GLENDALE, Ariz. — “I had to get it.”
That was Hakeem Nicks’ description of a 29-yard pass from Eli Manning that he caught for the winning touchdown in the Giants’ come-from-behind 31-27 victory yesterday over the Cardinals.
Nicks beat rookie Patrick Peterson, Arizona’s No. 1 draft pick, for the score. The catch occurred close to the same spot where Plaxico Burress caught his game-winning TD pass in the 2008 Super Bowl.
“We run the fade route always in practice, and I just had to go up and get it. I’m sure [Peterson] did as well,” said Nicks, who had 10 catches for 162 yards.
Peterson claimed he lost the ball in the lights for a split-second and that Nicks, a first-round pick himself in 2009, pushed off.
Manning said Arizona came with the blitz on the play.
“We had thrown a couple back-shoulder balls and finally we threw one over the top,” he said. “I think the corner kind of stopped and was expecting a back shoulder. It was a good job by Hakeem making the catch and a big win.”
Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald is a receiver that opponents need to monitor with every step. Nicks is closing in on that territory.
Manning hit tight end Jake Ballard on a two-yard scoring pass with 3:37 left, but it was the play before that, a 26-yard pass to Nicks, that set everything up.
“He used his tough hands and snagged the ball out of the air and almost scored on that one,” Manning said. “He just had a great day and made some big plays.”
Coach Tom Coughlin said Nicks “is that kind of guy. He wants the ball. He wants to be challenged. He wants the opportunities. He has a knack for fighting for the ball and somehow finding it.”
Nicks said the Giants kept their composure in the closing minutes.
“We knew we were going to fight until the last minute, and we came out on top,” he said.
