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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- After a week of internal strife, Jim Fassel handed the play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Sean Payton and the New York Giants bullied their neighborhood rivals. Kerry Collins became the first Giants quarterback in six years to throw for more that 300 yards and hit Amani Toomer with three touchdown passes and rookie Joe Montgomery produced 111 yards on 38 carries in his first NFL start as the Giants rolled to a 41-28 victory over the New York Jets. The victory was especially sweet for Fassel, who had to engage in damage control after star defensive end Michael Strahan ripped into the team's offense for its lack of production. Fassel responded to the criticism by giving the play-calling duties to Payton, who was hired as quarterbacks coach last February. "I am very proud of our offensive staff," Fassel said. "I told Sean, 'You're going to call this game and I'm going to be an advisor.' He did an outstanding job. The execution was very good today." Today, Payton benefited from a strong running game and effectively utilized fleet receivers Toomer and Hilliard. With Montgomery forcing the Jets to play the run, Collins completed 17-of-29 passes for a career high 341 yards, including TD throws of 61, nine and 80 yards to Toomer. The last Giants quarterback to throw for over 300 yards was Phil Simms on November 28, 1993 against Arizona, a span of 98 games. Toomer finished with six catches for 181 yards, both career highs. Hilliard had six receptions for 121 yards. "Our players responded," Payton said. "As a staff we wanted to challenge everyone, the offensive line, the running backs, and the receivers, and they all responded. Everything went smoothly, everyone contributed." "Today we just put it all together," Collins said. "You can run down the list. Joe Montgomery, Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard, Pete Mitchell, they all made plays. I got to give it to the guys up front, they played a very physical game." The Giants (6-6) snapped a three-game losing streak and moved with a game of first-place Washington in the NFC East. The Jets slipped to 4-8. The Giants lead the all-time series against their neighborhood rivals, 5-4. Since the Jets moved into Giants Stadium in 1984, the Giants hold a 4-2 advantage in the series. The Giants totaled 490 yards in offense -- more than double their average of 209 -- against a defense which had been allowing less that 17 points a game. Afterwards, Jets coach Bill Parcells, who coached the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, was "ashamed" by his club's performance. "I take responsibility for the lack of preparation and the lack of effort on the part of our team," Parcells said. "They didn't play well and I really don't know the reason why. We were certainly outplayed, outprepared, outcoached and out-everything, and I am ashamed. It's the first time in three years that I have ever been ashamed." Along with the offensive fireworks the Giants' defense, stuffed 1,000-yard rusher Curtis Martin, holding him to just four yards on six carries. As a team, the Jets rushed for 15 yards on 12 carries. "I am very embarrassed about it," Martin said. "Bill prepared us, we didn't go out there and play. They didn't do anything that we weren't prepared for. They just played at a higher speed today." Ray Lucas passed for a career-high four touchdowns, but three came in the fourth quarter after the Jets had fallen into a 27-point hole. He finished 31-of-48 for 284 yards, all career highs. Keyshawn Johnson had 10 catches for 98 yards and Wayne Chrebet caught seven passes for 84 yards including a pair of touchdowns. The Giants scored 17 points on their first three possessions while the defense held the Jets without a first down and 17 yards in the first quarter. Montgomery, scored on a four-yard run and Collins connected with Toomer on a 61-yard touchdown in a span of 2:55 to stake the Giants to a 17-0 lead. After a trio of three-and-out possessions, the Jets put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a 13-yard TD pass from Lucas to Johnson. The Giants responded with a nine-play, 71-yard march which Collins capped with a one-yard scoring run. Cary Blanchard kicked his second field goal, a 31-yarder, with 10 seconds left to give the Giants a 27-7 halftime lead. The Giants continued their domination in the third quarter. After forcing the Jets to punt to open the second half, the Giants followed with a 16-play, 67-yard drive which consumed nearly 7 1/2 minutes. Toomer capped it with a leaping nine-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone to increase the lead to 34-7. Lucas threw 10-yard scoring passes to tight end Eric Green and Wayne Chrebet in the fourth quarter to pull the Jets within 34-21. However, the Collins-Toomer duo struck again, this time for a 80-yard bomb down the right sideline with 3:46 left to seal the win. "Collins throws a great ball and gives us a chance to go out there and make a play," Toomer said. "We were just having a party out there, all of us. It didn't really matter what coverage they were in. We just executed the way we were supposed to." Afterwards, Fassel credited Montgomery's performance as the key to the offensive game plan. "When you can run the football, everything loosens up," Fassel said. "I've always said its easier to pass out of choice rather that necessity and Joe gave us that balance today. He made it easier for Kerry and the whole passing game." The Giants put a heavy work load on Montgomery, despite the fact that he missed all but one game with a hamstring injury and a broken foot. He proved he was more than capable with 20 carries in the first half and 18 more in the second half. "Not bad for a guy making his first start," Montgomery said. "It has been a frustrating year with the injuries but there is still time left this season."
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