European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Giants Stop oilers. Frap oilers Warren Moon is sacked by giants Leonard Marshall left and Corey Miller. Hampton Simms set new highs by Tom Canavan East Rutherford . A the Road to the super bowl for Warren Moon and the Houston oilers May have gotten tougher because the new York giants finally played like nil champions on a Day the oilers did no to. Rodney Hampton scored a touchdown and capped his first 1,000-Yard Rushing season with a career High 140-Yard performance and Phil Simms threw a touchdown pass in a record accuracy performance As the giants upended the oilers 24-20 saturday. The loss prevented the oilers 11-5 from clinching a first round Bye in the playoffs and earning a franchise record 12th Victory. Houston still could get the first round Bye a if san Diego beats Denver sunday. If not the oilers go Back to work next week something they did no to do Well against the giants 8-8a team that has floundered in its first season under Ray Handley. A this hurls no doubt about it a oilers guard Mike Munchak said. A a we re in the playoffs hut we re not Happy today. Wed like to have clinched the Bye. We be accomplished a lot this year. We won the division acc Central. If we have to play one More game to get to the super bowl Well have to play an extra game a for the giants there wont be any More games this season. But in breaking a three game losing Streak in the regular season finale they played their Best game of the season. They shut Down Moon most of the Way with a two Man defensive front and a Ball control offence 37 55 that was reminiscent of last season s super bowl win Over Buffalo. A we just did no to make the plays wed been making a oilers defensive end William Fuller said. A a done task my Why. I done to know what happened. We missed tackles backs were breaking for five Yards a pop a lot of things. You have to give those Guys credit. They played like super bowl new York had scoring drives of 80, 65, 59 and 62 Yards while rolling up 383 Yards in total offence. The giants turned the Ball Over Only once and had Only four penalties for 30 Yards. Turnovers and penalties Hurt them All season. A i done to think there was that much of a disparity in our play from last year a giants Center Bart Oates said. A it was just a play Here and a play there. We make those plays and Svca re in Houston a position in the playoffs a inside sports Aba Box scores standings a Page 21 College football showdowns a Page 23 lbs airs Auburn tapes Page 27 Barkley arrested after fight a Page 27 Simms and Hampton were the leaders on offence. Simms hit a team record 15 of 17 passes 88.3 percent for 200 Yards and a 12-Yard touchdown to Howard Cross. The previous giants record for accuracy in a regular season game was Jeff Hostetler a 28-for-34 82 percent this season against Dallas. Hampton a second year pro carried 28 times and scored on a 2-Yard run. He finished the season with 1,059 Yards. A a it a Tough a Hampton said �?o1 feel Good about the 1,000 Yards but not about the season. Next year we re going to come out and be a better new York built a 17-6 halftime Lead on Hampton s score on the first series Simms to pass to Cross and Matt Bahrs career Long 54-Yard Field goal late in the second Quarter. A 4-Yard touchdown run by Lewis till East Rutherford . Up new York giants coach Ray Handley has made his first major decision for 1992, settling on Jeff Hostetler As his starting quarterback. Quarterback was a Touchy subject for Handley this season. After a training Camp Battle Handley selected Hostetler As his starter Over Phil Simms and stuck with his Choice until Hostetler suffered a serious Back injury against Tampa Bay in the 12th game. His selection of Hostetler Man stretched the advantage to 24-6 before Houston made it close in the final period on a 6-Yard run by Moon with 6 06 to play and a 5-Yard to pass from Moon to Ernest Givens with 1 28 left. Oilers wide receiver Haywood Jeffires caught his fourth and final pass of the game on the last to drive and became the fifth player in nil history to catch 100 passes in a season. He finished with 100 receptions for 1,181 Yards. A i would have preferred that we won a Jeffires said. A but its an Honor to be in a great group of receivers. Its a great a we did not play Well enough a said Moon who was 22 of 36 for 236 Yards. A they seemed to have More incentive than we a1 Delgreco kicked Field goals 34 and 37 Yards for Houston. Left Handley open to second guessing throughout his first year As head coach. Minutes after the giants finished a disappointing 8-8 season with a 24-20 Victory Over Houston saturday Handley said he already knew his starting quarterback entering training Camp next summer. Handley would not disclose his Choice but Hostetler said he has been told he is the starter next year. Simms who sparkled against the oilers said he has been told nothing. Hostetler said Handley told the stars and stripes Orts december 23,1991 c Page 28 packers win fire Infante Green Bay Wise. A the Green Bay packers came out of a team meeting sunday saying coach Lindy Infante had been fired. A Infante told us he appreciated our efforts and wished us the very Best a offensive lineman Bill Ard said after the locker room meeting. A we think he a Laid a great foundation Here for the future but the Bottom line is win loss. There a no Grey area. You re either right or new packers general manager Ron Wolf confirmed the dismissal during a news conference later sunday. A i have been involved in pro football for 29 years and this has been the most difficult decision in be Ever been called upon to make a said Wolf who also fired All the packers assistant ultimate Job is to win and that has not been accomplished Wolf added he would discuss the head coaching Job with former new York giants coach Bill Pat cells whose name has been mentioned Ever since Wolf took Over As the packers pm several weeks ago. Infante had a 24-40 record in four years at Green Bay. He had three years left on his contract and was named nil coach of the year in 1989 when he led the packers to a 10-6 finish with an nil re Cord four one Point wins. It was the packers Best finish since 1972. Infante a first team in 1988 was 4-12. The packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-7 at Minneapolis saturday and finished the season 4-12. It was Infante a third losing season. A Lindy was disappointed. We Felt like we were close to being a Good team a offensive lineman Don Davey said. A i said All along i had great respect for him As a coach and i wish head be Vince Workman scored twice saturday for Green Bay in what was also the the final game for retiring coach Jerry Burns whose Vikings finished 8-8. Only Rich Gannony a 9-Yard pass to Terry Allen with 1 22 to go averted the shutout. Bums had Only two other 20-Point losses at Home a 34-14 to Detroit this season and 34-14 to Green Bay in 1988. Him he will Start and they have already discussed changes in the offence. That Means Simms might have played his last game for the giants in the nil jets 23, dolphins 20, of cowboys 31, Falcons 27 sons 17, Bills 14,01 Bucca Noora 17, Colts 3 Stool ors 17, brooms 10 bengals 29, patriots 7 Hostetler remains giants no. 1
