NFL

Giants’ Pierre-Paul gets first touchdown with pick-6

ARLINGTON, Texas — Last season, Jason Pierre-Paul saved a game for the Giants at Cowboys Stadium by reaching out and blocking a potential tying field goal in the closing seconds. It completed a sensational all-around performance by Pierre-Paul.

For all the youngster they call JPP has done in his brief NFL career, he had never crossed into the end zone with points for the Giants. But his teammates figured it was only a matter of time.

“He’s kind of like Eli [Manning] in the fourth quarter when Eli comes back and gets us a touchdown to win a game,’’ Tuck said. “I’m not surprised. As many balls as he’s batted down over his short career, he was due for that.”

The “that’’ Tuck was talking about turned into a monster play for the Giants in yesterday’s 29-24 victory over the Cowboys. With the Giants already leading 16-0 early in the third quarter, Pierre-Paul toyed with Tony Romo, baiting him into throwing what appeared to be a fairly safe swing pass to running back Felix Jones. Instead, Pierre-Paul picked the ball out of the air, sprinted 28 yards for his first touchdown and then, showing his athleticism, punctuated the play by dunking the ball over the crossbar.

“All week I was studying Tony Romo on film,’’ Pierre-Paul said, “and every time he backs up and his shoulders turn to the right, it’s either going to be a screen, which I knew it was, and I caught it and ran it. It’s all about watching film and to see what your opponent’s doing, and I did one helluva job catching that ball and running it in.”

Pierre-Paul was supposed to rush the passer on the play.

“I was kind of patient on my rush,” he said. “It looked like he was going to throw it away. So I just jumped up and caught the ball and ran it for a touchdown.’’

The play gave the Giants a 23-0 lead they couldn’t hold, as the Cowboys scored the next 24 points. Along the way, Pierre-Paul dragged Romo down for a nine-yard sack by getting a fistful of jersey. The Giants had to hang on down the stretch.

“Coach Coughlin always preaches to us, ‘Fight, fight, fight, finish, finish, finish,’ ’’ Pierre-Paul said. “One thing about us, we never give up.’’