NFL: CeeDee Lamb’s one-handed touchdown catch gives Cowboys win over Giants

CeeDee Lamb was angry with himself in the second quarter after dropping a wide-open pass and costing the Dallas Cowboys a possible touchdown. It was just embarrassing.

The star Cowboys wide receiver more than made up for it with the game on the line, making a one-handed touchdown catch with 8:30 to play to cap a go-ahead drive that gave the Cowboys a 23-16 win over the surprising New York Giants on Monday night.

“He’s CeeDee Lamb,” Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush said after hitting Lamb four times on the 89-yard drive. “Guy’s open a lot. Makes big-time catches. That fade catch was unbelievable. I’m sure he wants that other one back, but made tons of plays for us, like usual.”

Ezekiel Elliott scored on a one-yard run to ignite a comeback from a seven-point deficit and Brett Maher kicked three field goals as the Cowboys (2-1) beat the Giants (2-1) for the 10th time in 11 games and handed coach Brian Daboll his first loss.

Rush threw for 210 yards, including the one-yard touchdown pass to Lamb, in winning his second consecutive game filling in for the injured Dak Prescott (thumb).

Lamb finished with eight catches for 87 yards, but he also dropped the potential 52-yard touchdown throw. He paced the sideline after the play, and teammates walked over to encourage him.

“It was a situation I had to deal with on my own. Obviously I’m the one that dropped the ball for the guys,” Lamb said. “So knowing that I had to make this up in the back end of the game, I just wanted to step up.”

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Lamb actually made three plays at the end of the drive. He caught a four-yard pass on fourth and four from the Giants’ 41-yard line with 10:27 to go. He added a 26-yard catch to the one-yard line and followed that with his great catch on the fade pattern for a 20-13 lead.

Saquon Barkley scored on a weaving 36-yard touchdown run that gave the Giants a brief 13-6 lead. Graham Gano added three field goals, including a 51-yarder with 3:37 to play to make it a one-score game.

The Giants got the ball back with 1:45 to play, but the series ended quickly with an interception by Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Dallas came into the game having given up only one touchdown in each of its first two games, and the trend continued Monday night. The defense hounded Daniel Jones, sacking him five times, with DeMarcus Lawrence tying his career high with three.

Maher sandwiched field goals of 26 and 28 yards around a 42-yarder by Gano to give Dallas a 6-3 halftime lead.

The Cowboys also got a big play on special teams as defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong blocked a 47-yard field-goal attempt by Gano on New York’s opening possession.