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 Kerry Collins gives the Ravens credit for taking him out of his game plan.
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| | Monday, January 29
Collins can't finish storybook season
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. -- In a season when Kerry Collins came so far
with his troubled life and career, there was no great final chapter
in the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
The Giants quarterback had his worst game of the season against
the best defense in the NFL.
Collins threw a season-high four interceptions, including one
that Duane Starks returned 49 yards for a touchdown in the third
quarter, as the Ravens beat the Giants 34-7.
Collins completed 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards. He was sacked
four times, and his longest pass was for only 19 yards.
The performance was a far cry from his near-perfect effort two
weeks before when he went 28-for-39 for 381 yards and five
touchdowns in a 41-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC
championship game.
Collins, who overcame an alcohol problem and the perception that
he was a quitter in reviving his career with the Giants this
season, was confident and totally in command that day. He stood in
the pocket and rifled one pass after another.
But that was the Vikings, the league's 28th-ranked defense.
Their line never got close to Collins. Their cornerbacks played 10
yards off the Giants receivers.
The Ravens never let Collins breathe, forcing the Giants offense
to the sidelines without a first down on five of their first six
series.
Baltimore's front seven pressured Collins from the first snap.
On several passes over the middle, linebacker Ray Lewis had a hand
up tipping the ball. Two almost were intercepted on the opening
drive.
And when Collins challenged the secondary, Starks, Chris
McAlister, Kim Herring and Rod Woodson were there to make plays.
In the end, Collins ended up losing his poise and that cost the
Giants the game.
Two series seemed to sum up Collins' game.
Trailing 10-0 late in the second quarter, Collins drove the
Giants from their own 28 to the Ravens 29, hitting Ron Dixon for 16
yards and having Tiki Barber run 27.
On first-and-10, Collins tried to force a deep post pattern into
double coverage, and McAlister easily picked it off, killing the
Giants' best scoring opportunity of the half.
Starks' interception return came on a quick slant to Amani
Toomer. Starks reacted like he knew the play call, and he ran
untouched into the end zone for a 17-0 lead.
After the teams exchanged kickoff returns for touchdowns on the
next two plays, Collins finished the game scrambling against a
Ravens defense that kept coming after him. The 28-year-old Collins
even fumbled in the end zone in the fourth quarter, but a teammate
recovered inside the 5-yard line to avoid further embarrassment.
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