Giants Enjoy Best Performance of Season : Return of Lomax No Help as Giants Beat Cards, 44-7

The last time the New York Giants played Phoenix, quarterback Neil Lomax threw the game-clinching touchdown for the Cardinals while injuring his knee.

Sunday’s rematch marked the return of Lomax, though this time he would not get the chance to pull out another victory.

The Giants (9-5) put together what may have been their best performance since their 1986 championship season as they defeated the Cardinals, 44-7, to move back into first place in the NFC East with 2 regular-season games remaining.

New York entered the game tied for first place with Philadelphia, but the Giants got an assist when Washington knocked off the Eagles, 20-19, on a last second field goal by Chip Lohmiller.

“It’s great,” guard Billy Ard said. “We needed this and with Washington beating Philadelphia that just puts more gas in our tanks. I think we are going to be very tough the next 2 weeks.”

New York can win the division title by defeating Kansas City and the New York Jets in their last 2 games.

Phoenix (7-7), which has lost 3 straight games, will need help from other teams in order to make the playoffs.

The Giants dominated every phase of the game with aching quarterback Phil Simms back in the lineup. Simms threw 2 touchdown passes to Stacy Robinson in the first half to put New York in control early. The 2-touchdown performance was Robinson’s first in 4 years as a professional. He finished with 3 catches for 48 yards.

“The way he played in the first half really did it,” center Bart Oates said of Simms. “He kept us alive. He gave us a cushion and allowed us to do other things. He was the catalyst.”

And once the Giants got going--which hasn’t happened in quite a while--there was no stopping them.

The Giants defense swarmed all over Lomax and the Cardinals in a reversal of 3 weeks ago when the Cardinals gained 466 total yards and converted 12 of 17 third downs in a 24-17 victory that tied them for the division lead.

This time, Lomax completed 9 of 25 passes for 103 yards as the Cardinals gained only 158 yards and had 5 turnovers.

Trailing, 17-0, in the second quarter, the Cardinals’ Earl Ferrell put his team back in the game with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7 at the half. But former Cardinal Ottis Anderson scored on three 1-yard runs and running back Joe Morris, who ran for 122 yards--his second 100-yard game this season--scored from 3 yards as New York put the game away.

Simms, who sat out last week’s game against New Orleans with a bruised right shoulder, completed 11 of 20 passes for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns.