GIANT REPORT CARD

QUARTERBACKS: A

Kerry Collins (22-26, 307) outpitched Kurt Warner. Was cool and efficient each time the Giants needed to answer a Rams’ score and didn’t miss an open receiver all day.

RUNNING BACKS: D

Tiki Barber’s 12-yarder up the middle on opening drive was high point of up-and-down 80-yard day. Neither he nor Ron Dayne (11-18) got a tough yard when needed in the red zone.

WIDE RECEIVERS: A

Big catches and not a single drop from Amani Toomer (4-92) or Ike Hilliard (4-97).

TIGHT ENDS: A

Jeremy Shockey (4-50) had a drop but also blew past Rams defense for his first career touchdown.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B-

Only sacks were on a blitz and a Collins failure to unload, enabling QB plenty of time to be at his secured-pocket best. But there was no push in short-yardage red-zone situations.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A

Tip on interception touchdown return plus a sack from the re-energized Kenny Holmes. And there was excellent penetration to aid blitzing Micheal Barrow and Shaun Williams in fourth-and-a-foot stop on Marshall Faulk with 3:02 to go.

LINEBACKERS: B-

Let Marshall Faulk out of the grasp on one Ram touchdown. Vigorous pursuit helped hold Rams to only three scores, not bad, even if all were touchdowns.

SECONDARY: A-

The Wills (Peterson and Allen) found a way to hold Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt to only one catch of 25 plus yards. No blown tackles after catches, another key.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Matt Bryant was 4-for-4 on FGs and boomed his kickoffs. There were no major breakdowns on returns, but there was a dumb fair catch by Daryl Jones at the 6, and a dumber penalty by Ron Dixon on another fair catch.

COACHING: A-

Only criticism would be unimaginative play calling in red zone. Giants were wonderfully prepared and poised for huge victory.