The Arizona Cardinals (2-3-1) make the cross country trip to take on the New York Giants (2-4) Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. New York leads the all-time series 80-44-2, but Arizona has won the last two meetings including a 23-0 shutout in 2017. The Cardinals are looking for their third straight victory while the Giants are hoping to avoid a 0-3 stretch with a victory at home.
Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals are starting to turn things around. After a tie in their first game and three subsequent losses, the Cardinals have won their last two games in nail biting fashion, 26-23 on the road in Cincinnati and a 34-33 home win against Atlanta. Matt Bryant’s failed extra point in the final minutes of the game proved to be the difference maker on the scoreboard but give a ton of credit to Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray proved why the team selected him with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with one of his best performances of the season. He completed 27 of 37 passes for 340 yards, three touchdowns, and most importantly no interceptions. Running back David Johnson picked up 34 yards and one touchdown on the ground and caught six passes for 68 yards and another touchdown. Larry Fitzgerald led the team with 69 yards receiving. That is the kind of offensive production the Cardinals need to turn the season around and be successful in 2019.
While the offense is steadily improving, the defense still needs a lot of work. The Cardinals rank in the bottom four statistically in points (28.5), yards allowed (414) and passing yards allowed (281.2) Matt Ryan was sacked only two times and completed 30 of 36 passes for 356 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Chandler Jones’s sack of Ryan forced a fumble, which was later recovered by the Falcons but threw off their momentum. Jordan Hicks led the team in tackles with nine while Haason Reddick and Budda Baker each had eight.
Since the New York Giants beat the Buccaneers 32-31 in week three, the team has lost their last three games. In that span, quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown six interceptions which proved costly. The first-round pick looked less than stellar against the Patriots and their top ranked defense in a 35-14 loss last weekend in Foxborough. Jones completed less than half of his passes (15 of 31) for 161 yards and three interceptions. The running game, which totaled 52 yards, is in desperate need of Saquon Barkley’s return. Speaking of returns, Golden Tate, in his second game back from a PED suspension, looked like he was in top shape, catching nine balls for 102 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown. Barkley and Evan Engram, who was out with a knee injury, returned to practice this week and could play Sunday, which would be excellent news for this offense.
At 42 years old, Tom Brady proved he could still pick apart a defense. Brady threw for 334 yards and although he didn’t complete a touchdown pass, he did rush for two touchdowns against the Cardinals. Sony Michel and Brandon Bolden combined for 119 yards on the ground and a touchdown as well. The Giants defense will have to prepare for a high powered Cardinals offense that can beat you in a multitude of ways, whether it is with Kyler Murray and David Johnson in the run game or a deep pass to veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
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