EAST RUTHERFORD — If the Giants' 21-20 win over the Bengals on Monday night had been a playoff game, wide receiver Victor Cruz likely would have been in the lineup.
"I would have begged and pleaded a little bit more than what I did," Cruz said on Thursday after missing the game with a sprained ankle.
But Monday was just the ninth game in a long season, so the Giants erred on the side of caution and sat Cruz for the first time this year.
"Obviously you want to play Monday night and go out there with your team and help them win," Cruz said.