The Giants needed a spark, and Dwayne Harris gave it to them.
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After Dallas tied the game midway through the fourth quarter, the offense was strapping up for another drive only to see the ex-Cowboy break the ensuing kickoff 100 yards and score the go-ahead touchdown in a 27-20 victory on Sunday.
For the play that helped the Giants take sole possession of first place in the NFC East, Harris has been nominated for the Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Week, the NFL announced today.
"When he came screaming out of there, we had an entire sideline of people who were not only inspired by it, but they were extremely happy and not worried about showing our joy," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of the play that tied the franchise record for longest kickoff return touchdown. "We were excited about that."
Fans may vote for Harris at www.nfl.com/castrol-edge, and the winner will be announced Friday on "NFL Total Access" on NFL Network and then posted to NFL.com.
Here is a look at the nominees for the Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of Week 7:
DWAYNE HARRIS
NEW YORK GIANTS
After the Dallas Cowboys tied up the score at 20-20 in the fourth quarter, Harris took the ensuing kickoff and ran 100 yards for the winning touchdown. Harris played the previous four seasons for the Cowboys.
BLAKE BORTLES
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Bortles threw a game-winning touchdown pass to receiver Allen Hurns with just over two minutes remaining as the Jaguars rallied for a 34-31 win over the Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium in London.
TOM BRADY
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Giants.com hands out their game balls after the Giants top the Cowboys
HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN With the 27-20 win over the Cowboys, Coughlin joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Owen (153) as the only head coaches in franchise history to reach 100 regular-season victories.
WR/KR DWAYNE HARRIS In addition to a pair of catches for 43 yards, Harris scored on a 100-yard kickoff return to break a tie game in the fourth quarter. It tied the longest kickoff return in franchise history.
KICKER JOSH BROWN With two on Sunday, Brown broke his own franchise record with 19 consecutive made field goals.
SAFETY BRANDON MERIWEATHER For the second consecutive week, Meriweather grabbed an interception for the Giants against an NFC East opponent. Big Blue notched interceptions on three consecutive drives with Matt Cassel under center.
RB ORLEANS DARKWA After having no rushes through the first six weeks, Darkwa boosted the Giants' run game with a team-high eight carries for 48 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown. The Giants rushed for a season-high 132 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE The veteran cornerback recorded two interceptions and the seventh defensive touchdown of his career on a 58-yard pick-six early in the second half. He had a 57-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Week 1 against Dallas.
WR MYLES WHITE Signed to the active roster on Oct. 7, former practice squad wide receiver Myles White recovered a muffed punt return by Cole Beasley with 1:36 left in a one-possession game.
Brady threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola for the go-ahead score. The Brady-to-Amendola touchdown capped an 80-yard drive after the Jets had gone ahead 20-16.
KIRK COUSINS
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Cousins threw three second-half touchdown passes, including the winning throw to Jordan Reed with 24 seconds remaining, to lead the Redskins to the largest comeback in team history in a 31-30 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins trailed by as much as 24 points in the second quarter before Cousins guided the come-from-behind win.
TONY JEFFERSON
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Jefferson thwarted the Baltimore Ravens' last chance to even up the score by intercepting a pass by quarterback Joe Flacco in the back of the end zone in the final seconds to preserve a 26-18 win. The late-game defensive stand helped the Cardinals improve to 5-2 and maintain their lead in the NFC West.
Previous winners: QB Tony Romo (Cowboys), QB Derek Carr (Raiders), WR Julio Jones (Falcons), S Kam Chancellor (Seahawks), QB Tyrod Taylor (Bills), CB Damarious Randall (Packers)
