GIANT NOTES
All good things must come to an end, even the remarkable streak that Kerry Collins carried into yesterday’s game.
As a tribute to durability and all the close games played by the Giants, Collins had thrown 1,852 consecutive passes for the Giants. He became the first player in NFL history to throw every pass for his team in two consecutive seasons. The last time anyone other than Collins took a regular-season snap for the Giants was Nov. 21, 1999, when Collins came in to replace Kent Graham in a 23-13 loss at Washington.
The streak is finished. Collins was 13 of 27 for 190 yards, helping the Giants to a 30-0 lead when he was replaced early in the fourth quarter by Jesse Palmer. Moments later, Palmer completed a 10-yard pass to Charles Stackhouse, the first NFL completion for Palmer. That ended Collins’ streak. The Giants went on to win 37-7.
“I told [Collins] I can’t protect that [streak] any more,” Jim Fassel said.
“It was different,” added Collins. “I asked our strength coach ‘What do you guys do over here?’ It was good for Jesse to get in there and get some reps.”
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RB Ron Dayne had two rushing TDs for the first time in his three-year career. Dayne rushed for a season-high 81 yards . . . The Giants piled on 21 points in the first quarter. How rare is that? The last time they did so much in the first quarter of a game was Dec. 20, 1986, when a guy named Bill Parcells patrolled the sideline and the Giants mauled the Packers 55-24 . . . Tiki Barber set a career high with his ninth rushing TD.
RG Jason Whittle started despite spending the early morning hours in the hospital with a stomach virus. Fassel gave him the game ball. “My feet and calfs were cramping because I was so dehydrated,” Whittle said. “They gave me a ton of IVs and some good drugs and I was able to go out there.”
Punter Matt Allen had another uneven performance, wobbling one kick 14 yards out of bounds . . . With the victory, the Giants swept the Cowboys and Redskins in the same season for the first time since 1990 . . . RB Delvin Joyce continues to turn heads with his punt returns. He had a 37-yard return late in the third quarter.
