EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There’s nothing like a cold, windy day to bring out the best in the Giants defense, even when it’s banged up.

Despite playing without three injured defensive starters and losing another early, the Giants held Tampa Bay to 174 total yards and set up a score with a turnover deep in Buccaneers’ territory in a 17–3 victory yesterday that gave New York its fourth straight win.

Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress provided the offense as the Giants (5–2) took an early 14–0 lead. They combined on a 7-yard touchdown pass and a 25-yard wind-blown catch that led to a 1-yard touchdown run by powerhouse halfback Brandon Jacobs.

Jay Feely added a 31-yard field goal with 3:43 to play.

Matt Bryant, who had a game-winning 62-yard field goal last weekend against Philadelphia, kicked a 43-yarder for the Bucs (2–5), who saw their two-game winning streak ended.

Tampa Bay’s few other scoring chances were hurt by dropped passes by Joey Galloway on nice throws by Bruce Gradkowski, a late third-quarter fumble by receiver Michael Clayton on a fourth-down play, and a failure to get a first down on two cracks from the Giants 32 early in the fourth quarter while needing only a yard.

While it might be considered poor play by a Bucs’ offense that was 2-for-16 on third-down chances, the Giants defense stepped up in a game in which it was missing All-Pro defensive end Osi Umenyiora (hip), strongside linebacker LaVar Arrington (season-ending Achilles’ injury), and starting cornerback Sam Madison (hamstring)

Rookie Mathias Kiwanuka, veteran Carlos Emmons, and R.W. McQuarters replaced them, respectively. Rookie Gerris Wilkinson also had to play after weakside linebacker Brandon Short left with a quadriceps injury.

The group was outstanding on a blustery afternoon when the winds whipped across Giants Stadium, gusting from 24 mph to 41 mph. Kiwanuka got his first NFL sack and six tackles.

The conditions made the so-called “Barber Bowl,” the possible final matchup between twins Ronde Barber of the Bucs and Tiki Barber of the Giants, seem almost insignificant.

The twins had their moments, but they played a secondary role to the wind and the Giants defense, which held Tampa Bay without a first down on their first five offensive possessions.

The Bucs’ inability to move and Jeff Feagles’ punting gave New York great field position and Manning and company cashed in on their second possession.

Taking over at their own 47, the Giants went 53 yards in 8 plays. Thirteen-yard passes to Burress and backup tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, and 8-yarder to fullback Jim Finn got most of the yards. Burress finished the job with a left-handed, one-hand catch of a Manning pass over Ronde Barber.

Defensive tackle Fred Robbins set up the second touchdown, recovering a muffed pitchout by Cadillac Williams at the Bucs 28.

On first down, a pump fake by Manning allowed Burress to get behind the Bucs secondary and make a 25-yard catch on a pass that got caught up in the wind. On a calm day, it would have been an easy touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s score was set up by a mistake by Pro Bowl special teams player David Tyree of the Giants. He was called for a neutral zone infraction on a fourth-and-5 punt attempt, giving the Buccaneers a first down at the New York 49.