Antonio Pierce racked up a team-leading 11 tackles and a sack to help the Giants to a 42-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in yesterday?s NFL season-opening game.

The Bermudian, watched by proud father Cleo Burrows who was among the 80,000-plus crowd, did much to enhance his reputation in his first start for the New York organisation he joined as a free agent this summer from Washington.

Once the emotional unfurling of the Stars and Stripes by firefighters, soldiers and 9/11 victims? relatives was over, the $33 million linebacker entered the enormous bowl-like arena to take his place at the heart of a defence desperate to help their team improve from last year?s 6-10 record.

His first tackle came after three minutes, putting an end to the opening Cardinals drive by pulling down J.J.Arrington and setting up things for the Giants, who were then to score on their first possession with Eli Manning tossing a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Employing his trademark sideline-to-sideline mobility, Pierce played a pivotal role in keeping Arizona from even making it out of their own half for the first 13-and-a-half minutes of the game.

Arizona then moved into a 10-7 lead through a field goal and then an interception by Karlos Dansby.

With four minutes left in the half, Pierce shared a 10-yard sack with Giants legend Michael Strahan to help limit former New York quarterback Kurt Warner?s side to just a 42-yard field goal to end the half 13-7 down.

And in the second half Pierce, who had already managed nine tackles (five solo) continued the good work with a further two solo tackles while the offence did their bit, scoring three third quarter touchdowns for a 28-19 lead.

A 52-yard punt return by former Redskin team-mate Chad Morton rounded off the rout, giving the mightily impressive Giants a 42-19 win and a perfect start to the season.

Full post-match report, see tomorrow?s Royal Gazette.