Eli Manning hooked up with Hakeem Nix for three touchdowns and the New York Giants defense harassed the Carolina Panthers en route to a 31-18 victory in the first game at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Manning connected on Nix with a 26-yard score in the first quarter and 19 yards in the second for a 14-9 lead. Their 5-yard connection in the third provided the Giants with a 24-16 lead and Ahmad Bradshaw's 4-yard TD run in the fourth pushed the edge to 15 points.

Manning completed 23-of-30 passes for 263 yards but was picked off three times. Nix had four catches for 75 yards and the three scores.

The Giants' defense forced five turnovers, including three interceptions of Matt Moore in the end zone, and four sacks. Moore completed just 14-of-33 passes for 182 yards and one TD, a late second-period toss to Steve Smith that gave the Panthers a 16-14 edge at the break.

New York limited Jonathan Stewart to 12 yards on five carries. He torched the Giants for 206 yards last season in a 41-9 Panthers victory in the last game at the Old Meadowlands.