Giants, Hostetler Scramble for Victory Over Cardinals

Jeff Hostetler has not run from the critics who want to see Phil Simms back at quarterback for the New York Giants. On Sunday, no one was complaining after Hostetler ran from the Phoenix Cardinals.

Hostetler scored on broken-play runs of 47 and four yards to lead the Giants to a 21-14 victory that evened the Super Bowl champions’ record at 5-5.

Hostetler completed 12 of 21 passes for 124 yards. He gained 49 yards in five carries.

“It just so happens that the opportunities presented themselves to allow me to run a little bit, and any time you can get the ball in yourself, you do it,” he said.

On his 47-yard run that opened the scoring in the first quarter, Hostetler stepped out of an attempted ankle tackle by Michael Zordich at about the 30-yard line. Hostetler’s run was the longest of the season for the Giants.

The Giants kept alive their hopes of a Super Bowl title defense and halted a two-game losing streak at the expense of the Cardinals (4-7), who have lost three in a row.

Reserve Stan Gelbaugh, after throwing only five passes since the Cardinals acquired him Sept. 18, tried to pull the game out in relief of Tom Tupa.

With Phoenix trailing 21-7, Gelbaugh connected with Ricky Proehl on a 34-yard touchdown pass play with less than three minutes left.

The Cardinals then held the Giants on downs and got the ball back with 1:53 left.

But Gelbaugh’s next pass was intercepted by Everson Walls, ending the Cardinals’ final threat.

Rodney Hampton, who gained 99 yards in 24 carries, gave the Giants a 14-0 lead when he scored on a one-yard dive 2:10 into the second quarter.

Phoenix pulled to 14-7 before halftime when Johnny Johnson scored on a three-yard run.