Nicks finished with career highs of 12 catches and 130 yards, another big day for a receiver against the Texans' porous secondary. Manning finished 27 of 42 for 297 yards, and threw his third TD pass to Steve Smith in the fourth quarter.
Osi Umenyiora sacked Texans quarterback Matt Schaub twice and also forced a fumble for the Giants (3-2). New York held NFL rushing leader Arian Foster to 25 yards on 11 carries.
Linebacker Brian Cushing made four solo tackles in his season debut for Houston (3-2). Cushing was suspended the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances.
Nicks dominated Houston cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Brice McCain in the first half, catching seven passes for 97 yards and both of his touchdowns. Manning faced little pressure in the half and completed 15 of 22 passes for 175 yards.
The Giants held Houston's top-ranked rushing offense to 8 yards. Foster averaged 1.1 yards on eight first-half carries.
New York led 7-0 before Corey Webster intercepted Schaub's pass to Andre Johnson near midfield in the first quarter. Manning threw a 27-yard pass to Nicks to set up Brandon Jacobs' 1-yard TD run.
The Texans ran four plays for negative yards and mustered only two first downs in the first quarter. Three Giants knocked down Schaub in the end zone after another incompletion, prompting boos from the sellout crowd.
Nicks pulled in a 14-yard catch on the first play of the second quarter, then broke open behind Jackson in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown catch to put New York up 21-0.
After Neil Rackers' 38-yard field goal, Nicks raced past Jackson down the sideline and dropped a perfect pass from Manning just before halftime. Lawrence Tynes kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 24-3.
The home crowd booed the Texans again as they trotted off the field. Houston had only 74 total yards at the break.
Schaub threw a 48-yard pass to Johnson on Houston's second play of the third quarter, but Umenyiora sacked Schaub and knocked the ball loose on the next snap, and Justin Tuck recovered.
Jackson intercepted Manning later in the third quarter and returned it to the Giants' 17. Johnson caught a pass at the 1, and former Giants running back Derrick Ward scored on the next play.
But Manning started the Giants' next series with three straight completions to Nicks, and Tynes kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Smith beat Jackson on a 45-yard gain to the Texans' 28, then outjumped second-year cornerback Glover Quin for New York's last touchdown with 4:50 left.
Notes: The Texans' previous low rushing total was 25, set against the New York Jets in 2006. ... LB Keith Bulluck (toe) and C Shaun O'Hara (Achilles' and ankle) were among eight inactive players for the Giants. Adam Koets, limited in practice this week with a knee sprain, started in O'Hara's place. ... Houston WR/PR Jacoby Jones sat out with a calf injury. WR David Anderson fielded punts. ... Texans RG Mike Brisiel left in the second quarter with a sprained knee.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-10-10-10 1653CDT
