The New York Giants marked their first game at home since winning the Super Bowl with a 34-31 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Dominik Hixon caught two touchdown passes from Eli Manning in the first quarter and then returned a kick 82 yards to the end zone to help the Giants surge into a 30-3 lead.

However, the home side were forced to hold on in the end, the Browns produced a stirring comeback in the second half.

Cleveland's cause was not helped by the loss of starting quarterback Derek Anderson, who left the game in the second quarter after being sacked by Osi Umenyiora.

Back-up Brady Quinn took over and threw for a score before third stringer Ken Dorsey came on and managed a touchdown pass of his own.

Syndric Steptoe reeled in a 44-yard pass from Quinn in the end zone after already scoring the Brown's first touchdown on a seven-yard run.

Phil Dawson had given the visitors the lead with a 56-yard goal. Jason Reda slotted over a second for Cleveland in the fourth quarter.

But the Browns' early advantage disintergrated in a hurry, the Giants scoring 30 unanswered points despite despite missing starting receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer as well as Steve Smith, who were all out through injury.

In the absence of the trio Hixon made the most of his chance, catching 11 and 24 yard throws from Manning, who finished finished four-of-seven for 52 yards.

A blocked punt gave New York a further two points via a safety before Hixon managed an 82-yard return from the resulting punt.

The Giants' defence, so impressive in their upset of the New England Patriots last year, was particularly dominant in the first half.

Safety James Butler scooped up a fumble by Jamal Lewis and returning it 95 yards to make it 30-3, a deficit that proved too much for their opponents to overhaul despite their best efforts.