Giants Closing In on NFC East Title

Bill Parcells has a two-step, sure-fire way of getting into the playoffs--play well in December and move the ball on the ground.

That’s just what the New York Giants are doing now, and only a victory over the New York Jets separates them from a second NFC East title in 3 years.

Phil Simms rediscovered tight end Mark Bavaro for 2 touchdowns and Ottis Anderson and Maurice Carthon added fourth-quarter scores on short runs Sunday as the Giants moved closer to the playoffs with a 28-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Giants (10-5) after winning their third in a row and second in December, play the Jets next week.

New York still isn’t assured a playoff berth, however, and enters the final week of the season with a 1-game lead over Philadelphia (9-6). If the teams finish in a tie, the Eagles, who play Dallas next weekend, would win the division by virtue of sweeping 2 games against the Giants in the regular season.

The Giants managed only 244 yards, but 159 came on the ground as the Giants offensive line paved the way for Joe Morris to rush for a season-high 140 yards in 31 carries.

The Giants picked their spots for the pass on Sunday, and the Simms-to-Bavaro combination was the key.

“Today we called his number a little more,” said Simms, who completed 6 of 15 passes for 93 yards. “They just played a defense that let me go to him.”

Bavaro, who caught just 14 passes in the previous 7 games and only 2 for touchdowns all season, twice got free in a seam of the Kansas City zone defense for touchdowns of 12 and 24 yards.

Steve DeBerg hit 15 of 35 passes for 174 yards for the Chiefs (4-10-1). He had not been sacked in 3 games, but the Giants sacked him 3 times for 23 yards in losses.