EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants special teams threw a changeup of sorts.
The much-maligned unit came up big twice, once after failing to win early in overtime, then after getting a gift from the Jets in a meeting of the New York teams that share Giants Stadium.
Brett Conway atoned for a missed field goal in overtime by kicking a 29-yarder with four seconds left Sunday, and the Giants overcame a dramatic four-touchdown performance by Chad Pennington to win 31-28.
"I told him I had a feeling he was going to get another chance," Giants holder Jeff Feagles said of Conway. "It's kind of ironic, we missed the field goal, but then we won the game with the blocked field goal."
Twice this season, special teams mistakes turned Giants wins into defeats.
The Jets were ready to make it three by driving to the Giants 32. On fourth and 3 with about four minutes to play, Jets coach Herm Edwards thought about it, then decided to try a field goal.
"It is a tough kick, but we are trying to win the game," Edwards said. "You can second-guess and say we should have punted, but we are trying to win the game."
Doug Brien was still in his prekick routine when long snapper James Dearth snapped the ball because the play clock was down to one second. The Jets had no timeouts. Brien got the kick off but Will Allen came off the right wing and blocked it.
The block gave the Giants the ball at their 36. Kerry Collins put his team in position to win with passes of 19 yards to Amani Toomer and 12 to Tiki Barber.
Conway, who said his curling first kick from 39 yards probably would have been good from 35, didn't miss his second chance.
"I'm a little upset," Conway said. "It's great we won, but they hired me to make the first one."
Despite three turnovers, Pennington, who had been out with a broken wrist sustained in preseason, was outstanding in his first start this season. He threw for 281 yards and four scores, the last a 9-yarder to tight end Anthony Becht with 29 seconds left in regulation.
The 12-play, 86-yard drive was kept alive on Pennington's 15-yard pass to Santana Moss on fourth and 1. Moss caught touchdowns of 8, 25 and 11 yards, the last getting the Jets within 28-21 with 5:59 to go.
