The past weekend of NFL games offered a ranged of exciting contests, including a close, hard-fought and emotional game in New York between the Steelers and the Giants following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
Sadly for the fans in the area, the Giants fell to the Steelers 24-20 after a comeback by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Luckily though for New York fans, star wide receiver Victor Cruz was fine after taking a hard hit in the end zone during the game.
Cruz was lunging for a pass in the second quarter from Eli Manning and was hit square in the ribs by Steelers safety Ryan Clark.
"I'm OK," Cruz said to ESPNNewYork.com. "I just got the wind knocked out of me and I was down there for a minute and got my wind back."
Although the Steelers shut down the Giants offensively, the team is still in a good spot to win the NFC East.
In that same game Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown injured his ankle after getting tangled up with a defender. He left the game, but was able to walk to the sideline on his own power.
Another NFC East division rival got good news on Sunday as well.
The Washington Redskins lost 21-13 to the Carolina Panthers, but received good news after the game on quarterback Robert Griffin III, who took numerous shots to the ribs during the game. Griffin had x-rays after the game, but all of them came back negative.
"I'm fine. I'll be ready to go," Griffin said according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. "No one is ever going to question the fight I have inside myself to be the greatest and to help this team to victory. It doesn't matter what it is, I will make sure that I continue to help my team win games and that it starts right after the bye."
On the west coast, Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's 42-32 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The running back has been injury prone throughout his career and was injured on his first carry of the game. He tried to play through it, but left the game later on in the second quarter. He finished the game with seven carries for 17 yards. Following the game his x-rays came back negative.
One of the most notable injuries of the weekend came to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who came into Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals dealing with a hamstring injury.
Nelson left the game in the first quarter on the first throw to him in the game from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After sliding to make the catch with under six minutes left in the first, Nelson twisted over his right ankle and left the game and did not return.
The Packers have dealt with numerous injuries to their wide receivers this season, including to Greg Jennings, who has missed multiple games this season.
Other notable injuries around the league include Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who injured his left ankle for the second time this season, as well as Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin, who suffered an ankle injury.
