PHILADELPHIA — It was everything the Giants pictured when they handed out a big free-agent contract to Kenny Golladay. 

A 6-foot-4 wide receiver fighting through the tight coverage of a top NFL cornerback to catch a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. 

It’s just that the circumstances around the moment late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Eagles couldn’t have been stranger or less predictable. 

It took until the end of Golladay’s second season since signing a four-year, $72 million contract to score his first touchdown with the Giants, and it came as he played almost the entire game with third-string quarterback Davis Webb as the starting receivers sat to stay healthy for the playoffs. 

“Webb just gave me a shot, and I definitely appreciate it,” said Golladay, who led the NFL in touchdown catches with 11 in 2019. “A long time coming.” 

Webb could say the same about his first career touchdown pass in his first career start — five years after he was a third-round draft pick. 

Playing in what is almost surely his final regular-season game with the Giants before becoming a salary cap casualty, Golladay beat cornerback Darius Slay (a former Lions teammate) for the 25-yard score. He dragged both feet in the end zone before his buttocks landed out of bounds. 

“Let’s just put it this way: I wasn’t surprised,” Golladay said. “It felt good to get that first touchdown.” 

Once he knew that he was starting, Webb went to Golladay with a message. 

“I told him, ‘I promise, if it’s one-on-one, you are going to get a shot, and you are going to catch it,’ ” Webb said. “It was a great opportunity for him and he executed it. We played with only two receivers [Golladay and Marcus Johnson] most of the game and they battled their butts off. I hope they get some Pedialytes on the bus ride home.” 

Golladay, who counted a team-high $21.5 million against the salary cap this season, finished the regular season with six catches for 81 yards in 12 games. He played 10 total snaps in the previous three games but couldn’t be released because it would have accelerated more money into an already tight cap. 

“I kind of blacked out,” Webb quipped. “In the end zone, Kenny was so fired up, and he deserved that. He’s come to work every single day, and he continues to get better. I’m very happy for him.” 

Golladay did not balk at the humbling role of playing alongside second- and third-stringers. His two catches Sunday were his first since Nov. 20. 

“It is what it is,” Golladay said. “I was just happy I was able to go out there and make a play. I understand the circumstances, but at the end of the day it’s my job to go out and play.” 

Does he think he earned a bigger role in the playoffs? 

“I just have to be ready whenever my number is called,” Golladay said. “We’re a good team. This season has been a roller coaster … but you have to stay locked in mentally at all times.”