Start Spreading the News: Giants Off to a 3-0 Start

Kerry Collins had his pick of open receivers. Ron Dayne softened the middle with punishing runs and Kiki Barber reached the outside with his quickness.

The New York Giants won again Sunday, using variety on offense and consistency on defense. That’s why they’re 3-0 and off to their best start since 1994.

“We played some pretty good ball-control offense,” Collins said after the Giants’ 14-7 victory over the Chicago Bears (0-3).

“We kept the ball and took time off the clock. We were 2-0 and a lot of people wondered how we’d come out in this game. We came out and played well.”

The Giants came up with four sacks and held the Bears’ anemic offense to one touchdown, Chicago’s only score in the last eight quarters.

“Being 3-0 is outstanding. You can’t do any better at this point in time. It’s a start, that’s all it is,” New York Coach Jim Fassel said.

“The reasons we were underdogs even though we were 2-0 was that people thought we were going to let down. But there was a sense of confidence the entire game.”

Barber’s three-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter was the go-ahead score and followed a short Chicago punt. He had a 19-yard run and Dayne a crushing eight-yard carry around end to set up the score.

“Every game we’ve had a drive where we didn’t even need to pass, that’s been a staple,” Barber said.

“We’re not one dimensional,” said defensive end Michael Strahan, who had a sack and fumble recovery. “Everybody gets involved.”

The Bears, 0-3 for the third time in four years, wish their offense worked as well.

Chicago scored on a two-yard pass from Cade McNown to Eddie Kennison with 14 seconds left in the first half for a 7-7 tie, but that was it.

On three other occasions, McNown overthrew receivers who were behind the defense, twice to Marcus Robinson and one other time to Macey Brooks.

“I try to get it out there and give them a chance to run under it,” McNown said. “Receivers run a lot of deep routes, so they can be tired and I just need to take that into account and hold the ball up a little more. I thought just about all of them were good throws.”

With the Bears trailing, 14-7, Mike Brown gave Chicago a chance when he blocked Brad Daluiso’s 31-yard field-goal attempt with 1:08 to play.

But after completing an eight-yard pass on first down, McNown threw an incompletion, a short pass for no gain and then missed Alonzo Mayes on fourth and two.