CHICAGO – Lomas Brown has played 16 years in the NFL, and this is the first time he can ever remember being 3-0 to start a season. “I have to search the records,” he said.
Brown and his offensive linemates are a big reason why the Giants are undefeated, a big reason why the Giants yesterday secured a difficult 14-7 victory over the Bears.
Brown and Co. paved the way for 172 rushing yards, and while Kerry Collins was sacked twice, the pass protection was generally excellent. The line also was not called for a single penalty, which is remarkable, considering Brown is one of three newcomers on the revamped line and Luke Petitigout has moved from guard to tackle.
“It’s a credit to what this coaching staff has done,” defensive tackle Keith Hamilton said. “I don’t know if it’s ever been done, four new guys on the offensive line, they’re doing a tremendous job running the football and keeping us fresh.”
The shining moment for the line was the third-quarter drive that traveled 43 yards, all on the ground, one punishing run after another, before Tiki Barber used a block from Glenn Parker to score a 3-yard touchdown for the winning points.
“We just tried to lay the blade down on ’em,” Brown said. “That’s a lineman’s dream, you pound it and pound it and pound it at ’em and eventually they’re going to give. We knew if we kept running the ball we could wear ’em down. It may not happen in the first or second quarter but eventually it’s going to happen.”
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RB Ron Dayne (19-69) once again did nothing fancy but kept the chains moving. His most eye-opening play came on a third-and-1 pitchout in the third quarter that he rumbled with for eight yards. A few yards before he was stopped, Dayne put his head down and plowed into S Mike Brown, knocking Brown forward. “It just felt good to start running the ball again,” Dayne said. “We got away from that a little bit in the first half. We had a great drive.” … Tiki Barber fumbled in the fourth quarter after a hit by CB Thomas Smith. “I was trying to be a tough guy and run the guy over and he made a good play,” Barber said
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Giants were aided in a big way when WR Eddie Kennison was called for a 15-yard personal foul on what looked like a retaliation move in fourth quarter. Kennison and CB Dave Thomas were tangled after the play when Thomas shoved Kennison, followed by Kennison head-butting Thomas. Kennison was caught, Thomas wasn’t. “That was beautiful,” Jim Fassel said of the penalty.
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Bears lost two key players in the first half. C Olin Kreutz and WR Bobby Engram both left with knee injuries, costing Chicago perhaps it’s toughest offensive lineman and best possession receiver … For the Giants, CB Ralph Brown went out in the third quarter after taking a knee to the abdomen. Brown suffered possible kidney damage and remained in a Chicago hospital overnight for observation … TE Pete Mitchell played for the first time this season following off-season knee surgery and contributed two catches for 17 yards.
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Bears first-round pick Brian Urlacher made first career start at MLB and had 13 tackles and a sack. … Giants RB Joe Montgomery was not active for the third time in as many games.
