By Dean Michaels

Victor Cruz had three catches for 164 yards, including a 99-yard team record touchdown catch, and Ahmad Bradshaw carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Giants boosted their playoff hopes with a clutch 29-14 win over the New York Jets Sunday.

Cruz also broke Amani Toomer's single-season mark for yards receiving getting targeted eight times by Eli Manning, who finished just 9-for-27 for 225 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Jets dominated time of possession and converted 22 first downs to the Giants' 11, but were crippled by two interceptions and a lost fumble after a week of trash-talking between the rival clubs.

Mark Sanchez completed 30 passes on a career-high 59 attempts for 258 yards, three completions to former Giant Plaxico Burress for 34 yards. Burress was called for an offensive pass interference that negated a touchdown that would have cut the back Jets back in it in the fourth quarter.

The Jets eventually cut it to 20-14 with 7:17 left, but the Giants Chris Canty tackled Sanchez in the end zone for a safety the very next possession. Bradshaw sealed the win with his second touchdown run with 2:03 left to produce the final margin.

The Giants need to defeat the Dallas Cowboys in their final game to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since a fourth-consecutive appearance in 2008.

NFL 2011 - Victor Cruz, Ahmad Bradshaw Lead Way as Giants Take Down Jets - Week 16