Giants Escape From St. Louis With 13-6 Victory

With three consecutive victories, the New York Giants figured to have a mismatch against the winless St. Louis Cardinals.

It didn’t turn out that way, but Giants Coach Bill Parcells felt fortunate to come away with a 13-6 victory Sunday that gave the Cardinals their 15th defeat in 17 games.

“I’m happy to leave St. Louis with a win,” Parcells said. “Everybody says what’s the matter with the Cardinals? Well, there’s nothing wrong with their defense.”

“I don’t feel we played that well. I’m not saying we were lucky to win, but we can do better. The defense was OK, but we didn’t move the ball.”

St. Louis (0-5), despite being unable to score a touchdown, battled the Giants (4-1) on even terms, except for an interception that was followed by a costly penalty early in the second half.

Giants safety Kenny Hill picked off Neil Lomax’s pass at the Cardinals’ 45 when Lomax overthrew Doug Marsh. A 31-yard pass interference penalty against St. Louis cornerback Lionel Washington set up the game’s only touchdown, a one-yard run by Joe Morris.

“I didn’t think it was (pass interference), but then I’m prejudiced in that situation,” St. Louis Coach Gene Stallings said. “That’s a judgment call, and we have to live by the (official’s) decision.”

Raul Allegre kicked field goals of 44 and 31 yards to give the Giants a 6-3 halftime lead. St. Louis rookie John Lee connected from 30 yards, following a 56-yard punt return by Vai Sikahema in the first quarter; and Lee brought the Cardinals to within 13-6 with a 47-yarder late in the third quarter.

“All I was thinking about was keeping them from scoring any touchdown,” Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall said. “They didn’t get in and we get the win. That’s all that counts.”

St. Louis reached the New York six-yard line in the final minutes when Lomax connected with J.T. Smith on a 45-yard pass play, but the Giants turned them away. Ottis Anderson was thrown for a two-yard loss on first down, and Lomax threw two incomplete passes.

On fourth down, the Giants got their seventh sack of Lomax when linebacker Carl Banks broke through the St. Louis pocket.

“That’s embarrassing,” Stallings said. “It’s a crucial situation and somebody has got to block.

“We must protect the quarterback better. We just have to give Lomax a chance. He hasn’t had that opportunity this year.”

St. Louis thought it had a touchdown on first down, but officials ruled Smith caught Lomax’s pass out of bounds in the corner of the end zone.

Officials in the press box review instant replays, but after a wait of several minutes ruled the tapes were inconclusive and the original call stood.

“I thought they were ordering a pizza,” Lomax said about the wait. “We had momentum and we had a good play called. It stalled us. The only time I’m for instant replay is when it goes in our favor.

“I knew we wouldn’t get the call. Losers don’t get calls.”

Lomax completed 17 of 30 passes in the game for 206 yards. Anderson ran 18 times for 55 yards and moved within one yard of becoming the 11th NFL back to reach 8,000 yards.

New York netted only 144 yards in the game, with Phil Simms completing only 8 of 24 passes for 104 yards.