Sunday, November 02, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

As with the Steelers, the New York Giants were trying to live on the short passing game behind a rebuilt offensive line. But they threw caution and the football to the wind last week and went deep to beat the Minnesota Vikings, 29-17.

"I just had had enough," Giants coach Jim Fassel said.

Kerry Collins passed for 375 yards, including seven pass plays of 20 yards or more. They had just 15 passes of 20 or more yards before that game. The Steelers have 10 completions of 25 yards or more.

"We have a lot of room for improvement, but it was definitely nice to get the ball downfield," Collins said. "You can worry about protection to a point, then you say, you know what, we still have to be able to throw the ball down the field."

Secondary is primary concern

In Atlanta, the Falcons are having so much trouble in the secondary that they decided to blow it up and start over.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips benched all four starters and will go with four new ones today when the Falcons play the Philadelphia Eagles after having last weekend off.

Three of the benched starters -- cornerbacks Ray Buchanan and Tyrone Williams and safety Keion Carpenter -- have 273 starts among them in the past 275 chances.

Buchanan said the secondary is being made a scapegoat.

"You hear, 'Keep this thing together, and let's not point fingers, let's keep it a tight knit,' " Buchanan said. "But here's our way of pointing fingers. The secondary, we're going to snatch all four of 'em and bench 'em."

Lions aren't road warriors

The Detroit Lions lost their 20th consecutive game on the road last week, threatening the NFL's all-time road losing streak of 23 set by Houston from 1981-84.

Detroit's streak began with a loss at Green Bay in the 2001 opener.

"It's one of the most frustrating experiences of my life," said linebacker Barrett Green.

Second chance

It has been nearly a year since Todd Peterson previously kicked in the NFL. The Steelers put him on injured reserve and signed Jeff Reed Nov. 19. Peterson made only 12 of 21 field goal tries in his only season with the Steelers after signing as a free agent. Reed went on to make 17 of 19 and has converted 11 of 13 this season.

The San Francisco 49ers signed Peterson last week. The Steelers play in San Francisco Nov. 17.

"Todd has had very successful years in the NFL," 49ers general manager Terry Donahue said. "Last year was not a good year, but he's had good years.

"All we want him to do is come in and just perform adequately. He doesn't have to come in and kick in the Pro Bowl."

Quick slants

Carolina (6-1) would be the top seed in the NFC if the playoffs began today, partly because the Panthers are 4-0 in the NFC South, where they were 1-5 last season. They were 0-6 in the NFC West in 2001.

The Vikings have used the same 11 starters on defense in all seven games.

Starting right guard Chris Villarial, who played at IUP, is a big part of the Bears' running game. Chicago averaged 135.2 yards rushing with him back in the past five games, and just 67.5 yards when he sat out with a knee injury.

The Vikings (6-10) finished six games behind the Packers (12-4) in the NFC North last season. If Minnesota beats Green Bay tonight, it will increase its lead to four games over the Packers at the midway point of the season. The largest margin of victory in the 35-year history of the old black-and blue-division, the NFC Central, was seven games.

Cowboys guard Larry Allen is not playing up to his past Pro Bowl standards. He allowed two of the Cowboys' four sacks in a loss at Tampa Bay last week and was benched in the third quarter.

David Akers has attempted only eight field goals for the Eagles this season, including two against the Jets last Sunday.

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