Pierre-Paul has second straight two-sack game

That first sack eluded Jason Pierre-Paul for weeks, a fact that even his teammates could not ignore.

"For you being the 15th pick, we really haven't gotten an investment out of you," Justin Tuck jokingly told the rookie defensive end three weeks ago.

That dig was uttered in jest, but it seems to have lit a fire inside Pierre-Paul. He has emerged as a threatening pass-rusher, capable of pressuring quarterbacks with the same zeal as his mentors, Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

Pierre-Paul sacked Donovan McNabb twice in the Giants' 31-7 victory over the Redskins Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium, becoming the first rookie since Denver's Elvis Dumervil in 2006 to have consecutive two-sack games.

"He's responded," Tuck said of Pierre-Paul, who also recovered a fumble and had a pass defensed.

Pierre-Paul's detractors criticized the Giants for drafting him in the first round, given his lack of college football experience. But Pierre-Paul, who played only one season at South Florida, had a feeling the sacks would come in bunches as soon as he got his first.

"Two weeks ago, Coach was like, 'You've got to have a star game,' and I was like, 'All right. I'm going to try.' And last week, I came out and got two sacks ," Pierre-Paul said. "From there, I just said I'm going to continue balling."

Pierre-Paul sacked McNabb on the Redskins' first drive, resulting in an 11-yard loss and a punt on fourth-and-26 from the 22. The Giants scored on the ensuing possession for a 14-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, on third-and-2, Pierre-Paul tripped up McNabb for a 4-yard loss, forcing another punt. "He fell down, but I got him," he said with a smile. "I got him."

Said Giants coach Tom Coughlin: "He's coming along. You're seeing his athleticism . . . And you're seeing the natural ability start to come through."

The game has slowed down immensely for Pierre-Paul, who consistently reviews his playbook with coaches in the hours leading up to games. No longer is he confused or slowed by schemes.

"I think it's because of how well he's listened," said Tuck, who had a sack and two forced fumbles. "You can just tell he wants it."

Pierre-Paul said of the sacks: "I don't know if it's me, but if you get two or one, you've got to get more. I'm not trying to be greedy with it, but that's how everybody feels - Osi, Tuck. That's the game. And I'm just going to keep on going."

Now that Pierre-Paul is holding his own, Tuck and Umenyiora, who had one sack and a forced fumble, can take credit for the player he has become.

Joked Tuck, "I taught that guy everything I know."