EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A look at New York Giants players who were "up" and a few who were "down" in Sunday's 27-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
UP
KR/WR Dwayne Harris: The Giants gave Harris a four-year, $17 million free-agent contract to sign him away from the Cowboys because they thought he'd improve their return game. Sunday, that move won them a game. After the Cowboys scored to tie the game at 20-20 in the fourth quarter, Harris ran the ensuing kickoff back 100 yards for the Giants' first kick-return touchdown since 2012. And when the Giants punted in the final two minutes up seven, Cowboys punt returner Cole Beasley muffed the punt, denying Dallas a chance at a game-tying drive. Adding Harris to their roster and removing him from the Cowboys' roster in one move has paid benefits, but never more obviously than in this game.
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: He came out of the game with a finger injury, but he returned and intercepted two passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. With the Giants' secondary banged up, Rodgers-Cromartie is their best bet for a big play on defense. He delivered in a big way, taking advantage of a wild Matt Cassel for his first two interceptions and his first touchdown of this season.
RB Orleans Darkwa: Surprisingly inserted as the featured running back for the Giants' third possession of the game, Darkwa had four carries for 41 yards and a 15-yard touchdown run on that drive. He finished the game with a team-leading eight carries and was second to Shane Vereen with 48 rushing yards. The Giants' run game hasn't done much so far this year with Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams, so it made sense to give Darkwa a shot, and he looked good.
DOWN
WR Odell Beckham Jr.: This was the second week in a row that the Giants' opponent took their offense out of the game in the second half. Dallas held the ball for 21:01 of the 30 minutes in the second half, so the Giants' offense didn't have a chance to do much of anything. Beckham was targeted a team-high six times but caught just four passes for 35 yards.
CB Jayron Hosley: He has earned praise from the coaches for the way he has filled in for injured starters this year, but Hosley looked like a coverage liability as Dallas receivers kept popping open at inopportune times. There were others at fault for the spotty coverage, of course, including rookie safety Landon Collins and cornerback Trevin Wade. But Hosley had a couple of plays where he looked lost and the receiver found the ball before he did.
DE Damontre Moore: After his boneheaded roughing the passer penalty cost the Giants badly in Monday night's loss to the Eagles, Moore was left inactive for this game. "That's between me and him," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said when asked why. But if you're wondering whether this benching will last, note that rookie defensive end Owa Odighizuwa left this game with a hamstring injury. The Giants could have no choice but to activate Moore next week in New Orleans.
