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Barber leads Giants to victory over mistake-prone Saints

Posted on: Monday, 19 September 2005, 23:33 CDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tiki Barber rushed for 83 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lift the New York Giants to an easy 27-10 victory over the mistake-prone New Orleans Saints in National Football League play Monday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The game was technically a home game for the displaced Saints, who are unable to play at the Superdome this year due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

But the 68,031 fans were decidedly cheering for the hometown Giants, with only a few Saints banners scattered throughout the stadium.

After an impressive performance in an upset win over Carolina last week, the Saints looked distracted Monday night, committing six turnovers and taking 13 penalties for 92 yards. They also allowed four sacks.

The Saints started the game with a major mistake on the opening kickoff.

Michael Lewis handed off the return to Fred McAfee, who fumbled at the 10-yard line.

New York's Chase Blackburn recovered and just three plays later, rookie Brandon Jacobs scored on a one-yard run only 36 seconds into the first quarter.

The Giants later drove 76 yards on 11 plays and Barber hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to make it 14-0 for the Giants.

New Orleans did manage an 86-yard drive after that score, with Joe Horn catching a 21-yard TD pass from Aaron Brooks to bring the Saints to within seven points.

But Barber scored his second TD on a 12-yard scamper after a Carlos Emmons interception to make it 21-7, which was more than enough offence for the Giants for the rest of the night.

John Carney kicked a 21-yard field goal near the end of the first half, but that was it for New Orleans.

Jay Feely added a pair of field goals for New York in the second half, a 39-yarder after a Brooks fumble in the third quarter, and a 30-yarder in the fourth, to complete the scoring.

The Saints (1-1) had 422 total yards in offence to just 257 for the Giants (2-0), but they couldn't overcome their numerous mistakes and gained a lot of their yards after the game was out of reach.

Manning went 13-for-24 for 165 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress both had five receptions for 64 yards each.

Brooks was 27-for-45 for 375 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted three times and sacked four times.

Horn had nine catches for 143 yards and Donte Stallworth also caught nine passes for 141 yards, but Deuce McAllister was held to just 47 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Source: REUTERS

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