IRVING, Texas – Dez Bryant couldn't hide it.
The wide receiver initially joked that he doesn't think about the 37-yard touchdown he thought he had against the Giants last year, which would have put the Cowboys ahead with just seconds remaining in the game. The catch in the back of the end zone was ruled a touchdown, but reversed soon after as the replay showed his finger touch out of bounds as he landed.
The Cowboys lost that game by five points, and it's something Bryant still thinks about, as much as he'd like to pretend otherwise.
"I lied, I do," Bryant said with a smile. "It just makes me want to get out there that much more and try to do everything right to not even try to get in that kind of position."
This year's season opener is against the same opponent as last year, only this time the Cowboys will host the Giants instead of making the trip to the East Coast. The last time the Giants came to Dallas, Bryant still finished with five catches and 110 receiving yards, despite the late reception getting reversed.
"It's what everybody wants to see," Bryant said. "Both teams are going to come in, and we want to put on a show."
Bryant's carried his strong end to the 2012 season into this year, finishing the preseason as the Cowboys' leading receiver with 13 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown in limited snaps.
He said the confidence is there with the offense, and they've just been waiting patiently through five preseason games to watch it all come together. Still, he doesn't want to put too much pressure on the first game of the year with 15 more to follow.
Bryant stepped back from any talk about "setting the tone" in a long season with ups and downs every week. That doesn't mean he's not excited to get the year started, though. He said the Cowboys have been getting ready for the Giants and are prepared as the first real week of football is set to begin.
"It doesn't matter who we play, just because it's the beginning of the season," Bryant said. "Football is back. Preseason is not the season. That football is totally different from the actual game. Everything counts. You've got the starters playing. We're looking to battle all four quarters."
