVito wins second straight start as Giants outlast Patriots

The Giants and Patriots spent a cloudy and damp Sunday doing what comes naturally for them this season. They spent long stretches staying out of the end zone, and the scoreboard operator did not have to worry much about updating the scoring.

The main difference: The Giants had Tommy DeVito and the best thing he did was not turn the ball over. The Patriots used two quarterbacks and they combined for three interceptions.

Advantage: Giants. In a game devoid of offensive punch, the Giants delivered just enough body blows to secure a 10-7 victory at MetLife Stadium, giving the Giants their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Patriots rookie Chad Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide left with three seconds to go to prevent this classic going into overtime to seal the deal for the Giants.

The Giants are 4-8. The Patriots are 2-9.

DeVito finished 17 of 25 for 191 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked six times, but he didn’t lose a fumble.

It was a 7-0 Giants lead at halftime and 7-7 after one series in the third quarter. The Giants sent Mac Jones to the bench by intercepting him twice in the first half.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Xavier McKinney’s interception of Bailey Zappe put the Giants on the New England 32-yard line and they had to settle for Randy Bullock’s 42-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 8:10 remaining.

Playing without Dexter Lawrence — missing his first game with a hamstring injury — left a hole in the middle of the Giants’ defense and at times the Patriots took advantage on the ground with Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.

A Fox Sports report circulated prior to the game stated that tension has been building between head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to the point a parting of the ways could happen before the end of this season. The Post previously reported that Daboll was not happy that Martindale went public with criticism of McKinney after McKinney complained about a lack of communication with the defensive staff after the 30-6 loss in Las Vegas.

To get this one started, DeVito hit fellow rookie Jalin Hyatt for 29 yards but a promising opening drive went south when DeVito botched an exchange with wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson speeding in on an end-around for a lost fumble on the New England 26-yard line.

The early turnover meant the Giants’ penchant for not scoring a touchdown on their opening drive increased to 19 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the league.

The game was scoreless until the Giants came up with a spark on defense. Isaiah Simmons rushed and was in Jones’ face when he passed the ball to Demario Douglas. Jones never saw linebacker Bobby Okereke, who dropped into coverage and came up with an easy interception, returning it 55 yards to the Patriots 26-yard line. Hyatt juked J.C. Jackson for a first down and Isaiah Hodgins took DeVito’s short pass, stiff-armed Jonathan Jones out of the way and dove into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown hookup. DeVito celebrated with a hand gesture that is his homage to older-generation Italians, Hodgins did the same and the Giants had a 7-0 lead with 1:53 left in the second quarter.

This was the fourth time the Patriots were held scoreless in the first half of a game this season, matching their most under Bill Belichick.

With more interceptions (two) than points (zero), Belichick benched Jones in the second half in favor of Zappe. Randy Bullock sent the second-half kickoff out of bounds giving Zappe a jump-start on his own 40-yard line and the change paid immediate dividends. Zappe kept the ball moving with screen passes and Stevenson scored on a 7-yard run to make it 7-7.