A Different Philadelphia Story for Giants

The New York Giants finally won where they never win: Philadelphia. And now they’re in the last place anybody expected so late in the season: a first-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys.

Phil Simms fooled the Eagles’ defense with a play that had misfired earlier and completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Mark Jackson on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 7-3 victory Sunday, the Giants’ first in Philadelphia since 1987.

Simms’ pump fake drew cornerback Eric Allen out of coverage and left Jackson open in the end zone for a sprawling catch, the first touchdown pass by a Giant quarterback since a 21-10 New York victory over Philadelphia on Oct. 17.

Simms, 13 of 22 for 187 yards with an interception, passed to Dave Meggett for a 50-yard gain to the Eagles’ 30 one play before Jackson’s touchdown catch.

The Eagles (4-6) lost their sixth in a row--their longest streak since losing seven straight in 1983. The Giants (7-3) swept the season series from rivals Philadelphia and Washington for the first time since 1986.

“We played as well as we could play defensively, and we played as lousy as we could play offensively,” said Eagle Coach Rich Kotite, who changed quarterbacks from Ken O’Brien to Bubby Brister at midgame without success.

The Giants already have bettered their 6-10 season of a year ago and have won two in a row over the Eagles after losing nine of 10 to them.