If New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz had drawn up a storybook return, it might’ve looked something like what unfolded in Sunday’s opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
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For the third time in four years, the Dallas Cowboys will open their season at home against the rival New York Giants.
WHERE’S DEZ: Prescott looked for star receiver Dez Bryant a few times, but the 2014 All-Pro had just one catch for 8 yards on Prescott’s first pass. Bryant had another catch-that-wasn’t moment similar to the Green Bay playoff game in 2014 on what was originally ruled a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The New York Giants are coming from a 17-9 victory over the New England Patriots in a preseason game.
“No, to be honest with you”, he said. They’re likely without him at least another month, and Prescott will have to make teams pay if they stack the line of scrimmage to stop fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott the way the Giants did. Beckham had four receptions for 73 yards, Shepard had three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown and Cruz had four receptions for 34 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.
To see the defense be able to get a stop to end the game, even if it was largely due to a mistake by the offense, was great to see as many feel that it would have been different past year. “We needed it, and he needed it”. Though he didn’t have any touchdowns, he protected the ball and was not sacked, a testament to his level of preparation as well as the Cowboys’ stellar pass-protecting offensive line. He has so much experience at finding windows, finding lanes and getting back to where he’s comfortable catching balls and making guys miss. “Holding onto that lead was big for this team”. The run game could have certainly helped him.
When it comes to these types of situations, you would think that football players who get paid to play this game for a living, and practice these in-game situations countless times so they would not make these types of error agains. “We’re better at running back”.
It’s also important for Cruz.
The defense was much like it was past year, getting some good stops but then giving up big plays, both through the air and on the ground.
Here the Giants were back on the field inside AT&T Stadium and forced to protect a lead defensively in the closing minutes of their season opener against the Cowboys.
“Just elated in that moment”, he said. But it’s another thing for that National Football League team to never get the chance to try it because of a player’s inability to get out of bounds and stop the clock.
“So awesome. He had a rough run the past two years”. Later, Dez Bryant had a chance in the corner of the end zone, on a play that was initially ruled a touchdown. This put him off balanced and causes him to have problems against quicker defenders.
Williams felt really bad for his mistake, and was consoled with a pat on the back by Garrett and his teammates.
Prescott started off strong, but finished the day with 227 yards off of 25-of-44 passing with no touchdowns and no interceptions. It appeared so natural it was nearly as if he’d been practicing.
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“Doing the dance, man, it’s in the blood”, Cruz said. “It’s like riding a bike”. The rookie made a tremendous leaping catch in the end zone on a 9-yard fade pass from Manning, leaping over one defender and holding on as he was hit by another. Giants looked decent on offense, but Cowboys running game and clock management prevented them of putting up more points. “I’m sure he’s excited”.
