It’s the Giants of Old as They Whip Cardinals

Phil Simms threw 3 touchdown passes and the New York Giants, winless in their first 5 games, defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 30-7, in impressive fashion Sunday.

Phil Simms, who completed just 32 of 64 passes before the strike, was the key to the resurgence of the Giants offense, which had scored just 69 points this season. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 138 yards in the first half, including first-quarter touchdown passes of 3 yards to Mark Bavaro and 16 yards to Lionel Manuel.

Simms, the Super Bowl MVP, added a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Manuel, who made a spectacular diving catch in the end zone.

The first-quarter touchdown passes came on the Giants’ first two possessions and both followed Cardinal turnovers. The first was a fumble by St. Louis quarterback Neil Lomax on the fourth play from scrimmage and the second a pass interception by cornerback Mark Collins in the end zone.

St. Louis (2-4) never recovered from that early 14-0 deficit as the Giants defense, which gave up 135 points in 5 games, shut down the Cardinals running game and hounded Lomax all afternoon, sacking him 5 times.

The Cardinals didn’t score until 1:55 remaining in the game on an 18-yard pass from Lomax to tight end Jay Novacek.

Raul Allegre had field goals of 28, 35 and 32 yards for the Giants.