New York Giants Official Website

OCTOBER 22, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The Giants will attempt to start a new winning streak when they host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night in Giants Stadium. A 48-27 defeat last week in New Orleans left the Giants with a 5-1 record. Arizona, 3-2, has won two in a row and three of its last four, including a 27-3 rout of the Seahawks last Sunday in Seattle. The Cardinals have won both of their road games this season. The Giants lead the series, 79-41-2, and won the last game played overall (37-29 last Nov. 23 in Phoenix) and here (42-19 in the 2005 season opener).

Offense

The Cardinals are ranked 16th in the NFL in offense, averaging 337.8 yards a game. The breakdown is indicative of their priorities: They are sixth in the league in passing yards (280.2) and tied for 31st and last in rushing (57.6) and 31st in yards per carry (2.9). Arizona's 22.4 points per game is tied for 15th in the NFL.

The Cardinals are powered by a terrific quarterback in former Giant Kurt Warner and an elite group of receivers who have different skills and complement each other well.

Warner is still one of the NFL's best quarterbacks at age 38. He has completed 68.7 percent of his passes for 1,441 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Warner threw for 276 yards at Seattle to reach 30,000 career yards in his 114th game, tying Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the fastest in history to reach that mark. His pinpoint accuracy consistently gives his receivers a chance to catch the ball in stride, which enables them to gain big yards. Warner hit his first 15 passes vs. Jacksonville and first 12 at Seattle, further proof that he will slice and dice a defense that can't break his rhythm.

Warner's favorite target is three-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, who leads the Cards with 35 catches and five touchdowns. He led the NFC in those categories the previous two years. An offensive catalyst, Fitzgerald is so big and strong he can catch passes with defenders draped over him. He runs well after catching the ball and is the wideout Warner looks to in the red zone. Anquan Boldin, who has also played in three Pro Bowls, missed four games last season, but still finished second in the NFC with 89 catches. He hurt his right ankle at Seattle, was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter and did not practice Wednesday. Boldin, who has 29 catches for 306 yards, is a strong, physical receivers who is sly and crafty when running his routes. He has strong hands and is excellent at finding openings in a zone defense. Steve Breaston (23 receptions for 320 yards, including a terrific leaping touchdown in Seattle) is a speedster with a big strike zone. Jerheme Urban is a big inside route runner who has caught at least two passes in every game.

Tim Hightower rushed for 10 touchdowns in 2008, including one against the Giants. He leads Arizona with only 153 rushing yards, but is an effective weapon out of the backfield, with 29 receptions for 228 yards. While Hightower is more of a power back, his backup, first-round draft choice Beanie Wells, is a slip and slide runner who is difficult to bring down. Wells provides a nice change of pace with his speed, quickness and vision. LaRod Stephens-Howling, another rookie, is a quick darter who also runs with toughness. Fullback Dan Kreider is a 250-pound 10-year veteran with good blocking skills.

The Cardinals have been unsettled at tight end. Ben Patrick missed the first four games while under NFL suspension. He played for the first time in Seattle. Patrick is a very talented player with good vertical speed and blocking ability. Stephen Spach started the first two games. He moves around the formation, but is bothered by an ankle injury. Anthony Becht started the last three games. He is the best blocker of the group and has underrated receiving skills.

Arizona's five offensive linemen form a cohesive group that has started 21 consecutive games together. The line has shown improvement from its performance last season. Left tackle Mike Gandy is smart and alert and moves well. He has started 70 consecutive games. Left guard Reggie Wells has a big, heavy body and imposing strength. Center Lyle Sendlein is a smart and tough player who makes all the calls up front. Deuce Lutui is a rugged right guard with experience. Right tackle Levi Brown is the line's most talented and athletic player.

Defense

Like the offense, Arizona's 3-4 defense is also 16th in the league, allowing 324.8 yards a game. The breakdown is also very similar to that of the offense. The Cardinals are first in the league in both rushing yards allowed per game (59.6) and per attempt (2.8). But they are 30th in the league against the pass (265.2). Arizona is allowing 18.4 points per game, which is eighth in the league. The defense is better than it was in last year's Super Bowl season, particularly up front.

Tackle Darnell Dockett, a 2007 Pro Bowler, is a reckless, relentless, explosive and high-motor defender who is capable of disrupting an offense's plans on any play. End Calais Campbell's play has improved significantly from this 2008 rookie season. A 6-7, 290-pounder, he is athletic and instinctive and he pursues the ball all over the field. Though tall, he is a strong anchor vs. the run. Many consider him a Pro Bowler in the making. Nose tackle Bryan Robinson is a 13-year veteran who reads schemes, quickly locates the ball and bottles up the run. Backup Gabe Watson is a powerful 340-pound inside player. Alan Branch and Kenny Iwebema are productive reserves.

The Cardinals have a versatile and productive crew of linebackers. Weak inside backer Karlos Dansby is the best all-around player in the group. The team's leading tackler with 33 (26 solo), he is athletic, instinctive, fast and strong. Playing next to him is Gerald Hayes, a steady Eddie type who is solid and dependable against the run and pass, but not at all flashy. Hayes is a strong tackler. Clark Haggans is the left outside linebacker. He plays with good speed and is strong enough to take on the biggest tight ends. On the right side is Chike Okeafor, an every snap player who is tall (6-5) and rangy with good pass rush skills. He had a sack last week in Seattle. Bertrand Berry, who had four sacks against the Giants in a 2004, leads the team this season with three. He is a professional pass rusher who plays right end in sub packages and started when Okeafor had a shoulder injury.

Arizona's most gifted defensive back is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a first-round draft choice in 2008. He won the Houston game with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown. Rodgers-Cromartie is a smooth, fluid player with outstanding play speed and range. The right corner is Bryant McFadden, a free agent acquisition from Pittsburgh. He has good feel and instincts and is strong in run support. Strong safety Adrian Wilson is the longest-tenured Cardinal (nine years). The 2008 Pro Bowler needs one sack and two interceptions to become the fifth defensive back in history with 20/20 in his career. Wilson is an outstanding box safety who anticipates snap counts and is quick to find the ball. He has a knack for separating the ball from the offensive player who is holding it. The free safety is Antrel Rolle, who has been their best all-round defensive back this season with two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. He is smart and instinctive against both the run and pass and has good speed and range. Former Giant Ralph Brown is playing extremely well as the nickel back. He has good speed deep and reacts quickly to the ball. Matt Ware is the dime back.

Special Teams

Left-footed punter Ben Graham is third in the NFL with a 48.8-yard gross average and 10th with a 39.8-yard net average. He spent three-plus seasons with the Jets, so is accustomed to kicking in Giants Stadium. Kickers Neil Rackers was a Pro Bowler in 2005. This season, he has made seven of eight field goal attempts with his only miss a 48-yarder, the longest kick he has tried. The punt return duties have been split between Breaston (9.9-yard average on eight runbacks) and Rolle (9.2-yard average on six). Stephens-Howling is averaging 20.6 yards on 13 kickoff returns.