NFL EXHIBITION ROUNDUP : Giants Win, but Taylor Injured

Jeff Hostetler and Phil Simms each threw a touchdown pass in the final game before Ray Handley picks a starting quarterback, and the New York Giants apparently survived an injury scare to Lawrence Taylor Saturday night as they defeated the New York Jets, 24-10, at East Rutherford, N.J.

Handley said he will name either Simms or Hostetler the starter for the defending Super Bowl champions this week. But for several minutes the rookie coach had to be distracted as Taylor lay on the ground in pain after twisting his right leg during a pass rush in the first quarter.

The 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker sustained a sprained right ankle late in the first quarter after Jet tackle Ron Mattes knocked him to the ground during a pass rush. Taylor left the field on a golf cart and did not return.

“His toe got caught in the turf,” Mattes said. “He made a spin move and it was one of those freakish things that happen.”

X-rays were negative, but Giant defensive coordinator Al Groh said it will be several days before it can be determined when Taylor, 32, will play again.

Taylor was not in the locker room after the game and it was not known whether he will miss the Giants’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept 2.

Hostetler, who led the Giants to a 20-19 Super Bowl victory over Buffalo, had better statistics than Simms. He completed all nine of passes, including a four-yard touchdown to rookie Jarrod Bunch, and led two touchdown drives in three series, finishing off the last one with a one-yard bootleg.

Simms was 10 of 20 for 155 yards, with most of the yards coming on a 59-yard touchdown pass to Odessa Turner.

Tampa Bay 12, Atlanta 7--Steve Christie kicked four field goals and the Buccaneers held off a Falcon rally led by Deion Sanders at Atlanta.

Christie made field goals of 32, 25 and 28 yards in the second quarter to give Tampa Bay a 9-0 lead at halftime. But the Falcons let Sanders, a defensive back, play wide receiver to start the third quarter.

Sanders caught a 52-yard pass from Gilbert Renfroe to the Tampa Bay two-yard line. He lost five yards by drawing a penalty for an excessive celebration. But Pat Chaffey scored on a seven-yard run with 5:53 left.

Kansas City 38, Detroit 14--Steve DeBerg threw two touchdown passes in his 1991 debut and the Chiefs recovered from Mel Gray’s 99-yard opening kickoff return at Kansas City.

DeBerg, who held out for 20 days in a contract dispute, played the entire first half and completed nine of 16 passes for 156 yards, including touchdown throws of two yards to Jonathan Hayes and 68 yards to Rob Thomas.

Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24--Jim Breech, who missed two earlier field goal attempts, including one from 19 yards with six seconds left in regulation, made one from 32 yards with 4:04 left in overtime at Cincinnati.

Green Bay 35, Buffalo 24--Mike Tomczak passed 28 yards to Allen Rice for a go-ahead touchdown with 6:15 to play at the University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium.

Quarterback Jim Kelly, who missed Buffalo’s first two exhibition games with a hamstring injury, strained a ligament in his left ankle on his fifth play. He was on crutches after the game and is expected to miss about 10 days.

Philadelphia 21, Pittsburgh 20--Backup quarterback Brad Goebel converted a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter into a game-winning touchdown drive at Philadelphia.

Winfred Bryant recovered a fumble by quarterback Neil O’Donnell on the Steeler 32 with 9:08 remaining. Goebel threw a 21-yard pass to Mickey Shuler and completed an 11-yard pass to Thomas Sanders, who scored from the one-yard line.

Indianapolis 34, New Orleans 28--Albert Bentley caught two touchdown passes, both set up by fumble recoveries, as the Colts held on at Indianapolis.

Indianapolis ended a six-game exhibition losing streak by forcing six New Orleans turnovers, including five fumbles.

Phoenix 46, New England 0--Timm Rosenbach, playing only the first half, completed 13 of 16 attempts for 206 yards and threw touchdown passes of 56 and 38 yards at Arizona State’s Sun Devil Stadium.