It was only one game, but in the NFL, unlike the NBA’s 82-game schedule and Major League Baseball’s 162-game marathon, every game is crucial, especially those against division opponents. So the Giants’ 20-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on the road this past Sunday in the 2016 regular season opener for both teams was significant.
Finishing third in the four-team NFC East in 2015 with a 6-10 record, the Giants failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. And with substantial changes to the coaching staff and roster entering this season, uncertainty tightly gripped the Giants when they ran onto the turf at AT&T Stadium to face the Cowboys.
In an encouraging twist of irony, the three most questionable issues confronting the Giants as the season began, the struggles of the offensive line during preseason, a revamped defense and the return of wide receiver Victor Cruz after a nearly two-year absence from game action as a result of injuries, were resoundingly answered, if only for the moment.
The offensive line firmly held up in both pass protection and in the running game. They provided quarterback Eli Manning, who threw for three touchdowns, ample time to locate his targets. The unit also created gaps that led to the Giants gaining 113 yards rushing on 24 carries, led by running back Rashad Jennings’ 75.
The Giants’ defense, which was arguably the worst in the league last season, proved to be dramatically better, albeit based on a small sample. The front four more than held their own against the Cowboys lauded offensive line, which is perhaps without equal in football, holding their opponent to an average of 3.4 yards per carry rushing with considerable help from a linebacker corps that was active and physical. Linebacker Jonathan Casillas, a native of Jersey City, led the Giants with 11 tackles, seven of them solo.
Additionally, the secondary, facing rookie QB Dak Prescott limited the Cowboys’ exceptional wide receiver Dez Bryant to only one catch for 8 yards on a mere five targets.
Nevertheless, the most inspiring outcome was Cruz making a notable contribution. The 30-year-old wideout caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Manning with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter that was the decisive score.
“You couldn’t even describe what was going through my body,” said Cruz. “[I] wanted obviously to do the dance [my signature salsa]. I’m sure I’ve got that down pat.
“Everybody just pulled for me each and every day, each and every week as we got closer to Week 1. And to score a touchdown! You just couldn’t make up a story any better than that.”
Indeed, it is a great story. But there are many more chapters to be written. For certain there are at least 15 more for each of the 15 regular season games remaining for the Giants. Chapter 2 is this Sunday at 1 p.m. when they host the 0-1 New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium in their home opener.
