But the 34-28 success only hid, for a while, the problem that general manager Jerry Reese is going to have once the season ends. Both Jacobs and Ward are going to be free agents at the end of the season and both will expect large contracts.

It will be difficult to keep both, less the budget-by-position that all teams attempt to maintain gets thrown all out of kilter, but after what the pair did Sunday night it would perhaps be foolish not to try, and try hard.

Ward had a career game with 215 yards in 15 carries. Jacobs, coming back from a knee injury that kept him out of last week's game vs. Dallas and out for most of the previous week's game vs. Philadelphia, added 87 yards in 24 crushing carries. He scored three short-plunge touchdowns, including the in overtime.

"Those two were amazing," said head coach Tom Coughlin. "We got back to Giants' football, which is running the ball and playing good defense, and after the two losses (to Philadelphia and Dallas) we played well enough to force ourselves back into good football."

Ward was exceptional in the overtime period, gaining 89 yards in just four carries, and Jacobs understood the value of his contribution.

"The ball after I scored the winning touchdown I gave to Derrick because he deserved it," Jacobs said. "He ran hard and he had a lot of big runs. He really deserved this game."

For his part, the 5-10, 230-pound Ward understands his role on the team. "I'm not the same build as the big guy (Jacobs)," he said. "But I do bring 230 pounds and I can pack a punch."

Nevertheless, it's Jacobs (6-4, 265) who appears to be the guts of the team. He brings fire and leadership and is more than "just" a running back.

Most of the players agree, but none of them wants to lose Ward, either. For Reese, it's going to be an agonizing off-season.