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We go “behind enemy lines” to find out more about the Cardinals’ opponent.
The Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants are set to play Sunday at MetLife Stadium. To help preview the game, Giants Wire managing editor Dan Benton answered some questions and gave his prediction for the game. Below are his responses.
The Giants lead 80-45-2 all-time but Arizona has won three in a row and four of five.
The Arizona Cardinals have played the New York Giants more than any other team in the NFL. The game this weekend in Week 14 is the 128th meeting between the two storied franchises.
The Cardinals and Giants all-time series dates back to 1926 and is the third-oldest rivalry.
New York has a significant lead in the all-time series — 80-45-2 — but the Cardinals have owned the matchup in recent history. Arizona has won the last three games between the two teams, four out of the last five and six of nine games since league realignment in 2002, when the Cardinals were moved from the NFC East to the NFC West.
The Cardinals beat the Giants 27-21 last year behind 126 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns by Chase Edmonds.
Arizona picked up a 23-0 win in 2017 at home with Drew Stanton starting. He threw two touchdown passes and defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche returned a fumble for a touchdown.
In 2014, the Cardinals won 25-14 with Stanton also starting.
An Arizona win will put them back into the top seven in the NFC after being bumped out of the final wild card spot a week ago.
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The Cardinals have four former Giants and the Giants have three former Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants will face one another on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in Week 14. The two teams have several player connections.
The Cardinals have three players on the active roster another on injured reserve who have played for the Giants, while New York has three former Cardinals of their own.
Who are they?
One player is out for New York and another four are questionable.
The New York Giants have released their final injury report of the week and they have one player ruled out and everyone else listed as questionable. It is four players in all who are questionable for the game.
Cornerback Madre Harper (knee) did not practice all week and will not play. He has also been since placed on injured reserve so there will be a roster replacement and he will miss at least three games.
Quarterback Daniel Jones (hamstring) was limited in practice again on Friday. Giants head coach Joe Judge is “fairly optimistic” Jones will be in the lineup against Arizona.
Things are less certain for linebacker Blake Martinez (back). Officially questionable, he was downgraded from limited to no participation in practice on Friday.
Rookie cornerback Darnay Holmes (knee) was also downgraded from limited to a DNP on Friday, but he is also questionable.
Tackle Matt Peart (ankle) is also questionable for the game. He was limited on Thursday and Friday.
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Kliff Kingsbury sounds optimistic about Hopkins and Drake.
The Arizona Cardinals have wrapped up their week of practice in Week 14 preparing for the New York Giants on the road this weekend. They released their final injury report of the week and have a few key players who are questionable.
Two defensive backs are out — safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (neck). Thompson had been ruled out earlier in the week.
Six others are questionable, with two new injuries popping up. Starting right tackle Kelvin Beachum was limited with a back injury on Friday as a new addition. That potentially could give Justin Murray the start potentially as he is listed as questionable for the game.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez also was added to the report, also with a back injury that limited him on Friday. He also is questionable. Keep an eye on Saturday’s roster moves to see if the team elevates kicker Mike Nugent from the practice squad.
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (ankle) did not practice all week and is questionable. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury did not sound optimistic he would be able to go.
However, for running back Kenyan Drake (hip), receiver DeAndre Hopkins (neck, back) and linebacker Isaiah Simmons (neck, back), Kingsbury sounded like they all would play. He described Hopkins’ and Simmons’ issues as “lingering soreness,” while he spoke about Drake as if he were going to have a role on Sunday.
All are listed as questionable for the game. All were limited on Friday.
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He is officially questionable for the game after being limited in practice all week.
The Arizona Cardinals will take on the New York Giants this weekend on the road but do not know yet who will be the opposing quarterback. Starter Daniel Jones is officially questionable for the game with a hamstring injury. He missed the Giants’ last game, a 17-12 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Colt McCoy started in his place.
It appears, though, that Jones will be back in the lineup, even if he isn’t 100%.
“I’m fairly optimistic,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said of Jones’ availability, according to Giants Wire’s Dan Benton, “but at the same time, there’s a ways to go.”
He was limited all week in practice.
The Giants have won four games in a row and Judge wants Jones to be able to protect himself from reaggravating the injury.
Jones has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9 and is not having a great season. He has completed 63.2% of his passes this season for 2,335 yards, but he has thrown only eight touchdown passes while being intercepted nine times. He has been sacked 31 times in 11 games.
He is fumbling the ball less this year. After fumbling the ball a league-high 18 times last season, he has coughed it up only seven times so far this season.
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New York is among the league’s best defenses in many categories.
The Arizona Cardinals have struggled more offensively the last three weeks than they have all season. They had five straight games of at least 30 points and at least 400 yards. They are averaging 22 points per game in their three-game losing streak and haven’t topped 314 yards in those contests.
It won’t get easier against the New York Giants, their Week 14 opponent on the road.
New York, on a four-game winning streak, has turned around its defense.
They are the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense, allowing 339 yards per game. They are ninth in scoring defense, giving up only 22.1 points per game.
The Cardinals have been at their best when they run the ball. New York has been dominant against the run.
The Giants are fourth in rushing defense, allowing 96.7 yards per game. The 4.0 yards per rushing attempt allowed is tied for seventh-best in the league.
The one area where the Giants defense is not strong is on third down. Opponents convert on 42.1% of their third-down attempts. On fourth down, they are even worse, as opponents have converted on 9-of-14 (64.3%).
Defending the pass, the Giants are middle of the pack.
They allow 242.3 passing yards per game and an opponent passer rating of 91.8, which mirrors the Cardinals’ passer rating allowed. They have allowed only 17 passing touchdowns and have picked off 10 passes.
They are tied for eighth with 32 sacks.
Their defense is similar to the Washington Football Team’s unit. Of course, the Cardinals put up 30 points against Washington earlier this season, so there is optimism.
The Cardinals need to win this game and need to get the offense back on track. While it will not be easy on the road in December against a physical defense, a win would be just what the Cardinals need.
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The Arizona Cardinals must decide this Sunday if they are fit to make the 2020 postseason against the New York Giants.
The Arizona Cardinals have experienced quite the downfall in recent weeks compared to their October trajectory. With starts of 5-2 and 6-3, a 6-6 record in December is concerning.
DeAndre Hopkins isn’t getting the ball. His route trees of quick outs, slants, and bubbles to one side of the field have gone viral and lead to criticism of Kliff Kingsbury’s play-calling.
Defenses have committed everything to stopping Kyler Murray, and the lack of help from some teammates has made that gameplan very effective. As a whole, the offense has looked out of sync.
Perhaps the greatest Cardinal of all time is what this young team needs to right the ship.
Check out New York’s second injury report of the week.
The New York Giants released their second injury report of the week on Thursday. Only one player had to sit out.
Defensive back Madre Harper (knee) was the only player who did not get any work.
Linebacker Blake Martinez (back) and tackle Matt Peart (ankle), listed as non-participants on Wednesday, were upgraded on Thursday, getting limited reps after Wednesday’s walkthrough.
Quarterback Daniel Jones (hamstring) and safety Darnay Holmes (knee) were both limited for the second day in a row. It was an important day for Jones to test out his ability to move around in the pocket.
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DeAndre Hopkins and Simmons sat out with neck/back injuries and Drake was limited with a hip issue.
The Arizona Cardinals were back at practice again on Thursday and released their second injury report of the week. They have some new injuries.
Receiver DeAndre Hopkins was unable to practice for the second day in a row. Wednesday he sat out with a regularly scheduled off day. On Thursday, he was listed with a neck/back injury.
Rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons also sat out, list as well with a neck/back injury. This is notable because the starter at the position, De’Vondre Campbell, missed his second straight practice with an ankle injury.
Running back Kenyan Drake was a new addition as well, appearing as limited with a hip injury. It is an injury to watch on Friday.
Safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (neck) both sat out practice for the second day in a row.
Defensive tackle Domata Peko (knee) went from being out Wednesday to full participation on Thursday. Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence (calf) was limited for the second day in a row, while defensive lineman Leki Fotu (ankle, hip) went from limited on Wednesday to practicing fully on Thursday.
Safety Charles Washington (groin) was upgraded to limited as well.
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