Giants’ WR Victor Cruz has had some some big games in his sort NFL career, but it’s his performances against the Jets that most NFL fans remember most. The Jets, as you can imagine, have seen enough. They wanted to keep close tabs on Cruz last night, and for the most part, did. He still had 5 receptions for 51 yards in less than a half of work.

On Cruz’ longest gain of the night – a 21-yard grab over the middle – safety Laron Landry, the former Redskin, laid a lick on Cruz that initially appeared to be illegal. There was no call, and Cruz got right up.

The Jets had shaken him up but not stopped him. Cruz can expect “special” treatment from opponents going forward, and it’s something he realizes and has come to accept. He’s a target.

From Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York:

“[Landry] was kinda telling me the whole game he wanted to lay one on me,” Cruz said. “Once they called that route, I was trying to stay away from him as much as possible, but he got a pretty good lick on me. You know I had to get up with a little bit of swagger. I couldn’t just let him do me like that.”

Cruz said he did not feel the hit was an illegal one.

“Hit me right in the chest,” Cruz said. “It was a legal hit. It was nothing illegal. It was a good shot.”

“He was talking to me all game and on that specific play he laid a pretty good shot on me and was pretty excited about it,” he added. “But I just wanted to remind him we moved the chains on that play, too.”