Burres, Giants clip neighborhood rival Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Aaron Ross started the game on the sideline, benched for a half by the New York Giants for violating team rules.

Allowed on the field in the second half, the rookie cornerback came up with two of the game's most important plays.

Ross returned the second of his 2 interceptions 43 yards for a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining to seal a 35-24 victory over the Jets on Sunday in the latest battle of New York.

"I think the reason I was drafted here was to make big plays, and I have to hold up my end of the bargain," the first-round pick out of Texas said.

Neither Ross nor coach Tom Coughlin would reveal the nature of the indiscretion, but the cornerback was in the game when it mattered most.

"It was just a mistake on my behalf, and something I have to learn from," Ross said. "It's between the coach and me. Rest assured, it'll never happen again."

With the Jets driving for a potential go-ahead score, Chad Pennington threw a pass to Jerricho Cotchery. Ross stepped in front of it and took off down the left sideline and into the end zone with the partisan Giants fans on their feet screaming.

The touchdown gave the Giants (3-2) an 11-point lead with 3:15 left and helped them beat the Jets (1-4) for the seventh time in 11 meetings.

"There's no magic formula," said a downtrodden Pennington, who threw 3 interceptions. "We just fell apart right there at the end."

Eli Manning recovered from a miserable opening half to finish 13 of 25 for 186 yards with touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress (5 catches, 124 yards) and Jeremy Shockey and 1 interception.

Burress has scored in every game and now has 24 catches for 410 yards and 7 TDs. He's on pace for a 77-catch, 1,312-yard, 22-TD season.