NFL

WINDY DAY THE RIGHT TYNES FOR NEW KICKER

The Giants changed kickers yesterday, with Lawrence Tynes handling the full load for the first time all season.

Tynes was the only kicker activated, with John Carney out of uniform even though he came into yesterday’s 30-10 victory over the Ravens leading the league with 90 points. The stiff wind (17 miles an hour at kickoff) played a role in that decision.

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“The one thing I was really concerned about going in was field position,” Tom Coughlin said. “Into the wind, Lawrence’s kickoffs were very strong and that is what I was counting on.”

Kicking into the wind in the first quarter, Tynes’ three kickoffs made it to the six, 14 and 2-yard lines. On the Giants’ second touchdown, Tynes never got to try the extra point, as Jay Alford’s snap bounced before it got to holder Jeff Feagles, who couldn’t get a handle on the ball as Tynes looked on without taking a swipe at the bouncing ball.

In the second quarter, Tynes’ kickoff took a sharp right turn and sailed out of bounds to give the Ravens the ball on their 40-yard line. On a windy day, the ball might have slipped off the tee just as Tynes hit it, but Coughlin wasn’t sure that was the case.

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The Giants are 6-0 at Giants Stadium, their longest winning streak at home since they won seven straight in 1990. . . . Before the Giants piled up 207 rushing yards, the Ravens hadn’t given up more than 200 rushing yards in a game since Oct. 5, 1997, when the Steelers ran for 214. . . . DT Fred Robbins blocked Matt Stover‘s 32-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter. . . . Coughlin is on a roll. He won another replay challenge, this one in the third quarter on a play that was ruled an interception by Ravens CB Samari Rolle. Replay showed the ball hit the ground and the call was reversed.

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TE Darcy Johnson got his first NFL catch when he broke free and hauled in a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter on a pass that sailed in the wind.

“I kept my eyes on it and caught the football,” Johnson said. “Eli [Manning] saw me, he trusted me and I went up and made a play, that’s what my job is.”

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Of the hobbled defensive backs, only CB Kevin Dockery was not activated. CB Corey Webster (groin) and SS James Butler (knee) were both able to start despite being limited all week in practice. . . . The Giants had only one sack – by Mathias Kiwanuka – after getting none last week in Philadelphia. “I am frustrated, two games, one sack, that ain’t us,” DE Justin Tuck said, “but we’ll turn it around.”