One play remained for a game that had been, for all practical purposes, over for an hour, and the Giants' co-owner, John Mara, made his way to the locker room. He shook the hand of the security guard at the door, then waited, where his father always did, just inside the L-shaped entrance.
The clock expired on a dominating 36-0 victory over the Washington Redskins, an effort that sent a message to the rest of the league that the Giants, now 5-2 and alone in first place in the National Football Conference East, must be considered a serious playoff contender.
The more immediate message, players and coaches said, was the one they sent in support of the family of Wellington T. Mara, the longtime Giants owner who died Tuesday at the age of 89.
PHOTO: AFP
The players arrived to the locker room wearing a "WTM" patch on the chest of their blue uniforms. One by one they stopped, shook the hand of John Mara and whispered kind words. Minutes later, Mara was brought to the middle of the room and presented with the game ball by quarterback Eli Manning.
The Giants' defense, statistically the league's second worst, had a regular-season shutout for the first time in nearly seven years. Tiki Barber rushed for a career-high 206 yards on 24 carries. The Giants could not have scripted the afternoon any better.
"That's exactly how he would have preferred it," Mara said of his father.
PHOTO: EPA
Before Sunday's NFL games, no team had a bigger differential between yards allowed and yards gained than the Redskins, who averaged 387.2 yards of offense and only 266.0 yards on defense.
The Giants turned that statistic inside out. They outgained the Redskins by 386-125, including by 261-34 in the first half.
"Usually if you win a game, two phases have played very well and, somewhere along the line, one of the phases is not able to," coach Tom Coughlin said. "On a day like today when all three played extremely well -- I don't want to say it's rare; I'd like to see it happen more often -- but it's difficult to do."
The best sign for the Giants was the emergence of its maligned defense against what had been one of the NFL's most balanced and prolific offenses. Quarterback Mark Brunell, harassed by the Giants' pass rush, completed 11 of 28 passes, although his receivers dropped at least a half-dozen of the throws. Brunell, sacked three times and intercepted once, was pulled from the game in favor of Patrick Ramsey with the game out of reach late in the third quarter.
Ramsey led Washington's only more-than-meager drive. On a fourth-and-goal play from the 5-yard line, the score already 36-0, tight end Robert Royal had his hands on a pass in the end zone. The ball fell to the ground as he was hit by Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce.
The crowd, announced at 78,630, roared its appreciation.
"He would have loved that goal-line stand to preserve the shutout," Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi said, referring to Wellington Mara.
A week earlier, the Redskins scored 52 points against the San Francisco 49ers, the only NFL team with a defense ranked lower than the Giants'. But the Giants held the Redskins to two first downs on seven first-half drives. Five of Washington's drives during the game netted negative yardage, and the Redskins held the ball for only 20 minutes, 39 seconds, 12 minutes fewer than their average.
Santana Moss arrived as the league's leader in receiving yards and yards per catch, but was held to four catches for 34 yards. The Redskins' fourth-ranked rushing attack was limited to 38 yards on 13 carries.
"It's just an attitude, man," said Pierce, who spent the previous four seasons with the Redskins and was unhappy with what he perceived to be the front office's tepid attempt to re-sign him. "It's a want-to and guys had a want-to today."
Washington's 125 offensive yards were the fewest for a Giants opponent since the 2000 NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Giants won that game 41-0 -- the last time they had a shut out.
Fittingly, a video tribute to Wellington Mara during halftime on Sunday featured several clips of him enjoying the conclusion of that championship game.
If the tone for the game wasn't set by the pre-game moment of silence for Mara and the national anthem performed by one of his 40 grandchildren, it certainly was established on the first play from scrimmage. Barber took a pitch from Manning and gained 57 yards up the left sideline, setting up a field goal. In the second quarter, Barber's 59-yard gain to Washington's 1-yard line led to a Brandon Jacobs touchdown.
The only smidge of frustration for the Giants was the offense's inability to get into the end zone more often.
Seven of the Giants' eight first half drives made their way at least to the Redskins' 32-yard line. Four of them worked their way inside the 20. But the Giants managed only four field goals and the touchdown by Jacobs on their way a 19-0 halftime lead.
Place-kicker Jay Feely provided half the team's scoring, with five field goals and three extra points.
With the result hardly in doubt all afternoon, the game felt much like a celebration of Mara. When Barber scored a touchdown late in the third quarter, he gave the ball to 22-year-old Tim McDonnell, one of the 36 Mara grandchildren in attendance.
"I just felt like there was no way we were going to lose today," said McDonnell, clutching the ball.
Inside the locker room, John Mara had been handed the official game ball. Several players said it felt like a passing of the torch, from Wellington, through his team and to his son.
Accorsi said John Mara's eulogy at his father's funeral Friday was the best he had ever heard.
"That was really, to me, the passing of the torch," Accorsi said. "This was the second part of it."
Outside, in the empty and darkening stadium, the flags flap-ped at half-staff, just as they had since Tuesday. They are scheduled to be raised on Monday.
PATRIOTS 21, BILLS 16
Battling running back Corey Dillon came on to score on two 1-yard runs and the New England Patriots came back to beat the Buffalo Bills 21-16 in the NFL on Sunday.
Despite lineback Tedy Bruschi's return 8 months after having a mild stroke, the Patriots' defense struggled. But the offense came alive in time to hold onto first place in the AFC East. The Patriots (4-3) avoided matching their loss total of the last two seasons, when they went 34-4 with two Super Bowl championships.
Trailing 16-14, New England got the ball at the 23-yard line of Buffalo (3-5) when Rosevelt Colvin stripped it from quarterback Kelly Holcomb and recovered with 6:14 left. Tom Brady hit Deion Branch for a 22-yard gain, then Dillon, who rushed for more than 100 yards just once this season, scored his second touchdown of the game.
Dillon, who entered the game in the second quarter, had been questionable on the injury report. But he scored on a 1-yard run with 7:06 left, cutting the lead to 16-14. He finished with 77 yards on 18 carries.
Bruschi was the sparkplug and on-field strategist in the Patriots' three titles over the last four seasons, but had a stroke 11 days after the latest championship. He had surgery to fix a hole in his heart in March.
Bears 19, Lions 13, OT
At Detroit, Jeff Garcia's ill-advised pass was picked off by Charles Tillman and returned 22 yards for a touchdown for Chicago to beat Detroit in overtime and move atop the NFC North division.
The 35-year-old quarterback, making his second start in place of Joey Harrington, rolled right and tried to throw back across the field to Mike Williams. Tillman stepped in front of the throw and raced untouched to the end zone, where he was mobbed by teammates.
It was a big win for Chicago (4-3) not only because the Bears broke a first-place tie with Detroit (3-4), but also because they secured a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions, whom they beat 38-6 in an earlier meeting.
The Lions caught a huge break in the fourth quarter. With Brian Urlacher draped on him, Garcia was flagged for intentional grounding when the Bears thought he threw a lateral that linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer picked up and returned for a score. The Bears challenged, but the play stood after review.
Chicago overcame the call and won its third straight, becoming the first NFL team with 650 victories.
Rookie quarterback Kyle Orton was 17-for-31 for a career-high 230 yards with a TD for the Bears. Garcia was 23-of-35 for 197 yards.
Chargers 28, Chiefs 20
At San Diego, Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes to Antonio Gates and finished with 324 yards passing to lift the Chargers (4-4). LaDainian Tomlinson, slowed again on the ground, threw his third TD pass of the season, a 17-yarder to Eric Parker.
Brees completed 25 of 43 passes, with TD throws of 19, 20 and 35 yards to Gates. Gates had 10 catches for 145 yards, both career highs, and the three TD catches tied his career best. Tomlinson gained 69 yards on 17 carries a week after being held to a career-low 7 yards in a loss at Philadelphia.
Trent Green, whose father, Jim, died late last week, was 31-of-43 for 347 yards for Kansas City (4-3) and was sacked four times. Priest Holmes was shaken up midway through the third quarter and didn't return.
Broncos 49, Eagles 21
At Denver, little-known receiver Todd Devoe caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer and Tatum Bell ran for 67- and 6-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help Denver hold off, then run away from Philadelphia.
Plummer, who finished with a season-high 309 yards, threw three of his four touchdown passes over the first 23 minutes to give Denver a 28-0 lead, but the Broncos (6-2) allowed Philly (4-3) within seven points and 24 yards of the tying score early in the fourth period.
Donovan McNabb was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Domonique Foxworth, and the Broncos cruised from there. McNabb was 12-for-34 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Terrell Owens finished with three catches for 154 yards and a 91-yard TD reception, the longest of his career.
Bell finished with 107 yards and Mike Anderson had 126.
Dolphins 21, Saints 6
At Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Gus Frerotte had a touchdown pass to Chris Chambers and Miami's defense recorded a safety, spoiling New Orleans' return to Louisiana.
Miami allowed two field goals and kept Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks off-balance throughout in snapping a three-game losing streak.
Ricky Williams also showed signs of a return to form for the first time in his NFL comeback, battering tacklers with 82 yards on 17 carries. Ronnie Brown rushed for 106 yards for the Dolphins (3-4).
The Saints (2-6), losers of four straight, did little to leave their fans hopeful about this season. Brooks was intercepted once, sacked six times and fumbled twice without being touched _ though he recovered both.
49ers 15, Buccaneers 10
At San Francisco, Joe Nedney kicked five field goals, including a 28-yarder with 1:56 to play on the first scoring drive ever led by former fourth-string quarterback Cody Pickett, to help the 49ers snap a five-game slide.
Pickett emerged as an improbable hero for the 49ers (2-5), performing admirably in the final 11 minutes while Ken Dorsey and Alex Smith were out with injuries. After Dorsey sprained his left ankle, Pickett marched the Niners 42 yards in 11 plays to Nedney's last field goal, and the defense shut down Tampa two more times to clinch it. San Francisco won with just 208 yards of offense.
Joey Galloway caught eight passes for 149 yards for the Buccaneers (5-2), who began the day with the NFC's best record. Chris Simms was 21-of-34 for 264 yards in his first start of the season, but his numbers didn't reflect an inconsistent, tentative performance that included two interceptions -- one bouncing off the head of umpire Darrell Jenkins -- and a key fumble.
Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13
At Irving, Texas, Dallas rookie Marion Barber ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in his first start and new kicker Shaun Suisham made two short field goals.
With the victory, the Cowboys (5-3) stayed on pace in the jammed NFC East. They also had a good performance going into their bye week, which comes before they have to play three games in 11 days.
Arizona (2-5) lost its 14th straight game at Texas Stadium since 1989. Josh McCown, still starting for Kurt Warner, completed 16 of 33 passes for 161 yards.
Raiders 34, Titans 25
At Nashville, Tennessee, Kerry Collins threw for three touchdowns, and Oakland got its third victory in four games.
The Raiders (3-4) produced six sacks, including 2{ by Warren Sapp, and two turnovers they converted into 10 points. They also won their first road game this season, and they did it with their first victory in Tennessee against a team that had won the first three in this series.
The Titans (2-6) again blew a game they had a chance to win with the league's youngest team making repeated mistakes. They had a punt return for a TD wiped out by a roughness penalty, dropped passes, a botched extra point, and a rookie who never looked for a ball thrown his way: A wide-open Bo Scaife was too busy running upfield and apparently forgot the ball might be thrown to him.
Rams 24, Jaguars 21
At St. Louis, Steven Jackson had 179 yards on 25 carries and scored the winning touchdown, Mike Furrey's 37-yard interception return led to the go-ahead score and the Rams (4-4) stuffed Jacksonville's attack for most of the second half.
Fred Taylor, who was questionable with a bruised right ankle, had 165 yards on 23 carries for the Jaguars (4-3). That included a 71-yard scoring run in the first quarter. But the Jaguars were hurt by missed field goals by Josh Scobee from 44 and 48 yards.
Bengals 21, Packers 14
At Cincinnati, Brett Favre threw five interceptions and came up short on a game-ending drive, preserving the Bengals' victory.
Green Bay (1-6) feel its never out of it as long as Favre is throwing. Favre drove them to the 28, where a fan ran out of the stands and plucked the ball from the quarterback's passing hand after a play.
Guards needed several minutes to run down the fan, giving both teams a much-needed breather. It finally ended with Favre throwing an underhand pass from behind the line of scrimmage, then falling on his back at the 13-yard line in exhaustion. He finished 26-of-39 for 279 yards.
He had never thrown five interceptions during a regular-season game; he had six in a playoff loss to St. Louis during the 2001 season. His off-day let the Bengals (6-2) take control. Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes, the last made it 21-7 early in the fourth quarter. Favre's fifth interception set it up.
Panthers 38, Vikings 13
At Charlotte, North Carolina, Stephen Davis ran for two touchdowns and Steve Smith terrorized Minnesota's defense for a franchise-record 201 yards and a score.
Jake Delhomme was on-target for the Panthers (5-2), passing for 341 yards and three touchdowns while stretching Carolina's winning streak to four games.
The Vikings (2-5) dropped to 0-4 on the road this season, continuing a five-year trend for futility: Minnesota is 9-32 away from the Metrodome since October 2000. They had no leadership after Daunte Culpepper left with a sprained right knee on the final play of the first quarter.
Texans 19, Browns 16
At Houston, the Texans are winless no more. Kris Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, with 2:45 remaining, to give Houston (1-6) the come-from-behind win. The winning kick was set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by rookie Jerome Mathis.
Brett Favre passed John Elway and moved into second place in NFL career passes and yards on Sunday.
Favre surpassed Elway's marks early in the fourth quarter of Green Bay's 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
He moved ahead of Elway with 51,595 yards and 7,264 attempts. Miami great Dan Marino holds the league records with 61,361 yards and 8,358 passes. Favre made his 212th consecutive start Sunday, adding to his NFL record for a quarterback.
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