3. Victor Cruz's insane 99-yard touchdown on Christmas Eve
Similar to Bavaro's catch-and-run, Victor Cruz managed to make an iconic play in the same season the Giants won a Super Bowl. This time, however, things were not so easy for the Giants on their championship quest. Prior to their Christmas Eve game against the Jets, the Giants had lost five of their last six. Entering the Week 16 matchup, the Giants were in desperate need of a win if they wanted to make the playoffs.
Late in the second quarter, with the Giants down 7-3, New York found themselves on their own one-yard line on 3rd and 10. If they didn't get a first, or a safety happened, then it could have been a completely different ball game. Instead, Cruz got the ball in his hands, created magic and would not be denied:
11 years ago today, Victor Cruz went for a 99-yard touchdown vs. the Jets on Christmas Eve and ignited a Giants Super Bowl runpic.twitter.com/xcw1MWdiqh
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) December 24, 2022
Not only did this play give the Giants the lead, but all the momentum was theirs as well. The Giants would go on to win both this game, and the Super Bowl. Cruz is a Giants legend. While the end of his career was haunted by injuries, the incredible plays he recorded were a thing of beauty.