On a day in which the Baltimore Ravens showed they're primed to defend their Super Bowl crown, a diverse collection of replacement officials also appeared ready to shine in the regular season.

The defending Super Bowl champion Ravens pulled away in the second half and beat the New York Giants 38-9 Friday in a rematch of last January's Super Bowl.

The intensity was vastly different, as were the officials, but the game played out in much the same fashion as Baltimore's 34-7 Super Bowl rout. The Giants also failed to score a touchdown against Baltimore's defense in that game, and this time Ravens once again pulled away after halftime.

Led by backup running back Jason Brookins, who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, Baltimore outscored New York 28-0 in the second half.

The game was officiated by replacements, because the NFL locked out its on-field officials in a labor dispute.

``I went into their dressing room after the game and thanked them,'' Giants owner Wellington Mara said. ``I thought they did a good job handling the transition.''

The best thing a player can say about an officiating crew is that they didn't have an impact on the game. In that regard, the replacements made the grade.

``I didn't notice anything. They just let us play, which is the way it should be,'' Ravens running back Obafemi Ayanbeadejo said. ``It was just like a normal day at the office.''

Each team was penalized five times, but neither was called for holding.

``Some of the guys were saying the refs were a little lenient on the holding, but I don't think it was enough to make a difference in the game,'' Baltimore center Mike Flynn said. ``Believe it or not, we get away with a lot of holding anyway. There was a lot of pressure on them, and I think they did a good job. No one was really complaining.''

Although the replacements had never worked together as a crew, they exhibited fine teamwork on a first-quarter play. Baltimore's Shannon Sharpe was initially given credit for a key catch on a third-down play, but two other officials rushed to the scene and correctly changed the call to an incompletion.

The officials called only three penalties in the first half. In the first quarter, they appeared to miss an illegal block on a Baltimore punt return. But in the second period, New York's Jack Golden was called for a block above the waist on a punt return.

``They did a good job for their first game. I really couldn't tell too much of a difference,'' Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware said.

``I think they did an excellent job; they administered the game very well,'' Ravens coach Brian Billick said. ``That's a tough situation to come into.''

Baltimore (1-2) scored 17 points off turnovers, including a 19-yard fumble return by Kelly Gregg that made it 38-9 in the fourth quarter. Gregg, a backup tackle, also intercepted a pass and recorded a sack.

It was the 11th straight year that New York (1-3) closed the preseason with a loss.

``They kept it basic and we kept it basic. Basically, it was just talent versus talent,'' Giants linebacker Mike Barrow said.

On this day, and in the Super Bowl, the Ravens were just too good for New York.

Giants quarterback Kerry Collins played only the first quarter, going 7-for-13 for 91 yards. His job was aided by the absence of Ravens starting cornerbacks Duane Starks and Chris McAlister, who were held out with minor injuries.

``I feel great about where we're at right now,'' Collins said. ``I feel like we've made a lot of progress.''

Elvis Grbac, signed by the Ravens in the offseason to replace Super Bowl quarterback Trent Dilfer, went 4-for-9 for 86 yards before leaving after four series. Terry Allen, playing in his second game as a replacement for the injured Jamal Lewis, gained 29 yards on 12 carries and scored his first touchdown with Baltimore. On a day in which the Baltimore Ravens showed they're primed to defend their Super Bowl crown, a diverse collection of replacement officials also appeared ready to shine in the regular season.

The defending Super Bowl champion Ravens pulled away in the second half and beat the New York Giants 38-9 Friday in a rematch of last January's Super Bowl.

The intensity was vastly different, as were the officials, but the game played out in much the same fashion as Baltimore's 34-7 Super Bowl rout. The Giants also failed to score a touchdown against Baltimore's defense in that game, and this time Ravens once again pulled away after halftime.

Led by backup running back Jason Brookins, who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, Baltimore outscored New York 28-0 in the second half.

The game was officiated by replacements, because the NFL locked out its on-field officials in a labor dispute.

``I went into their dressing room after the game and thanked them,'' Giants owner Wellington Mara said. ``I thought they did a good job handling the transition.''

The best thing a player can say about an officiating crew is that they didn't have an impact on the game. In that regard, the replacements made the grade.

``I didn't notice anything. They just let us play, which is the way it should be,'' Ravens running back Obafemi Ayanbeadejo said. ``It was just like a normal day at the office.''

Each team was penalized five times, but neither was called for holding.

``Some of the guys were saying the refs were a little lenient on the holding, but I don't think it was enough to make a difference in the game,'' Baltimore center Mike Flynn said. ``Believe it or not, we get away with a lot of holding anyway. There was a lot of pressure on them, and I think they did a good job. No one was really complaining.''

Although the replacements had never worked together as a crew, they exhibited fine teamwork on a first-quarter play. Baltimore's Shannon Sharpe was initially given credit for a key catch on a third-down play, but two other officials rushed to the scene and correctly changed the call to an incompletion.

The officials called only three penalties in the first half. In the first quarter, they appeared to miss an illegal block on a Baltimore punt return. But in the second period, New York's Jack Golden was called for a block above the waist on a punt return.

``They did a good job for their first game. I really couldn't tell too much of a difference,'' Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware said.

``I think they did an excellent job; they administered the game very well,'' Ravens coach Brian Billick said. ``That's a tough situation to come into.''

Baltimore (1-2) scored 17 points off turnovers, including a 19-yard fumble return by Kelly Gregg that made it 38-9 in the fourth quarter. Gregg, a backup tackle, also intercepted a pass and recorded a sack.

It was the 11th straight year that New York (1-3) closed the preseason with a loss.

``They kept it basic and we kept it basic. Basically, it was just talent versus talent,'' Giants linebacker Mike Barrow said.

On this day, and in the Super Bowl, the Ravens were just too good for New York.

Giants quarterback Kerry Collins played only the first quarter, going 7-for-13 for 91 yards. His job was aided by the absence of Ravens starting cornerbacks Duane Starks and Chris McAlister, who were held out with minor injuries.

``I feel great about where we're at right now,'' Collins said. ``I feel like we've made a lot of progress.''

Elvis Grbac, signed by the Ravens in the offseason to replace Super Bowl quarterback Trent Dilfer, went 4-for-9 for 86 yards before leaving after four series. Terry Allen, playing in his second game as a replacement for the injured Jamal Lewis, gained 29 yards on 12 carries and scored his first touchdown with Baltimore.