By Fred Goodall
Associated Press
Sunday, September 12, 1999; 8:16 p.m. EDT

TAMPA, Fla. – The New York Giants proved once again that defense is their offense.

Christian Peter scored on a 38-yard fumble return and rookie Andre Weathers ran back one of New York's four interceptions for a touchdown as the Giants beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-13 in the season-opener Sunday.

New York won its fifth straight game with Kent Graham at quarterback, but its offense had virtually no success against a Bucs defense that did everything it could.

Peter scored on the Bucs' third offensive play when Jesse Armstead sacked Trent Dilfer and forced a fumble that bounced right into the hands of the 300-pound defensive tackle.

Weathers erased a 10-7 Giants deficit with his 8-yard interception return late in the third quarter. Safety Percy Ellsworth picked off two Dilfer passes in the fourth quarter before the Tampa Bay quarterback was benched.

Ellsworth's first interception set up Brad Daluiso's 36-yard field goal that made it 17-13 with 12:10 remaining. Eric Zeier replaced Dilfer with nine minutes to go but couldn't move the Bucs.

The backup quarterback's last pass, on fourth down with about a minute left, was intercepted by Phillippi Sparks. Two plays before, an apparent completion to Karl Williams across midfield was reversed after officials reviewed a video tape under the new instant replay rule.

Graham, who won New York's starting quarterback job by leading the Giants to a 5-1 record in the final six weeks of last season, completed 12 of 23 passes for 91 yards. New York managed just 107 yards total offense.

Dilfer, under pressure to increase his production after failing to lead Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 1998, was 15-of-31 for 174 yards and one touchdown – a 1-yard throw to Dave Moore that gave the Bucs a 10-7 halftime lead.

Although much was made about the improvement of the Bucs and Giants passing attacks during the preseason, Sunday figured to be a defensive struggle decided by which team was able to establish the run.

Tampa Bay held the Giants to 135 yards in a 20-3 victory in 1998 and set the tone for another frustrating day for the New York offense by allowing just 11 yards in the opening quarter.

The Giants didn't make a first down until Graham completed a 10-yard pass to Amani Toomer with five minutes left in the second quarter. They managed another first down on the drive, but finished the half with 53 yards, just 15 of that on the ground.

New York did a good job of containing Tampa Bay's running tandem of Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott, but the Bucs threw the ball well enough in crucial situations to lead at the half.

Dilfer set up his TD pass to Moore with a 39-yard completion to Bert Emanuel, who caught the ball and fell to the New York 1.

One of New York's most effective weapons all day was punter Brad Maynard, who set up the Giants second touchdown by backing the Bucs up with a kick that rolled out of bounds at the Tampa Bay 1.

Three plays later, Dilfer dropped back into the end zone and threw the ball directly in the hands of Weathers, who had stepped in front of receiver Jacquez Green. Nobody touched the cornerback as he scored.

Dilfer was booed as he left the field. He temporarily regained the support of the crowd with a couple of completions to set up a field goal on Tampa Bay's next possession, but his struggles were far from over.

Ellsworth intercepted a pass intended for Moore to set up Daluiso's field goal. The safety's second interception in three minutes ended Dilfer afternoon.