Giants Win Battle in Texas, 35-14; War Is Next

HOUSTON —  The New York Giants made inroads in Texas and turned their eyes to the north.

Joe Morris rushed for three touchdowns and Phil Simms threw two scoring passes Sunday to send the Giants into a first-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East with a 35-14 victory over the Oilers.

The Giants (9-5) play the Cowboys next week at Dallas for the NFC East title. The Cowboys (9-5) were routed, 50-24, by Cincinnati.

“I think we played a good game today and that’s all I’m concerned with,” Giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor said. “As far as Dallas goes, that will take care of itself next week.

“Hopefully, we’ll do what it takes to succeed.”

Morris, who has 1,054 yards this season, passed the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season with 129 yards in 25 carries and became the second Giant in history to pass 1,000 yards in a season. Ron Johnson bettered the 1,000-yard mark for the Giants in 1970 and 1972. The three touchdowns gave Morris 17 for the season.

Simms completed 13 of 24 passes for 234 yards.

Houston (5-9) lost for the fourth time in its last five games. Warren Moon, playing for the first time since Nov. 17, completed 26 of 47 passes for 330 yards for 2 touchdown but was sacked 3 times and intercepted twice.

“We went into the game thinking we could throw the ball,” said Houston Coach Hugh Campbell, whose team ran only 7 times for 22 yards. “Of course, had we not been behind, we wouldn’t have thrown so much.”

The Giants, who did all their scoring in the first half when Morris rushed for 97 yards in 18 carries, scored on their first two possessions on runs of 12 and 2 yards by Morris.

But Moon passed two yards to Jamie Williams for a touchdown and hit Tim Smith for a 27-yard score to tie it, 14-14.

But the Giants scored 21 more points before halftime to take a 35-14 lead. Simms connected with Bobby Johnson for 42 yards to the Houston 24 and, four plays later, Simms hit tight end Mark Bavaro with a 10-yard scoring pass.

Just over a minute later, Giant linebacker Andy Headen forced Moon to fumble. Taylor picked up the ball and returned it 25 yards to the Houston 11.

Morris went the distance in two plays on runs of nine and two yards to again put New York ahead by 14 with less than two minutes remaining before halftime.

And the Giants still weren’t through. Four plays after New York took over at its own 30 after a Houston punt, Simms tossed a 22-yard scoring strike to Johnson, who beat Allen down the left sideline.

In the scoreless second half, Houston twice drove to the New York three-yard-line in the third quarter, but was turned away each time when Moon threw incomplete on fourth down.