Eli Manning threw a 77-yard scoring pass to Victor Cruz with 1:13 to play and the Giants overcame a late touchdown by rookie sensation Robert Griffin III to defeat the Washington Redskins 27-23 on Sunday.

Victor Cruz runs the ball in for a 4th quarter touchdown against Washington.
Victor Cruz runs the ball in for a 4th quarter touchdown against Washington. ( Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Manning's pass to Cruz came two plays and 19 seconds after Griffin capped what was a potential game-winning, 77-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. The rookie had kept the drive alive with a 19-yard pass off a desperate scramble on a fourth-and-10 play deep in his own territory and a 24-yard run on the next play.

Cruz, however, blew by Josh Wilson and Madieu Williams and the more than 80,000 fans in MetLife Stadium celebrated as Manning triumphantly pumped his fist.

Griffin had Washington moving for another score when Moss was tackle by Chase Blackburn after an 11-yard reception and rookie Jayron Hosley recovered at the Washington 43.

(Copyright 2001 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved)

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