NFL fans turned on the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game to see Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s NFL debut. They were treated to an even better story.
Victor Cruz, playing his first game since the 2014 season, scored a 3-yard touchdown on a huge third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter to give the New York Giants a 20-19 lead that stood up as the final score. And yes, Cruz’s salsa dance was back too.
Cruz was out all of last season with a calf problem, which stemmed from overcompensating for a devastating knee injury he suffered at the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 12, 2014.
The Giants’ comeback win overshadowed what was a decent debut by Prescott, the Cowboys’ fourth-round pick who is filling in for Tony Romo. Prescott didn’t make any big mistakes, but the problem was he didn’t make many big plays either. Four times the Cowboys had to settle for Dan Bailey field goals, and that was huge in the final outcome. Prescott finished 25 of 44 for 227 yards. Not terrible. Not great either.
Prescott had a chance to be the hero, as Dallas got the ball back on its own 20 with 1:05 left and no timeouts. And Prescott moved the Cowboys past midfield, but Terrance Williams didn’t get out of bounds on Prescott’s last throw, Prescott couldn’t spike the ball before time ran out and the Giants won.
And Cruz’s storybook comeback story was complete.
Cruz suffered an awful patellar tendon injury on a Sunday night in Philadelphia almost two full years ago, and it was uncertain if he’d ever regain his old form. There were even questions in August if the Giants might cut him, when he dealt with some other lower-body injuries. To see Cruz back on the field at all was nice. He had four catches for 34 yards.
And even in his best dreams, Cruz might not have envisioned himself scoring the game-winning touchdown in his first game back.
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