By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- (Sports Network) - The New York Giants return to friendly confines for the first time since last December this Monday night, when the defending Super Bowl champs play host to the Cleveland Browns in the second preseason game for both clubs.

The Giants have not played football at the Meadowlands since last Dec. 29th, when they narrowly missed out on ending the New England Patriots' perfect season in a 38-35 loss. Five weeks later, Tom Coughlin's club finished the job, stunning the Pats by a 17-14 count to cap off a storybook Super Bowl run that included road playoff wins over the Buccaneers (24-14), Cowboys (21-17), and Packers (23-20 in overtime).

In their limited time on the field during the preseason to date, the Giants have not looked nearly that impressive.

The G-Men opened their warm-up slate with a 13-10 loss at the Detroit Lions last Thursday night, looking a tad out of sync in their return to the field.

Starting QB and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning was just 2-of-6 passing for 19 yards in the loss, before yielding to backups David Carr (10-of-13, 104 yards, 1 TD) and Anthony Wright (9-of-13, 116 yards).

Top Giants wideouts Plaxico Burress (ankle) and Amani Toomer (knee) sat out the Lions game, and it appears unlikely that either will be in uniform against the Browns. Receiver David Tyree (knee) will also be out against Cleveland, and tackle Shane Olivea (back) appears to be a long shot.

Like the Giants, the Browns will also be searching for a touch of preseason momentum heading into Monday's contest.

Cleveland kicked off its schedule of August tune-ups with a 24-20 loss to the New York Jets, surrendering a 20-10 fourth quarter lead to take the loss.

Quarterback Derek Anderson played sparingly, completing 4-of-5 passes for 20 yards and a two-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards before yielding to backup Brady Quinn (13-of-17, 133 yards, 1 INT).

Edwards will not play against the Giants after suffering a gash on his right heel that required stitches last Thursday. Edwards was running on the practice field without shoes when his foot was accidentally stepped on by teammate Donte' Stallworth.

Rookie tight end Martin Rucker (knee) will also be out for the Browns, and could miss six weeks after tearing his meniscus.

Rucker, a fourth-round Draft choice out of Missouri, turned heads with a five- catch, 70-yard outing against the Jets last week.

The Giants hold a 8-7 advantage in the all-time preseason series with the Browns, but were 17-14 road losers in the last such matchup, prior to the 2005 season.

The two franchises will also meet in meaningful action on Monday, Oct. 13th at Cleveland Browns Stadium.