Little-used rookie wide receiver David Boston starred in the Arizona Cardinals' 14-3 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.

"He did a great job," Rob Moore said after Boston caught eight balls for 101 yards and a touchdown. "For a lot of young receivers it takes one breakout game to gain your confidence and really believe that you can play in this league, and he had that today."

Boston had seven catches in the first half and was on his way to a career game when Jake Plummer was injured in the third quarter. His production tailed off with Dave Brown at the controls.

Boston caught a 3-yard pass on Arizona's next possession, setting up a field-goal try by Chris Jacke that was blocked. After that, Brown went Boston's way only one more time and missed him.

But it was enough to give Plummer, who had a thumb sprain and now has a hip pointer, a glimpse of what the offense will be like when everyone is healthy. Boston is rehabilitating a bruised left shoulder, and Moore has started two of six games because of hamstring pulls.

"He showed what he's got," Plummer said. "As soon as Rob gets healthy, and even with Andy McCullough and Mac (Cody), we've got a pretty good squad of receivers. But I was pleased to see David step up and for us to get him involved."

"I think he's getting more confidence in me each week as he sees me go hard in practice," Boston said about Plummer. "And our timing is getting a little better."

General manager Bob Ferguson thought Boston, who left Ohio State for the NFL after his junior season, justified his No. 8 selection in the April draft.

"It's difficult for a guy who just came of age to drink legally to understand things," Ferguson said. "You know, he's 21 years old; he's a young kid, so it was time. Our whole team is young, and we suffered from it, and we still are, but the more they play the better they get."

Boston went into the game with seven catches, none for more than eight yards.

His third reception of this one was a 37-yard, off-balance grab in front of Jason Sehorn, who shoved Boston as the ball came down. The ball was spotted on the 1-yard line, and Plummer scored on a sneak two plays later.

The first TD of Boston's career came on Arizona's last play of the first half.

It also was spectacular. Giants cornerback Phillippi Sparks, a six-year starter, had inside position, but Boston outjumped him, caught the ball one-handed and cradled it as he touched and fell out of bounds.

"That was a good catch he made on me in the end zone," Sparks said. "I swear I had the ball. I didn't see where he was -- I just read the ball, and I went to jump. I was asking Jason about it, and he said he was behind me, and when I jumped he ran and jumped. I've got to look at the film."