The X Factor

 

The NFC East title came down to Week 17 of the NFL Season with all four teams playing interdivision games. The first matchup was the Cowboys who went to Metlife to play the NY Giants while the final game of the day was between the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles. The winner of the Cowboys/Giants game could win the division if Washington lost to Philly. Otherwise a Washington win meant they were in.

Dallas came into the contest red hot on a winning streak while the Giants were having an end of season collapse after an impressive win over the Seahawks on the road.

And just like the NFC East, the game came down to the final minute.

The Cowboys were driving for the win until Pass Rusher Leonard Williams applied the pressure on Andy Dalton who just threw the wobbly ball up into the air hoping for a miracle into the hands of no other than highly touted Giants rookie safety Xavier Mckinney helping seal their victory.

It was the rookies first career NFL interception and the biggest play in his short playing time.

The Giants had very high hopes for Mckinney after drafting him in the second round but he

suffered a broken foot in training camp which caused him to miss much of his rookie season. He didn't get any game action until late November.

But, in those few games he had 25 tackles, 1 int and 1 pass defended which led to Pro Football Focus naming him a breakout candidate for the 2021 season.

After he sealed the Giants first victory over the Cowboys in many years, I went and began a search for his assumed to be top rookie card in Prizm to celebrate. I found one at .99 BIN and free shipping and snagged it.

I have a few McKinney rookies but with Prizm being just released at the time of the victory I had to make sure to get the best one.