Hilton ignites a Dallas rally with a third grab and 30

Arlington, Texas — TY Hilton’s introduction to the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t get any better as it came at perhaps the darkest moment of their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.

Facing a 33rd down after sacking Dak Prescott on consecutive plays and trailing the Eagles 34-27 with 8:02 to play, Hilton had a 52-yard reception, touchdown run by Darius Slay.

“Thirty thirty,” Prescott said with a smile. “Look for TY”

Four plays after Hilton’s catch, CeeDee Lamb had his second reception of the game, a 7-yard catch that tied the score with 5:49 to play. The Cowboys (11-4) would score two more field goals to a 40-34 win over Philadelphia (13-2), keeping their fainted NFC East title hopes alive with two games remaining and possibly giving them a jolt of confidence should the rivals meet again in the playoffs. .

“It’s amazing, and it got us excited,” said Hilton. “If you are able to do that, the sky is the limit for us.”

Hilton said he had a feeling before catching the ball. When the Cowboys ran that play in practice, Prescott went at him several times. When Slay was focused on the quarterback and not him, Hilton, who only joined the Cowboys on December 12, felt better.

“The ball just took off,” Hilton said, “and I was like, ‘Okay, here we go, and that’s what I do, man. ‘” I’m just playing.” “That’s what I’m here for — keep making plays, keep guiding and helping these guys as much as I can. And when I come out, it just shows that I’m still here.”

He can still run, Hilton, 33, said at the start. His 2021 season with the Indianapolis Colts ended due to injury, but after watching his kids play football over the summer and fall, he said his body feels fresh.

Then, Hilton asked on Twitter if the catch was “Welcome to Dallas.”

Hmmm. I wonder if this was my welcome to dallas moment

– TY Hilton (@TYHilton13) December 25, 2022

“This is a guy who’s had a lot of big moments in his career,” said Prescott. He had a long career and was very successful. Fourth down [earlier in the game]I went to him and he forwarded the hanging call. Here, the 3rd and 33rd, yeah, he handled it when I was shooting him, and I knew to put some air under him. I knew he was going to go do a play and it would be either that or incomplete. Obviously, he went and succeeded.”

The third-and-30 conversion was the longest on third-down in the NFL since Week 2 of the 2020 season, when San Francisco 49ers running back Jerek McKinnon ran for a 55-yard touchdown on third-down and 31, according to ESPN Stats & Information Research.

Over the past 10 seasons, Hilton is tied with Tyreek Hill and AJ Green for the second-most receptions for at least 50 yards with 17. DeSean Jackson is over 30.

Saturday’s contest was Hilton’s first in 2022. He was inactive last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Most of the Cowboys’ receiver focus over the past few months has focused on the potential addition of free agent Odell Beckham Jr. He visited the team and met the medical staff, coaches and players. Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones has often expressed optimism that Beckham will join the Cowboys and contribute once the playoffs begin.

Hilton almost slipped in disguise with a drill that was too good, and the cowboy stopped him halfway, knowing he still had juice.

“This is a crowd pleaser,” said Dallas coach Mike McCarthy. “Obviously TY is very talented and very proven. He’s played at the Pro Bowl level for several years, so obviously these kinds of situations are unique, (A) for him to be available, and then the opportunity to get a trade. You can’t find a Anything but to praise him for the phone calls that were made. It was all a plus.”