CeeDee Lamb’s brilliant one-handed catch seals Cowboys’ win over Giants
CeeDee Lamb made a one-handed touchdown catch with 8:30 to play to cap a go-ahead drive that featured a big fourth-down gamble by Mike McCarthy, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants 23-16 on Monday night.
Ezekiel Elliott also scored on a oneyard run to ignite a comeback from a seven-point deficit and Brett Maher kicked three field goals as the Cowboys (2-1) beat the Giants (2-1) for the 10th time in 11 games. Cooper Rush threw for 210 yards, including the one-yard touchdown pass to Lamb, as the quarterback won his second straight game filling in for the injured Dak Prescott.
Saquon Barkley scored on a weaving 36-yard touchdown run that gave the Giants a brief 13-6 lead in the third quarter. The Giants’ Graham Gano added three field goals, including a 51yarder with 3:37 to play to make it a one-score game at 23-16. The Giants subsequently got the ball back with 1:45 to play, but the series ended quickly with an interception by Trevon Diggs, sending New York coach Brian Daboll to his first defeat.
If there was one crucial play in the game, it came from McCarthy. Faced with a fourth-and-four at the Giants 41 with the score tied at 13 and 10:27 to play, the Dallas coach went for the first down. Rush hit Lamb right at the sticks on the next play and then hit tight end Peyton Hendershot for 10. He then found Lamb on consecutive passes of 26 and then the sensational one-hander on a fade route for the go-ahead score.
Dallas came into the game having allowed only one touchdown in each of their first two games, and the trend continued on Monday night. The defense hounded Daniel Jones, sacking him five times, with DeMarcus Lawrence tying his career high with three.
The Cowboys also got a big play on special teams as defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt by Gano on New York’s opening possession.