They were as much essential pieces to a 36-20 Giants victory over the Dolphins that ended a franchise-record-tying nine-game losing streak as they were souvenirs.
The 20 completions Eli Manning made on his 28 pass attempts in what’s certain to be his final start with the Giants were collectors’ items to the receivers who caught them.
Sterling Shepard got nine of them, for 111 yards. Golden Tate got only one, but it went for a 51-yard touchdown. Rookie Darius Slayton got two, one for a touchdown.
Moments after Tate crossed the goal line with his touchdown to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter, he made a beeline to Manning and handed him the football.