Recap: NY Giants vs. Arizona

Published online on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

Antrel Rolle intercepted an Eli Manning pass late in the fourth quarter, one of three Manning picks, and Kurt Warner threw for 231 yards and a touchdown as the Arizona Cardinals edged the New York Giants, 24-17, in Week 7 action at Giants Stadium.

Warner, who beat his former team for the first time since being released following the 2004 season, finished 20-of-36 and also threw an interception for the Cardinals (4-2), who won their third straight after a 1-2 start to the season. Chris "Beanie" Wells gained 67 yards and a score on 14 carries while Tim Hightower also found the end zone.

Larry Fitzgerald gained 83 yards on six catches in the win for the Cardinals, who moved to 3-0 on the road for the first time since the strike-shortened season of 1982. The game also marked the first time they've won away games in back-to-back weeks since 2001. Furthermore, the triumph also snaps an 11-game slide on the road to teams from the NFC East.

Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had an interception, left the game with a left ankle injury and did not return. However, x-rays taken at the stadium were negative.

Manning finished 19-of-37 for 243 yards and a TD for the Giants (5-2), who have dropped two in a row on the heels of a five-game winning streak to start the season. Brandon Jacobs totaled 76 yards and a touchdown on 13 touches, while Hakeem Nicks garnered 80 yards and a score on four grabs. Nicks now has a touchdown catch in four straight games.

"We have to get back to being consistent, find our rhythm and play the way we had been at the start of the season," said Manning. "We haven't hit our big plays that we were hitting earlier in the season."

Trailing by three late in the third, the Giants were deep in their own territory. Facing a 3rd-and-7 from the 22, Manning looked for Jacobs on a short dump to the right side. The ball, however, had other ideas as it bounced off Jacobs and was intercepted by Adrian Wilson. Three plays later, Jason Wright hauled in a six-yard TD pass to give the Cardinals a 24-14 lead.

Then, early in the fourth, New York started at the Arizona 44 following a punt. Jacobs converted a 4th-and-1 with a seven-yard rush to move the ball to the 28. Two plays later, Manning hit Steve Smith for a 17-yard gain and it was 1st-and-10 from the 11.

But the drive stalled there, and Lawrence Tynes kicked a 20-yard field goal.

Arizona then started at its own 31 and drove all the way down to the New York 37 before a sack made it 4th-and-10 from the 44. A punt followed and the Giants started at their own 17. Manning hit Kevin Boss for a gain of 25 yards on first down, but Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled on the next play and the Cardinals recovered.

The visitors were held to a three-and-out and New York got the ball back at its own nine-yard line with 2:52 left to play. A false start on first down moved the ball half the distance to the goal line and Bradshaw was called for unnecessary roughness on the next play, making it 2nd-and-18 from the one. The next play garnered just three yards, but Smith hauled in a 34-yard pass to get the chains moving.

Following a timeout, on second down, Hicks had a 12-yard grab to move the ball to midfield as the clock stopped for the two-minute warning with 1:53 showing. Jacobs eventually moved the ball to the Arizona 39 and the home team called timeout with 80 ticks left. Two plays later, Manning was picked off by Rolle to all but seal the Arizona victory.

"Tonight was as tough as it gets," said Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "To have the mistakes we had in the first half and still be in the game and still play the way we did, especially coming out and scoring twice in the second half was big."