BALTIMORE (Aug. 28, 2003) -- Kyle Boller put on a performance that should make it easier for Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick to choose his starting quarterback.

In his final audition for the role, Boller threw two touchdown passes to stake the Ravens to a 17-point lead over the New York Giants, who rallied for a 30-24 preseason victory.

Boller, the 19th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, gained the upper hand in his duel with four-year veteran Chris Redman for the right to start the Sept. 7 opener at Pittsburgh.

Starting in a second successive game, Boller went 7-for-9 for 99 yards before leaving in the second quarter with Baltimore up 17-0.

"His performance was obviously very good. I think it was a very complete game," said Billick, who will announce his starter Aug. 30.

Redman played three series, going 1-for-6 for 11 yards without producing any points. Afterward, he sounded resigned to the probability Boller has moved atop the depth chart.

"I'm just going to sit back and wait and see what happens," Redman said. "I just want to contribute what ever way I can to the team."

Boller registered a 152.1 passer rating in the game compared to 39.6 for Redman.

"I want to play. I want to be out there on the field, and I want to compete," Boller said. "I think as a whole our offense did a good job tonight."

Third-stringer Anthony Wright played the final 27 minutes for Baltimore (1-3).

Playing without a host of veterans, the Giants (1-3) took advantage of six turnovers to pull out the victory.

"The thing I was most impressed with walking away was that we started out rough, then we settled down and played some football," Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "That's hard to do on the road."

Fassel rested starting quarterback Kerry Collins and running back Tiki Barber. The Giants did not dress 11 injured players, including tight end Jeremy Shockey (rib) and defensive end Michael Strahan (toe).

Boller ended the Ravens' opening possession in grand style by lofting a 49-yard touchdown pass to Travis Taylor, who slipped behind Will Peterson and Shaun Williams before catching the ball in stride at the 5.

"It was a great throw by Kyle," Taylor said. "He put it on the money."

Baltimore made it 10-0 on its next possession, taking advantage of a roughing the passer call against Keith Washington on a 53-yard drive that ended in a 26-yard field goal by Matt Stover.

Boller showed his maturity on a third-and-7 play before the field goal, throwing the ball far out of bounds when pressured in the pocket with no receivers open.

Baltimore made it 17-0 early in the second quarter, moving 71 yards after New York's Ron Dayne lost a fumble on the Baltimore 29. The drive, which featured a 31-yard run by Chester Taylor and a 19-yard pass from Boller to Todd Heap, ended with Boller tossing a 1-yard TD pass to a wide-open Marcus Robinson.

"Kyle put on a good show," Ravens running back Jamal Lewis said.

After Boller left, the Giants took advantage of three turnovers and a blocked punt to take a 20-17 lead.

First, Matt Bryant kicked a field goal after Ryan Brewer fumbled away a punt at the Baltimore 39.

Chester Taylor fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up a 1-yard run by Dorsey Levens, and a fumbled snap by Redman led to a 34-yard field goal with 2:52 left in the first half.

The Giants took the lead 18 seconds before halftime when Jesse Palmer capped a 32-yard drive with a 5-yard run.

Palmer went 10-for-19 for 91 yards in his bid to secure the backup job behind Collins.

"He started out rough, but he wasn't getting a lot of help," Fassel said. "I'm happy he was able to hang in there and turn things around."