He leaped and reached to the sky with those giant paws, reached up with a shoulder that left him questionable to play and a game-time decision at a desperate time when his team needed him to play, and play big, play like a Giant, play like the Monster of the Meadowlands he used to be before his back began to betray him.
He leaped and reached to the sky and the pass Scott Tolzien had intended for tight end Andrew Quarless belonged to him now, and there was no one standing between Jason Pierre-Paul and the big blue-painted end zone with GIANTS in white. And this big MetLife Stadium roar accompanied JPP every step of the way on his 24-yard pick-six that gave the Giants, 27-13 winners over the Packers, the game and a season.
It was Giants 20, Packers 13, and the Giants were reeling when Tolzien took over at his 30 with 10:55 remaining. And in the huddle, JPP predicted it was about to be Giants 27, Packers 13.
“Honestly, I called it before it even happened in the huddle,” JPP said. “I read the formation, and the tight end, how he was set, and I caught the ball.”
Asked what he said in the huddle, JPP said: “I’m going to pick this (expletive) off and run to the house. That’s what I said. And sure enough, I did it.”
Only seeing is believing.
Justin Tuck: “I don’t even run out to him to celebrate, I’m literally in awe. I don’t know if he’s voodoo, psychic, but that’s something I’ve never seen before.”
Antrel Rolle: “I was in shock.”
Big players make big plays in big games, and JPP, who couldn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday, who wore a harness for his sore left shoulder, who believes he is over his post-surgical back woes, appears ready to be a big player again just in time for the grudge match against the Cowboys that suddenly means everything for the 4-6 Giants, winners of four in a row and 1 ¹/₂ games behind the first-place Eagles.
“We’re going to put it on ’em, man.. … It’s going to be a fight, it’s going to be a dogfight, and there’s going to be a lot of blood spilled out there,” JPP said.
The Cowboys, 36-31 victors in the opener between the teams, are vulnerable now.
“We gave that game away — six turnovers, and they barely beat us,” Terrell Thomas said.
So yes, you can climb out of the football casket long after the mourners have left the cemetery. You can be buried in darkness and only you could see the light. You can dig your way out of a giant-sized hole and crawl before you walk and walk before you run to begin what would be an historic climb to the top of NFC East mountain, and now you believe you could climb Mt. Everest.
Bring on the Cowboys!
No more Josh Freemans. No more Matt Barkleys. No more Terrelle Pryors. No more Scott Tolziens.
Bring on Tony Romo! anyway. A year ago, Romo fell victim to JPPPickSix. Asked if he had ever called a play before, JPPick-Six said: “Oh yeah. Cowboys. They got to stop throwing screens on my side, man. I’m too tall for it.” Then he laughed.
Outside the media mob that engulfed JPP at his locker, Tuck interrupted to say: “Best thing I ever seen in my life, I just wanted to say that.”
To which Rolle added: “That’s one of the best plays I’ve ever seen.”
JPP sent a surge of electricity through the entire team.
“As soon as I caught it, I knew it was a touchdown — I’m not a receiver or anything, but I knew it was a touchdown,” JPP said.
It was his willpower and commitment to his Big Blue brothers that meant just as much.
“I’m just thankful that he has the guts and the heart to go out there and play for his teammates,” Rolle said.
A healthy JPP changes everything for the Giants at a time when Eli Manning has regained his footing more and Brandon Jacobs is converting fourth-and-shorts and Jon Beason (one interception) is a raging ball of defiance.
“I told him I’ve only seen one guy make that play and they both wear No. 90 [Julius Peppers], so it’s good company,” Beason said.
It was the most complete game the Giants have played this season.
“We’re climbing,” Rolle said.
If JPPick-Six starts to soar again, the sky may be the limit.
“Maybe he can say we’re going to win the Super Bowl, and we’ll win,” Thomas said, and laughed.