Jake Ballard Video: Watch Giants TE Beat Patriots with Game-Winning TD Grab

Early in Sunday's game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes leveled Giants rookie tight end Jake Ballard on a play up the middle.

But it was Ballard and the Giants who got the last laugh in Foxboro.

With the Giants down, 20-17, in the final seconds, quarterback Eli Manning connected with Ballard on a 1-yard touchdown, Ballard stretching out for the catch in the corner of the end zone and putting the Giants up for good, 24-20.

This came after Ballard sprawled out for a 28-yard catch up the middle in the same drive.

Ballard, an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, has been a surprise for the Giants this season after they saw their former star tight end, Kevin Boss, leave for the Oakland Raiders in the offseason.

Before racking up 67 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots on Sunday, Ballard had been quite productive, including a 72-yard day against the Seattle Seahawks and an 81-yard day against the Buffalo Bills.

There was some concern when Boss left in the offseason. He had become a trusty target for Manning, and Manning was coming off a disappointing 2010 campaign.

But Ballard is making it known he's here to stay, coming up with a huge catch against the vaunted Patriots as the Giants improved to 6-2 on the season, two games ahead in the NFC East.

As for Manning, he made headlines this offseason when he said he considered himself in the same class as Patriots star Tom Brady. He may not proved his point yet, but he does have 15 touchdowns to six interceptions this season and has been much better than last season.

Brady and the Patriots, however, now fall to 5-3 on the season after their second straight loss and have some concerns to address.