Simple Approach Is Taken in Victory

By simplifying their offense, the New York Giants made it better.

Sticking to their promise to keep things simple, the Giants’ offense started clicking, with Kerry Collins throwing three touchdown passes and Tiki Barber running for a season-high 94 yards in a 21-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday.

New York (3-2), which had scored three offensive touchdowns in its first four games, scored two immediately after touchdowns by Dallas (2-3), including a 17-yard pass from Collins to tight end Marcellus Rivers with 6:51 left that erased a 17-14 deficit.

That drive typified what the Giants did right all day. They went 80 yards in eight plays, starting with a 23-yard run by Barber. Collins completed passes to four receivers, with a 20-yarder to Dan Campbell on third down keeping the drive alive.

“We had more than one guy step up and make plays for us,” Coach Jim Fassel said. “We had good balance. We ran the ball well and Kerry did a good job of picking the right people.”

How’s this for balance: New York ran 28 times and threw 27.

And efficiency: The Giants’ only long pass turned into a 56-yard touchdown by Amani Toomer and they scored touchdowns both times they reached the Dallas 20. New York had only two touchdowns in 11 trips that deep this season.

“Hopefully, this will get the ball rolling for us,” said Collins, who completed 18 of 27 passes for 228 yards. He also had an interception that nearly led to a Cowboy field goal--a 45-yard attempt hit the right upright--and a fumble early in the fourth quarter that led to a five-yard touchdown pass from Quincy Carter to Antonio Bryant that put Dallas ahead, 17-14.