Giants Control the Bears, 27-14

The New York Giants finally found a way to improve the performance of a defensive unit that gave up the most points in the NFL in the season’s first two weeks.

Keep it off the field.

Phil Simms passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns and Stephen Baker caught seven passes for 109 yards Monday night as the Giants reverted to a ball control formula and beat the Chicago Bears, 27-14, for their first victory of the season.

“We needed to get a win to get some confidence,” said Giant Coach Ray Handley, whose team has a bye before playing the Raiders at the Coliseum in two weeks.

After trailing 7-0 and 14-7, the Giants tied the score 14-14 by halftime and then controlled the ball for 12:17 during the third quarter, outgaining the Bears, 155-3, in the quarter.

The Giants rushed for 172 yards and held the ball for 38 minutes 14 seconds to 21:46 for the Bears. Simms credited the offensive line--basically the same unit that helped the Giants hold the ball for 40 minutes in their 1991 Super Bowl victory.

“Even when they knew we were going to run, we were able to pick up yards,” Simms said.

The Giants broke the 14-14 halftime tie by taking the kickoff and driving 80 yards. Simms connected with Baker for a 13-yard touchdown pass play that gave them a lead for the first time this season. The Giants added 31- and 32-yard field goals by Matt Bahr, the second set up by Dave Meggett’s 39-yard punt return.

“We had our butt kicked in every area,” Chicago Coach Mike Ditka said. “It’s been a long time when I felt any worse about the way we played football than the way we played tonight.”

Simms completed 19 of 30 passes and also connected with Howard Cross on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Rodney Hampton, who gained 94 yards in 22 carries, scored in the second quarter on a one-yard run as the Giants won in Chicago for the first time in six games since 1962.

Jim Harbaugh completed 15 of 28 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown for the Bears, who suffered their second consecutive loss after an opening-day victory. It marked the first time since 1983 that they have lost more than one game in September.

“We played one half of football just like we did last week,” said Ditka, whose team lost to New Orleans, 28-6. “In two weeks we’ve played a total of one full game. That won’t get it done.”