Victor Cruz was one of the top breakout wide receivers in the NFL during the 2011 season. Not only did he give New York Giants fans a new player to root for, but Cruz helped several fantasy football owners get to their championship as he gained yardage and touchdowns throughout the season.

Five games stood out for Cruz as the chemistry between him and Eli Manning helped lead the Giants to multiple victories, the lead in the NFC east and playoff contention.

Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Giants had something to prove when they headed into Philadelphia against their arch-rivals. In a 29-16 victory, Cruz caught for 110 total yards, including a 74 yard catch in the first quarter that led to an early 14-0 lead.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, Cruz caught his second touchdown in the game for 28 yards and a lead that the Giants would continue to grow with no matched points in the fourth.

Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals

After back to back wins against the Eagles and Ram, the Giants continued to roll into Arizona. Cruz had no touchdowns in the game, but he had six catches for 98 yards including a crucial third down catch that he ran for 13 yards. The drive led to a rushing touchdown by Brandon Jacobs.

Without the third down catch, the Cardinals may have beat the Giants and ended the win streak.

Giants vs. New England Patriots

The Giants love being the underdog and they certainly felt the pressure as they headed to New England to take on Tom Brady and the Patriots. Cruz had six catches for 91 yards in a similar performance to the game against the Cardinals. In the fourth quarter, Cruz was a part of the Giants drive that ended up with a Mario Manningham touchdown.

In the final minutes of the game, Cruz set up the pace for the game winning drive as he caught a 19 yard pass from Manning that brought the Giants up the field and eventually led to a Jake Ballard touchdown and upset victory over the Patriots.

Giants vs. Green Bay Packers

Even though the Giants lost to the Green Bay Packers in NFL Week 13, the offense was on fire all game. Cruz had seven catches in the game for a total of 119 yards. Late in the first quarter, he had a 42 yard catch that led to a field goal for the Giants.

Giants vs. New York Jets

In a battle same-city teams the Giants showed their dominance against the Jets. Victor Cruz was quiet for the most of the game except one key play that broke records and set up the Giants for victory. As the first half was winding down, the Giants were pinned at their own one yard line. Eli Manning shot a quick pass to Cruz. Cruz spun away from his opponent and turned the catch into a record 99 yard touchdown that was replayed on sports channels for days after and will go down as one of Cruz’s greatest catches.

Alan Donahue is a life-long New York Giants fan. He passionately follows the NFC East, plays in numerous fantasy football leagues and has written hundreds of sports articles.

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