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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHICAGO (AP) -- Kerry Collins had his pick of open receivers. Ron
Dayne softened up the middle with punishing runs and Tiki Barber
reached the outside with his quickness and moves.
|  | | Giants running back Tiki Barber did not maintain his 10-yard per carry average on Sunday, but he had 86 yards and a TD on 17 carries in a win over the Bears. |
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 Sunday over the frustrated and
winless Chicago Bears.
"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 a lone 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," said New York
coach Jim Fassel, whose team might have finally convinced the
skeptics.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This was a big road test for the Giants. The Bears -- 0-2 going in and having lost two division road games -- were in desperate need of a victory.
The Bears played tough and physical, but couldn't come up with enough answers for the Giants offense. The Giants have been one of the league's most impressive teams early in the season.
This week, the Giants put up over 400 yards of offense, including 225 in the air by Kerry Collins and another 150-plus from the running back tandem of Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne.
Barber also contributed six receptions and has emerged as a quality NFL performer this year.
The Bears had difficulty again with their running game. James Allen was their leading rusher with only 31 yards. Quarterback Cade McNown had some decent stats (23-for-36, 202 yards) but felt a lot of pressure from the Giants defense (four sacks).
This is a big win for the Giants, while the Bears have a tough hole to dig out of.
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"The reasons we were underdogs even though we were 2-0 was that
people thought we were doing to let down. But there was a sense of
confidence the entire game."
Barber's 3-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 8-yard carry around end to set up the TD.
"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 2-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 down just 14-7, McNown ran for a fourth-quarter
first down near midfield, but Kennison was called for headbutting
Dave Thomas after the play was over, a costly 15-yard penalty in a
game of few infractions. Thomas had initially shoved Kennison.
"It's always the second man who gets caught," Thomas said.
"If he had just pushed me that would have been one thing.
Basically he took the team out of position. It was like a sack. It
really hurt them."
Still trailing by just a touchdown, Chicago got the ball back
but McNown lost control of the snap, stumbled, was hit, fumbled and
Strahan recovered at the Bears' 15 with 2:48 to go.
"Just a missed exchange," McNown said.
Mike Brown gave Chicago one last chance when he blocked Brad
Daluiso's 31-yard field-goal attempt with 1:08 to go. Daluiso had
missed earlier from 34 yards and also had a 41-yarder blocked.
But after completing an 8-yarder on first down, McNown threw an
incompletion, a short pass for no gain and then missed Alonzo Mayes
on a fourth-and-2.
Collins finished 24-of-33 for 249 yards. Barber gained 86 yards
on 17 carries while catching six passes, and Dayne carried 19 times
for 69 yards. McNown was 23-of-36 for 202.
McNown hit passes for 12 and 9 yards to Bobby Engram, a
14-yarder to Robinson and then a 2-yard scoring toss to Kennison
with 14 seconds left to produce a 7-7 halftime tie.
New York moved quickly after taking the opening kickoff as
Collins hit four passes for 59 yards, including a 34-yarder to Ron
Dixon for the touchdown, capping an eight-play, 80-yard drive.
The Bears brought out the boos when they decided not to go on a
fourth-and-1 from the Giants' 31 in the first half, only to have
Paul Edinger badly miss a 49-yard attempt.
Game notes
Giants DB Ralph Brown has a bruised kidney and will remain
in Chicago for observation. ... The Bears had a long list of
injuries after the game. WR Bobby Engram and C Olin Kreutz had
sprained knees , DE Phillip Daniels a quad contusion and DB Frankie
Smith a hamstring strain. ... Bears' top draft pick Brian Urlahcer
made his first NFL start and had 13 tackles.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
NY Giants Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
Week 3 wrap-ups
Week 3 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 3
Week 3 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
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