Just one play after Odell Beckham Jr. dropped the game-winner, Victor Cruz snatches one to help the New York Giants to the 16-13 victory.
- New York Giants 16 (2-0)
- New Orleans Saints 13 (0-2)
- NFL, Week 2, Final, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
He dropped the ball, literally.
OBJ beat New Orleans Saints corner Sterling Moore on the 9-route and Eli Manning placed one perfectly into those soft hands within the Saints 10-yard line. The ball harmlessly fell to the Meadlowlands turf as an incompletion.
Before the fans at MetLife Stadium could feel any more shock, they were celebrating at what came next.
The wily veteran, Victor Cruz, snatched that money ball out of his defender’s hands:
.@TeamVic is out here RIPPING the ball from defenders. #NOvsNYG https://t.co/UrNuvbcHsF
— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2016
The young stud dropped it while the gamer took it.
All Ben McAdoo needed to do from there on out is kneel three times and allow Josh Brown to kick a cheapie to provide the New York Giants their second win of the season, a 16-13 marker against the Saints.
Instant analysis and reaction following the #Giants 16-13 win over the Saints!
READ: https://t.co/B5v2XIuAZe pic.twitter.com/5UXdI84Z3u
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 18, 2016
Eli and his crop of weapons had their way all day. Manning finished with 368 yards on 32-of-41 passing but didn’t come away with a single touchdown. OBJ finished with eight catches for 86 yards, Cruz collected four for 91, and rookie Sterling Shepard went for 117 yards on eight grabs.
The only TD scored by Big Blue came via a field goal block late in the first half when the teams were still scoreless:
?? BLOCKED FG ALERT! ??
Janoris Jenkins scoops.
And SCORES. #NOvsNYG #GiantsPride https://t.co/JFfPKrDsLc— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2016
The offense simply couldn’t punch it in on the Saints bend but don’t break defensive gameplan.
Defensively, though, is where McAdoo’s squad shined as they limited future hall of famer Drew Brees to 263 yards and a score on 29-of-44 passing. Though only defensive backs Landon Collins and Leon Hall collected sacks, the defensive line pressured Brees all day and the secondary was brilliant in zone coverage.
The Giants are now 2-0 on the season facing a date in Jersey against the Washington Redskins next week.