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Giants keep Fassel's word with victory

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The New York Giants are back on track, and they're giving coach Jim Fassel the credit.

Fassel clamped down after consecutive homefield losses to St. Louis and Detroit, and the Giants responded with a 31-7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals late Sunday.

"I think he's an excellent coach," linebacker Mike Barrow said. "One thing about him, he's got that whip out, whipping us back in shape when he sees us go to the left or to the right. He does a great job of tuning that into us.

"We had to get some tuning, and he was the mechanic. He came into the engine and gave us a tuneup, a little oil change here and there."

Fassel loved the way his team responded to his challenge.

"I think they took to heart everything I said," he said. "I've never questioned this team, but I was interested in seeing how they came out and played, because they were focused this week and they had the right mental attitude."

Kerry Collins completed 20 of 30 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown in New York's most one-sided victory of the season.

The win kept the Giants in the thick of the NFC East race, a half-game behind first-place Philadelphia and a game ahead of Washington. New York plays at Washington next Sunday.

Quarterback Jake Plummer was out with bruised ribs and a sprained left thumb.

The Giants led 14-0 at halftime and extended it to 21-0 when Tiki Barber ran 23 yards for a score with 6:24 left in the third quarter. A defensive holding penalty against Arizona's Corey Chavous on fourth-and-6 at the Cardinals 33 kept the scoring drive alive.

"We were playing fast and quick and with confidence," Collins said. "I think we came out and set the tone from the start."

Former Giants starter Dave Brown, playing in place of Plummer, completed just 6 of 15 passes for 58 yards in the first half and fumbled the ball away at the New York 15. He also failed to get a play off in time twice early in the contest.

Brown finished 18-for-36 for 192 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.

"I just think I was so excited to play, especially with who we were playing," said Brown, who kept playing despite bruising his left shoulder early in the game. "I want to beat them more than any other team in the league, and for obvious reasons.

"I just went out there and forgot all the little things, just stupid rookie mistakes that I shouldn't be making in my ninth season."

Brown's 36-yard screen pass to Michael Pittman for Arizona's only score cut New York's lead to 21-7 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

The Giants responded with an 80-yard, 12-play drive that boosted the lead to 28-7 on Amani Toomer's 19-yard touchdown run on a reverse.

Pittman gained 77 yards in 13 carries.

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