Palladino: Giants' Win Shows This Could Be A Different Kind Of Year

By Ernie Palladino
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One game does not a season make, of course, but can anyone deny now that Ben McAdoo's first season as Giants head coach could turn out far different than Tom Coughlin's final one?

For a change, it was the Cowboys who made the bad plays down the stretch as the Giants pulled out a 20-19 win. It wasn't Eli Manning failing to take a sack on third-and-goal to create a field goal and give Dallas 1:27 to drive 72 yards for a comeback win. Instead, it was Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams failing to confront Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the only player between him and the clock-stopping sideline, and turning Dak Prescott's throw into a game-ending completion.

There were other facets, like a couple of star turns from characters gone too long. Victor Cruz, 700 days since he tore up his patellar tendon in Philadelphia, did more than his share with four catches for 34 yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown. Seeing the Salsa King revive his jig of glee following his 3-yard catch, with Odell Beckham, Jr. ready with his imaginary camera, couldn't help but warm the hearts of those who ventured from New York to Dallas.

MORE: WATCH: Victor Cruz Scores First Touchdown Since 2014

Just as notable, if not more for the long run's sake, was Manning's own re-emergence as late-arriving hero with that toss over the middle at the 6:13 mark, a 29th fourth-quarter, regular-season comeback on a vaunted pedigree that includes two Super Bowls.

Captain Comeback has returned, apparently, this time not to be undone by a defense that couldn't hold five fourth-quarter leads last season.

That, too, was a change, even though the defense let Prescott hit passes of 16 and 15 yards to put the Cowboys close enough to Dan Bailey field goal territory to create much breath-holding. But Williams returned Manning's favor of last year on Prescott's final 14-yard completion, almost mimicking the lack of situational awareness that cost Manning the 2015 opener.

It wasn't perfect, but that was all right. All the Giants were looking for was a good start to the season in Jerry's World. And through all the mishaps that included a blocked extra point and a double mistake -- Manning for disregarding Brandon Carr in front of Sterling Shepard, and the rookie receiver's failure to come back and break up Carr's third-quarter interception -- the Giants survived.

That's a lot more than they did last year, when just a play or two in the five blown leads could have led them to a winning record and the postseason.

The ground game, struggling all game long, came alive behind Shane Vereen's draws on Cruz's touchdown drive. Later, Rashad Jennings ate up some valuable time in the four-minute period before the drive stalled to give Dallas its last-gasp chance.

The Giants had just four 100-yard team rushing efforts last year. They now have one already, as Jennings (18 carries, 75 yards) and Vereen (6, 38) combined for 113 total and a healthy 4.7-yard average.

Manning made up for his miscue by finishing 19-of-28 for 207 yards and three touchdowns, and the pass rush of Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul created enough chaos for the otherwise poised Prescott that they kept the rookie out of the end zone.

One gets the idea again that nothing is going to be easy for a Giants team that, at least on paper, improved both the offense and defense during the offseason.

But at least they won't be fighting out of lost opportunity's shadow.

Not this week, anyway.

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