So when the Saints went to their eight-man fronts - or even their base, 3-4 defense - the Giants had receivers Mark Jackson and Chris Calloway run short sideline routes.

Tampa Bay uses Johnson too much on shallow sideline routes instead of sending him on medium post patterns across the middle, where he can use his 6-foot-4-inch, 212-pound frame against smaller defenders.

With his speed and size, Mitchell has the ability to stretch defenses, clearing out the middle for underneath passes and the sideline routes for receivers.

Brees tried to hit Graham on a right sideline route 23 yards downfield, but safety Donte Whitner had him in close coverage and batted the ball away.

Kosar was able to place the ball precisely on sideline routes, difficult to defend, but also difficult to complete because even slight overthrows sail out of bounds.

On the first play of the Giants' second drive, Shockey split out wide and ran a deep sideline route.

On second-and-16 from the Jets' 42, Testaverde hit Chrebet on a sideline route, toes just in, for 16 yards.

He threw another touchdown to Amani on a deep sideline route.

The Saints' pass coverage was leaving the short sideline routes open, and Brown, the predator cloaked as a wide receiver, could barely contain his glee.

Early in the third quarter, in the shadow of their own goalpost, Jonathan Smith hit Chad Johnson on a short sideline route.