New York Giants

New York Giants: Victor Cruz's Unimaginable Moment

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Victor Cruz made his triumphant return to the New York Giants on Sunday on an emotional day for everyone in the city he plays in

While a playoff-spot wasn’t on the line as the New York Giants kicked off their season on the road against the Dallas Cowboy, there was still gravitas. This game felt just as important as one with poseason implications. Both teams were playing for pride and for their homes, as fans and teammates alike went into this game with heavy hearts on the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Giants carried the weighing grief of New Yorkers impacted directly by the terrorism attacks into this game. ‘America’s Team’ the Dallas Cowboys entered this game with Texas native, former president George W. Bush on the field for the coin toss. This was all as part of the 9/11 ceremony for a country devastated by senseless acts of terrorism.

However, it seemed as though the New York Giants were playing for a little more than the Dallas Cowboys. This was a must-win game for a team desperate to snap a five-year losing streak in season openers and set the tone for the rest of the season. This was also a team with a star wide receiver who hadn’t played since 2014.

Giants wideout Victor Cruz made his first in-season appearance since tearing his patella tendon in 2014. It was exactly 700 days since Cruz went down with this devastating injury. The long road back to the field, filled with setbacks and doubt, was well worth it and could not have been more special for him.

If you look at the game statistics, it doesn’t seem like Cruz had a great game. He finished with only four receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown. Yet, this will be the most meaningful game in his career. Yes, even more so than the Super Bowl.

For the Paterson native, this wasn’t something he could’ve dreamt of. Of course he would’ve thought about his return. But did he anticipate that it would come on the 15th anniversary of an attack on his home to which his late-father, a Paterson firefighter, was among the first responders? Did he think he would get to break out his salsa against the team he grew up rooting for? Moreover, could Victor Cruz, or anyone else, imagine that on top of all that, this would be the game-winning touchdown for a desperate Giants team? No one expected that.

But that’s exactly what happened in Week 1. Cruz salsa’d in the end zone after scoring the go-ahead and eventual game-winning touchdown:

Victor Cruz’s first TD reception in 721 days…

Do your thing, @TeamVic. #NYGvsDAL pic.twitter.com/rDB2YlSQdH

— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2016

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this. New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz didn’t have to wait that long. But if you ask, I’m pretty sure he’ll agree with me in that he waited long enough for this moment. His special moment to make New York and his father proud.