Giants Put Three-Pointer Back in Their Offense : Allegre’s Fifth Field Goal of the Game Pushes New York Past Vikings, 22-20

After four tries, the New York Giants have put the kick back in their offense.

Raul Allegre, the fourth kicker the Giants have tried this season, kicked five field goals Sunday, including a 33-yarder with 12 seconds left to give New York a 22-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

“I prepare myself all week for situations like this,” Allegre said. “It’s just like taking a test. You study beforehand.”

Allegre, in his fourth pro season, was waived by Indianapolis after getting into contract hassles with the Colts following the 1985 season.

When Ali Haji-Sheikh went down with a hamstring injury just before the season, the Giants summoned Allegre. But, again, he couldn’t come to terms.

The Giants tried Evan Cooper and Bob Thomas with little success before dialing Allegre’s number again for the season’s fourth game. He has responded by making 15 field goals in 21 attempts. His only miss Sunday was from 60 yards on the final play of the first half.

“I feel like I’m involved in the team now,” Allegre said. “I’m getting to know my teammates better and now I feel like I’ve made a contribution. It’s very gratifying.”

Phil Simms put the Giants in position for Allegre’s winning field goal with a 22-yard pass to Bobby Johnson on 4th and 17 with 1:12 left.

But Simms didn’t even see the completion.

“When I threw it, I said, ‘This is gonna be close,’ but I didn’t see it because I was on the ground,” Simms said. “But I knew he caught it when I saw (the dejection on) their sideline.”

Simms completed 25 of 38 passes for 310 yards as New York (9-2) moved one-half game ahead of the idle Washington Redskins, who play San Francisco tonight.

Allegre’s final field goal ruined the day for reserve quarterback Wade Wilson of the Vikings (6-5).

Entering the game in the fourth quarter for injured Tommy Kramer, Wilson completed 3 passes for 67 yards during Minnesota’s 6-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in Wilson’s 33-yard scoring pass to Anthony Carter to give the Vikings a 20-19 lead with 6:53 left.

“I was definitely thinking that it would be fun to come in and spark a comeback win against one of the best teams in the National Football League,” Wilson said. “But, in the end, I was dejected because it put a damper on our playoff hopes.”

Wilson passed to Steve Jordan for 18 and 16 yards before hitting Carter to put the Vikings ahead.

The extent of Kramer’s right thumb injury, sustained early in the fourth quarter when he hit a Giants’ helmet on a pass, wasn’t immediately known. The thumb will be X-rayed today.

Kramer, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 187 yards before leaving, gave the Vikings a 13-9 lead midway through the third quarter on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Allen Rice.