Instead of getting that big improvement in the second game of the preseason, coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants got a reality check.

The team that looked so good in beating Carolina in the opening preseason game a week ago took a big step back in dropping a 17-3 decision to the Chicago Bears Saturday night.

While the score wasn't lopsided, the Giants failed to score a touchdown, got only 11 first downs and allowed Jay Cutler and the Bears' first-team offense to score on drives of 80 and 92 yards.

"We need to focus on improving as a football team and, quite frankly, we need to stop listening to all the media telling us where we are good and where we aren't good and all of that stuff," Coughlin said in a conference call yesterday. "We need to get the team on track knowing full well that we don't have a lot of time to do this. This having taken place, I hope it is a wake-up call."

Coughlin found errors and poor play across the board: offense, defense and special teams. He particularly was annoyed with the pressure (five sacks) the Bears' defense was able to get on Eli Manning and the other quarterbacks, and he felt his defense wasn't physical enough, allowing Chicago 150 yards rushing on 34 carries.

The Giants had some excuses. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce (sore foot), safety Kenny Phillips (sore knee) and cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring) were out, while starting guards Chris Snee (leg) and Rich Seubert (shoulder) sat out on offense.

New York also was without all three of the big defensive free agents it signed in the offseason. Linebacker Michael Boley (hip surgery) and tackles Rocky Bernard (hamstring) and Chris Canty (hamstring) still have not played.

"We heard for so long that we have so much depth, but I don't know what you are watching," Coughlin said. "The guys who are supposed to be the depth have hardly practiced and some haven't played."

Quarterback Carson Palmer did some light tossing yesterday, but did not practice with the team. Palmer, who has a sprained left ankle, is questionable for a preseason game Thursday against St. Louis. He missed much of last season with an elbow injury.

Cincinnati signed rookie kicker Sam Swank from Wake Forest, giving them another option while Shayne Graham recovers from a groin injury. Graham couldn't kick in a preseason game at New England Thursday, prompting Chad Ochocino to kick an extra point.

Linebacker Angelo Crowell will miss the season with a torn biceps muscle. The seventh-year pro was hurt in preseason victory Saturday at Jacksonville. He sat out all of 2008 because of a knee injury. Third-year pro Quincy Black becomes the likely starter at strong-side linebacker.

New England released second-year tight end Tyson DeVree. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound DeVree originally was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Colorado in 2008.