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Unless it happens on the opening drive of the season, a wide receiver will always think his first touchdown took longer than expected.  

But as each week passed for Rueben Randle without finding the end zone, the second-round draft choice became more and more anxious. That is, until Sunday night against Green Bay.

On a third-and-5 play late in the first quarter, Eli Manning found the rookie in the back of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. The hookup was part of a 17-point first quarter and was the 198^th of Manning’s career. Thanks to a three-touchdown performance, Manning would later break Phil Simms’ team record of touchdown passes with 200.

“They were in quarters, but they played man on the outside,” Randle said. “It was press, and I just beat him with an inside release. Eli did a great job of placing the ball up high where I could go up and make a play on it, and touchdown.”

The equipment staff made sure the football was kept and put away for the rookie.

“A lot of pressure off finally getting in the end zone,” Randle said after the 38-10 victory. “It took longer than what I expected, but it’s a blessing. I just continue to work hard, hoping it will be the first of many.

“[The other wide receivers] were all happy for me. After that, it didn’t last long because we still had a game to play. It was only the first quarter. After that, it was back to focusing on coming out with another win.”