Dayne Runs Over the Saints

Even after he tore off a 55-yard run on his way to a 111-yard Sunday, New York Giant running back Ron Dayne got a ribbing from teammates. They teased him about getting caught from behind by New Orleans cornerback Kevin Mathis.

“I got it a little bit, especially when I got to the sideline,” Dayne said. “They came to me and they were like, ‘What happened on that play?’ I told them, ‘It ain’t my strong side.”’

Dayne, didn’t show many weaknesses in the 21-13 Giant victory, gaining 5.8 yards a carry and putting his team on the scoreboard with a six-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“Everyone was wondering, ‘When is he going to get more of an opportunity to touch the ball?”’ Coach Jim Fassel said. “Well, he got it today.”

Dayne shouldered the bulk of the running load after Tiki Barber was sidelined in the first half because of a hamstring injury. He is expected to be back next week.

The Giants led, 14-3, after three quarters, but New Orleans clawed back in the fourth with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Brooks to Willie Jackson.

Less than two minutes later, New York responded with a 46-yard touchdown reception by Joe Jurevicius.

The Saints had a chance down the stretch. They got a 30-yard field goal from John Carney with 4:36 left, then mounted a last-chance drive after Kerry Collins fumbled on a quarterback draw.

Brooks drove them to the New York 9, but was unable to score with three consecutive passes into the end zone in the waning seconds.

The Saints were penalized 14 times for 102 yards.

“It got to a point where, when we got big plays, I was looking around for flags,” linebacker Darrin Smith said. “That just seemed so consistently what happened to us in the first half; we got a big play, then a flag.”