Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants
Final Score: Giants 36, Cardinals 24
Writer: Jay Felicio (@GmenJay on twitter/x/bluesky, @gmenj on reddit)
Arizona jumped out early in this game to a 14-3 lead, but the Giants refused to roll over and scored twice in just over two minutes before the half. The Cardinals drove down the field and kicked a 60-yard field goal as the first half ended to take back a 19-17 lead. The teams swapped leads a few times, but the big swing came on a Dominic Zvada field goal attempt that was good but came off the board thanks to a defensive holding call, handing the Giants a first down. Two plays later, the Giants would take the lead and not give it back. Arvelle Reese was a monster, nine solo tackles, three passes defended, and his first career interception. Arizona had the chance to steal the game at the end; a pass interference led to first and goal at the four in the final minute. Brissett threw incomplete to Michael Wilson twice, then once to Trey McBride, then back again to Wilson on fourth down. That attempt got picked off by the returning Giants CB Deonte Banks and took it to the house for a 98-yard game-sealing pick-six.
Three Up
- Jameis Winston – His line is a lot prettier than his performance, but you can’t argue with three touchdown passes.
- Malik Nabers – Easily his best game of the season.
- Isaiah Likely – Clearly the favorite target of Winston; came down with some impressive catches.
Three Down
- Jacoby Brissett – Three picks and under 170 passing yards is no bueno.
- Cam Skattebo – Got the volume, but 3.2 yards per carry won’t cut it.
- Marvin Harrison Jr – Saw a couple of end zone targets, but has fully ceded WR1 to Michael Wilson.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 21/35, 166 Yards, 2 TD, 3 INT | 4 Carries, 18 Yards
Jacoby Brissett faced pressure all day long as the Giants blitzed on 53.8% of his drop-backs. The pressure forced Brissett into some mistakes, throwing two of his three interceptions with defenders on his tracks and being sacked twice. His first interception was a pass attempt into double coverage in the 2nd quarter to MHJ, and his second was on third and two after the ball was tipped at the line by Shelby Harris and snagged by Reece for his first career INT.
Notes
- Brissett made some impressive throws throughout the day (hitting Michael Wilson with a 24-yard pass with nine seconds left in the first half to set up a field goal), but the pressure heavily impacted his performance.
- Threw touchdowns in the first and third quarters, the only ones he didn’t throw an interception.
- Targeted Wilson and Mcbride 13 times for 38 yards in the fourth quarter.
Missed Opportunities
- Force feeding Michael Wilson helped Giants CB Diontae Banks jump the route on fourth and goal for the game sealing pick six.
Running Back
Jeremiyah Love: 14 Carries, 63 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, -8 Yards
Tyler Allgeier: 8 Carries, 42 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards
After getting stuffed on his first carry of the day, Jeremiyah Love was able to do pretty much whatever he wanted for the rest of the first half. The Giants linebacker corps sans Brian Burns struggled early to stop Love and Tyler Allgeier, who combined for 105 rushing yards on 4.8 yards per carry. But it was Allgeier who got into the end zone; he came in to spell Love on the second drive of the game and capped an impressive drive with a 22-yard touchdown run with a stiff arm that would have made King Henry proud.
Notes
- Love out-carried Allgeier 14 to 8, but Allgeier was more efficient and got the team’s only goal line carry.
- 87% of the rushing production came in the first half. The duo averaged 6.5 yards per carry in the first half and 1.8 in the second.
Missed Opportunities
- Love lost a few impressive runs that were called back due to holding penalties.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 12 Yards, TD
Marvin Harrison Jr. caught a beautiful fade in the corner of the end zone on the game’s first drive to score his first touchdown of the season. And that’s it. MHJ had a few more end zone targets, but there’s no possible way to deny he’s ceded WR1 duties to Michael Wilson.
Notes
- Third game this season with four or fewer targets and one or fewer catches.
Missed Opportunities
- Almost had a 2nd touchdown, twice. He had one broken up good play by Banks, then was held by Greg Newsome in the end zone on the very next play. The penalty eventually led to an Elijah Higgins score.
- Targeted deep late in the game and drew a pass interference call on Javon Holland to put the cards on the 5 with 22 seconds left.
Michael Wilson: 13 Targets, 7 Receptions, 95 Yards
Michael Wilson led the Cardinals with 13 targets and tied Trey McBride for the team lead in catches. He has 30 targets over the Cardinals’ last two games and 44 targets on the season, but he has yet to surpass 100 receiving yards in a game and has just one score. He was targeted on three of four downs in the game’s final moments, which equated to two incompletions and an interception.
Kendrick Bourne: No stats recorded
Not targeted. Week 1 appears to be an aberration.
Trey McBride: 12 Targets, 7 Receptions, 31 Yards
A disappointing stat line for Trey McBride, but he was just a single target behind Michael Wilson for the team lead and matched the game high seven catches. McBride looked fine and was heavily involved; sometimes these games just happen. He also had a potential touchdown reception broken up by Diontae Banks in the second-to-last play of the game.
Elijah Higgins: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards, TD
Caught a touchdown. Whoopee!
New York Giants
Quarterback
Jameis Winston: 18/29, 250 Yards, 3 TD, 2 INT | 0 Carries, 0 Yards
It was easily the best performance of Jameis Winston‘s Giants career, but don’t let the gaudy stat line fool you. Winston was off target for much of the day in typical Jameis fashion and bailed out by his pass catchers multiple times. But credit where credit is due. Winston’s ability to extend the play in the face of pressure is the reason the Giants were able to come away with this win. Winston hit Fields for a touchdown rolling right as the pocket broke down. When the LB came down to tackle Winston and left Fields, Winston hit him for the score. Late in the third quarter, Cardinals cornerback Max Melton came down towards the line of scrimmage with Winston extending the play, giving just enough space for Jameis to thread the needle on a 40-yard completion to Fields.
Notes
- Missed a wide-open Darnell Mooney for a 25-yard completion early in the second. The very next play hit him over the middle on a 3rd and five; Mooney would wind up dropping after a hit hard popped ball out.
- The Giants got aggressive with a minute left in the first half and completed a few passes to get into field goal range. Winston would wind up picked off by Denzel Burke targeting Malachi Fields.
Missed Opportunities
- Threw a third interception early in the third quarter when Winston had both Mooney and Isaiah Likely open rolling right, and Winston would throw instead to the DB right between them.
- Underthrew Nabers on a play action late in the third quarter that could have been a touchdown had Jameis led him.
J.J. McCarthy: No stats recorded
Notes
- His number is 18. 1 + 8 = 9.
Running Back
Cam Skattebo: 18 Carries, 58 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Cam Skattebo got stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on a 3rd and 2 on the Giants’ first drive that would end with a field goal. Skatt started slow but got going midway through the 2nd quarter, ending the first with just six rushing yards but would finish with 58 on 18 carries. Not a great performance, but the volume is encouraging.
Notes
- Was handed five straight carries on the Giants’ final drive to make Arizona burn their timeouts and run the clock down to about 2 minutes.
- Doubled the carries of Najee Harris.
Najee Harris: 9 Carries, 30 Yards, Fumble (LOST) | 0 Targets
Najee Harris didn’t do much on the box score but honestly looked good with the ball in his hands. He looked fast and ran smoothly. He mostly came in to spell Skattebo and ran in a 2-point conversion to put the Giants up three late in the third.
Notes
- Lost a fumble in 4th quarter thanks to a “Peanut Punch” by Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 1 Carry, -1 Yard
Tyrone Tracy‘s only impact on the game was a 55-yard kickoff return in the first that helped set up a scoring drive.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Malik Nabers: 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 112 Yards, TD
Malik Nabers had his best game of the season as well, totaling more receiving yards than his first three games combined for his first over-100-yard receiving game and first score of the year.
Notes
- Came down with a yolo ball from Winston on 3rd and long in the first quarter. Landed hard on his side while making the 39-yard completion and was injured on the play. The injury wasn’t serious, and Nabers played the entire game.
Missed Opportunities
- Had to slow down and wait on an underthrown pass from Winston in the mid-third that could have been a touchdown had Winston hit him in stride.
Malachi Fields: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 52 Yards, TD
The rookie only saw three targets, but caught two of them in key moments for the Giants. Malachi Fields caught the Giants’ first touchdown of the day and the first of his career late in the second quarter.
Darnell Mooney: 2 Targets, 0 Receptions, 0 Yards
Should have had a few catches but lost them to big hits or poorly thrown balls. Overall, Darnell Mooney isn’t relevant in the Giants offense.
Isaiah Likely: 12 Targets, 7 Receptions, 66 Yards
Even without Jaxon Dart, the Isaiah Likely breakout is still in play. The uber-athletic tight end was the obvious favorite of Jameis and for good reason. Likely made a nice one-handed grab on a throw that was too high and behind him with 6 min left in the half to convert the first down on second and seven. Made the play for Winston multiple times, catching overthrown balls.
Theo Johnson: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards, TD
Snatched the ball right over the head of the defender trying to cover him on a laser from Jameis, his only target of the game.