PRO FOOTBALL : Giants’ 21-0 Win Has Impact on Jaworski : Eagle Quarterback Thrown 8 Times as Rushers and Rain Pour In

Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Ron Jaworski hadn’t suited up for a regular-season NFL game since suffering a broken left leg against St. Louis last Nov. 25.

So on Sunday, the New York Giant defense couldn’t wait to get close enough to wish Jaworski good luck--you know, break a leg and all that.

New York linebacker Lawrence Taylor swung by the Eagle pocket twice to say hello.

Defensive end Leonard Marshall dropped in three times. Nose tackle Jerome Sally and his face mask joined in the fun, too.

A Hallmark card would have been so much nicer.

Showing they haven’t forgotten how to play defense and intimidate quarterbacks, the Giants sacked Jaworski eight times in their 21-0 win before a crowd of 76,141 at Giants Stadium.

Said Jaworski, the human welcome mat:

“Even the passes I completed (12 of 25), I was just trying to get rid of. They probably would have had more sacks if I just didn’t get rid of the ball.”

Which brings us to Philadelphia’s offensive line. Where exactly was it?

Eagle Coach Marion Campbell, trying to spare Jaworski his one good leg, pulled his starting quarterback with 8:12 remaining in favor of rookie Randall Cunningham.

The logic was sound. “He was getting the hell beat out of him out there,” Campbell said of Jaworski.

That offensive line, in case you were wondering, is young and inexperienced. It’ll be a while before it jells, coaches say.

That’s just what All-Pro quarterback cruncher Taylor needed to hear. Frustrated last season because so many teams were running away from him (do you blame them?), Taylor got plenty of action Sunday. He finished with 4 tackles, 2 sacks and about 10 bonus points for harassment.

“I knew it was going to be a long day when the monsoon hit when we got the ball,” Jaworski said.

The monsoon in this case was not Taylor but a driving rain storm that struck in the first quarter after the Giants had taken a 14-0 lead.

Give New York credit for devising their game plan around the National Weather Service.

And give Phil McConkey credit for keeping one step ahead of the weather.

McConkey returned the opening kickoff 40 yards to set up the first Giant touchdown, a 23-yard pass from Phil Simms to Lionel Manuel with 11:31 left in the quarter.

Moments later, McConkey returned a punt 37 yards to the Philadelphia 11. Joe Morris did the rest, running 11 yards on the next play for a touchdown that gave the Giants a 14-0 lead.

And then came the rains--in sheets.

The Eagles play host to the Rams next Sunday.