PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK : At Half, Rams Felt Like Greatest

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Rams went into the locker room at halftime of Sunday’s NFC playoff game against the Giants knowing they were most fortunate to have a 7-6 lead.

The Giants had an edge in total yardage (198-132), time of possession (17:43-12:17), and first downs (11-8). Probably the most telling statistic of the Giants’ first-half domination was the rushing yardage. New York had ground out 115 yards.

“That’s what scared us to death,” Ram Coach John Robinson said.

So Robinson, hardly the Knute Rockne type, decided he had better come up with a little halftime speech to rally the troops.

“He told us we were like (Muhammad) Ali,” cornerback LeRoy Irvin said. “They had been pounding us all half and we were playing the rope-a-dope, taking all those punches.

“But Coach told us it was time for us to hit back in the second half. And we did.”

Robinson said he used the analogy because it was “the best visual picture” he could muster. Apparently, it worked.

“John’s got this aura,” Irvin said, shrugging. “Somehow, he makes us believe what he says.”

Robinson, who had been saying all week that the Giants are a team with “dignity,” said after the game that Coach Bill Parcells should not be depressed with the way the season ended.

“You play as hard as you can and then something happens in a second and you’re either not playing anymore or you are,” Robinson said. “I have great respect for the Giants.

“I think he got as much out of that team as any man possibly could. I think he’s clearly had a coach of the year-type season.”

Quarterback Jim Everett on his fourth-quarter throw into the end zone that was almost intercepted by Giant cornerback Perry Williams: “You’ve got to be willing to take risks in this game and not all of your throws are going to be perfect.

“You can’t take them back. It’s not a yo-yo, it’s a football.”

Receiver Henry Ellard, who had eight catches for 125 yards including several key grabs that kept drives alive, said he thinks he and Flipper Anderson have become a perfectly matched pair.

“Most of the year, especially the second half, things have really come together for Flip,” Ellard said. “He stepped in when I was hurt in New Orleans and did some great, great things (setting an NFL single-game receiving record with 336 yards).

“And now we’re definitely working well together. I guess I’m a possession kind of guy, but once in a while I’ll go deep on them to keep them back on their heels. Flipper’s the speed guy, so we leave most of the deep stuff to him, but we’ll mix it up. We don’t want to become too predictable.”

Giant running back Ottis Anderson blasted up the middle for 13 yards on New York’s second play from scrimmage and more than doubled the Giants’ rushing yardage of their Nov. 12 against the Rams.

In a 31-10 loss to the Rams, the Giants had only six yards on the ground.

By the end of the first quarter Sunday, Anderson had 60 yards in nine carries. He finished with 120 yards in 24 carries.

Many Giants did not speak with reporters afterwards. Rookie sensation Dave Meggett, voted to the all-pro team, said the defeat spoiled his season.

“We played a good game, a hard game,” said Meggett, who covered his head with a towel. “This loss dampens everything.”

Meggett refused to take refuge in referee-bashing. “I didn’t see whether it was pass interference, but you can’t blame one play,” he said of the penalty against the Giants in overtime. “It’s a 60-minute game.”

Or 61 minutes, six seconds.

If the Giants’ offensive line played a gem of a game, it may be because of the jewelry the linemen got from Ottis Anderson.

Anderson, who rushed for 1,023 yards this season, presented each lineman with what he called “a token of appreciation” after a team meeting Saturday. It was hardly a token: His present to each was a necklace with “diamonds and stuff.” Returning the compliment, they helped him gain a game-high 120 yards rushing. “They went out today and did a great job,” he said.

The Giants’ loss was especially difficult for Anderson, who is in the last year of his contract and is unsure whether he will return.

“It’s hardest on myself and (Phil) Simms because you don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to have,” he said. However, he does intend to be back in uniform next season. As reporters gathered around his locker, Anderson smiled. “You all want to hear my retirement statement?” the 32-year-old veteran said. “Well, I’m not retiring. I’m just trying to make room for myself somewhere next year in case I’m unprotected.”

Giant nose tackle Erik Howard refused to concede anything to the Rams. “We were playing good enough to win. To have it end on a play like that is frustrating,” he said. “I had a good feeling the whole game. We were doing the things we needed to do. Take away two plays (Stewart’s first-half interception and the pass interference call) and I think we win it.”

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this story.