Giants Know Bowl Will Be Different

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) â€” The New York Giants already realize the Super Bowl is going to be different from the NFC championship. <br><br>Less than a day after their 41-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings,

Tuesday, January 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) â€” The New York Giants already realize the Super Bowl is going to be different from the NFC championship.

Less than a day after their 41-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants seemed poised to put their pass-happy offense on hiatus and go back to a risk-free, conservative offense for the Baltimore Ravens.

No sense risking mistakes against the best defense in recent NFL history.

``Heck, a field goal can win it,'' defensive end Michael Strahan said Monday. ``This is that type of game. Baltimore is that type of defense. Heck, they score a touchdown and it's tough. Yesterday, you saw after Shannon Sharpe caught the touchdown, the game was over. That defense is unbelievable.''

The Ravens allowed 165 points, a record low for a 16-game regular season, and 16 in three postseason games.

``It's certainly not going to be the kind of game we had yesterday,'' said quarterback Kerry Collins, who completed 28 of 39 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns against the Vikings. ``They will be the best defense we've faced all year.''

From what he has seen of the Ravens, Giants coach Jim Fassel doesn't think Baltimore's defense has a weakness.

``Every game will take on a different philosophy for us for how we are going to end up with a win,'' Fassel said. ``We always know which side of the ball is up against the tough act.

``That defense is a dominant defense. You are going to see two outstanding defenses.''

Fassel said the Giants would look at as many tapes of the Ravens as possible, but he noted that much of what they will do will depend on where they match up well against Baltimore.

What was successful for the New York Jets against the Ravens might not be successful for the Giants.

What the Giants can hope for is that Collins has another great game.

``It was one of those days where everything went right,'' said Collins, whose performance broke almost every Giants postseason passing record.

It was such a good game, Collins said only made two bad throws.

One was a third-down pass that was intercepted deep in Vikings' territory.

``It was my best punt of the season,'' Collins quipped.

The other came on a pass to Joe Jurevicius. A Vikings defender was called for two penalties on the play, including pass interference.

While the play gave the Giants a first down deep in Minnesota territory, Collins said he failed to see Ike Hilliard wide open.

Collins got philosophical when asked why he had his best day in his biggest game.

``It was real bad for me at times,'' said Collins, who has fought alcohol abuse and other off-the-field problems in recent years. ``I think things come full circle. Through all the days, I kept thinking because it got so bad, it's going to be that good someday. So yesterday maybe was that day.''

The Giants are hoping that Collins will have another one of those days against the best defense in football on Jan. 28 in Tampa, Fla.