Giants Take Another Big Step : NFC: New York is alone in first place after getting past the Eagles, a team it rarely beats, 21-10.

Coach Dan Reeves’ New York Giants are for real.

If there are naysayers after Sunday, just consider two facts: The Giants (5-1) are in first place in the NFC East six games into the season, and they got there by performing what for them is a rare feat, beating the Philadelphia Eagles, 21-10.

The victory ended a five-game losing streak against Philadelphia and was only the Giants’ second win in 11 games against the Eagles (4-2).

“We didn’t know about this team at the beginning of the year,” said linebacker Corey Miller, one of the new faces on a revitalized defense. “We knew we had some people who could play football, but we thought it might take time for everything to come together.”

After two non-playoff seasons under Ray Handley, the timetable seemed to indicate it would be awhile. Somehow, Reeves has pushed the clock forward, using the same formula that was so successful in 12 seasons at Denver.

“We made the plays we needed to make,” Reeves said. “At the beginning of the season we said we wanted to be in a good position to challenge in the second half of the season. This win put us in that position.”

The Giants and Eagles, who have both performed better than expected this season, now head into a bye week. The Giants are buoyed, the Eagles battered--without quarterback Randall Cunningham and wide receiver Fred Barnett and with a banged up defensive line. And they are frustrated after their consecutive second loss.

“You can blame the injuries and a lot of things,” defensive end Clyde Simmons said. “The injuries are a part of the game. If you don’t come out here and play well, you are going to get your butts handed to you every time. That’s what happened today.”

As has been the case since Reeves took over as coach this season, the keys to success were Phil Simms, a strong running game and an aggressive defense. The Giants knocked out starting quarterback Bubby Brister because of a sprained ankle in the first quarter and then harried former Jet Ken O’Brien in his return to Giants Stadium.

Simms threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ed McCaffrey early in the second quarter to put the Giants ahead for good, 7-3. Later in the quarter, he connected with Mike Sherrard on a spectacular 51-yard pass play to set up one of Lewis Tillman’s two touchdown runs.

Tillman, subbing for the injured Rodney Hampton, finished with a career-high 169 yards in 20 carries. It was the most by a Giants back since Joe Morris gained 181 in 1986.

Even more telling, the 169 yards were eight more than the Giants rushed for in both games against Philadelphia last season, when the Eagles still had Reggie White, Mike Golic and Mike Pitts.