Eli Manning and the Super Bowl champion New York Giants finally stumbled on the road.

Only this time, it didn't matter.

Manning, the Super Bowl MVP, struggled on his only two series in the preseason opener as the Giants lost to the host Detroit Lions, 13-10, last night at Ford Field. New York won its final 11 games away from Giants Stadium last season, including all four in the playoffs en route to the championship.

Manning completed two of his six passes for 19 yards. He was 0 for 3 on New York's first possession, including two passes that were knocked down by Lions linemen.

Eddie Johnson's 31-yard field goal with 2:47 to play gave Detroit the win.

With Manning long out of the game and Super Bowl hero David Tyree home with a knee injury, the Giants' offense was in the hands of third-string quarterback David Carr, who tried to try to put together a winning drive in the final moments.

New York got as far as the Detroit 40, but the comeback attempt ended when Carr was called for intentional grounding, then sacked by rookie Andre Fluellen on the next play.

Both teams pulled their starters after one quarter, when the Lions led, 7-0. Detroit scored on the game's opening drive when Roy Williams broke free of Michael Johnson's tackle and went 20 yards with a short pass from Jon Kitna.

In his two drives, Kitna went 6 for 7 for 106 yards and the touchdown to Williams. Detroit's first-team offense struggled on the ground, though, as Tatum Bell carried seven times for eight yards.

Anthony Wright led the Giants on their first sustained drive late in the second quarter, and Lawrence Tynes kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-3. Jason Hanson answered with a 50-yarder in the last minute of the half to restore Detroit's seven-point lead.

Panthers

Carolina waived tackle Charles Spencer for what coach John Fox calls a "conditioning issue," and re-signed offensive lineman Rueben Riley.

The Panthers claimed Spencer off waivers from Houston two days before players reported to training camp. This former third-round pick from Pitt hasn't played in the NFL since his leg was broken in his rookie season in 2006.

Spencer had missed several practices for what the team called a sore knee, but Fox said he was let go because of "conditioning and weight."

Bears

First-round draft pick Chris Williams had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back, a team spokesperson said.

The 14th overall pick, Williams was expected to start at left tackle, but those plans went awry when he left the Bears' second practice because of stiffness. He has been sidelined since but remains on the 53-man roster.

Falcons

Chris Redman has edged rookie Matt Ryan and will start at quarterback in Atlanta's preseason opener tomorrow night at Jacksonville.

Based on how often he has worked with the first-team offense in training camp, Ryan, the NFL's No. 3 overall draft pick, likely would be the first quarterback to replace Redman in the exhibition game.

D.J. Shockley and Joey Harrington essentially are battling for the third-string job, but coach Mike Smith wants all four quarterbacks to play against the Jaguars.

Broncos

Rookie running back Ryan Torain is expected to miss about three months after a bone in his left elbow was broken. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan announced that Torain would need surgery.

Asked if the injury was a blow to the organization, he did not respond.

Browns

-Rookie linebacker Beau Bell had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage from behind his right kneecap. The Browns expect Bell, hurt in workouts earlier this week, to be out four to six weeks.