The highs and lows of Deonte Banks' final four plays on Sunday mirrored his first four seasons.

But he left the past exactly where it belongs as he returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown as time expired to seal the Giants' 36-24 victory over the Cardinals.

"That's what winning is," coach John Harbaugh said. "That's what winning teams do. They find ways to win games. That's why they're winning teams and I'm proud of those guys for that. Also proud of their faith. I felt like, I'm going to just be honest with you, I was praying. I was praying and I guess God came through. And you know who else came through? Tae Banks. Tae Banks came through with a huge play after a crazy pass interference penalty. I thought you had to touch the guy for it to be pass interreference. I thought that was part of it, but you know what, they didn't bat an eye. Nobody flinched, nobody blinked, kept bringing the heat."

In a game that had already featured three lead changes, the Giants clung to a six-point lead when Banks was flagged for pass interference. The penalty set up a first-and-goal from the four-yard line with 22 seconds left. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has the lowest interception rate in NFL history, proceeded to throw three straight incompletions, including a breakup by Banks.

The Giants still needed to make one more stop, just like a week ago at MetLife Stadium.

Banks, who had missed the past two games with a calf injury, delivered this time with the biggest play of his career.

IT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF…

… Dominic Zvada didn't make a clutch 52-yard field goal that forced Arizona into a touchdown-or-lose situation. But he did.

A week after the undrafted rookie accounted for all 12 Giants points in a win over the Tians, Zvada remained perfect with three more field goals in Week 4. He became the first Giants rookie to make three 50-yard field goals in a season. The only NFL rookie to make three or more 50-yarders last season was New England's Andy Borregales (four).

Zvada was part of another banner day for the rookie class.

Linebacker Arvell Reese, the No. 5 overall pick, recorded his first career interception, nine solo tackles, three passes defensed, one tackle for loss and forced the high-arching pass that led to cornerback Greg Newsome II's first pick as a Giant. Wide receiver Malachi Fields, the team's third-round draft choice, also caught his first career touchdown.

METLIFE THRILLERS

The Giants improved to 3-1 overall with their three wins coming at home. All it took was two last-second interceptions in as many weeks. Safety Jevón Holland was the Week 3 hero and went on to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Month.

John Harbaugh is the sixth Giants head coach to begin his tenure 3-0 at home, joining Dan Reeves (1993), Alex Webster (1969), Jim Lee Howell (1954), Steve Owen (1931) and Roy Andrews (1929).

It is the Giants' eighth 3-0 home start since 1970 and the first since 2008. They made the playoffs each of the previous seven times they won their first three home games.

"It means a lot," Harbaugh said of the undefeated home record. "I think all of us, all of us, the players, coaches, we're all very, the organization. I know Mr. Mara (team president John Mara), talked to him after the game, everybody's very proud of that, very proud of that. All right, now, next time we come back home, we've got to extend it. We got to win the next one."

And they did it on a day when the Giants celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1986 championship team.

"It makes me really proud what they represented, that they could watch a football game like that," Harbaugh said. "Even though it wasn't the most beautiful game as far as played perfectly, it was a winning game. The heart and the determination and handling the pressure and all those things. I'm kind of proud of that."

NOTABLE

The last time the Giants won a game in which they trailed by 11 points or more was when they played, who else, the Cardinals in Week 2 of the 2023 season. The Giants trailed by 21 points in the third quarter of that game and scored 24 unanswered on the road for a 31-28 victory. On Sunday, the Giants fell behind 14-3 after Arizona's hot start in the first quarter.

QUOTABLE

"Well, my experience, it functions from gratitude. So, every time I'm out there, you know, it's a privilege for me to go out there and play. There are only 32 quarterbacks that are starters in the NFL. So, that's a privilege. It is. So, my experience is just to go out there and glorify the kingdom of God, man, and be my very best. That's my experience. That's the experience that I'm living." – Jameis Winston on the Jameis Winston experience after winning his second game in a row since taking over for the injured Jaxson Dart

INJURY REPORT

Three Giants players left with injuries and did not return: wide receiver/return specialist Braxton Berrios (foot), safety Jason Pinnock (concussion) and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck).

Center Bryan Hudson made his first career start in place of John Michael Schmitz. Before Sunday, the same five offensive linemen had played every snap together this season. Schmitz had missed Friday's practice due to a personal reason.

"Yeah, JMS had missed a couple days of practice, and Huddy had been doing so well," Harbaugh said. "We kind of felt like he's got the reps. He's made the calls, and we were kind of thinking about starting to work him in a little bit here and there, even some extra line stuff, if possible. And it just made sense. I mean, JMS, he'd been up, his wife had the baby. He didn't have a lot of rest. It just made sense, and I think it paid off. It's not a long-term thing. I mean, we just have two centers we really like."

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

The Giants (3-1) sit atop the NFC East through four weeks after the Eagles (2-2) lost 24-20 to the Rams. The Cowboys, whom the Giants defeated in the season opener, improved to 2-2 with a 34-30 win over the Texans

"It's an opportunity," Harbaugh said of the current standings. "I mean, the idea is to get the lead, extend the lead. That's the idea in a game and during the season. We're in good position for four games in, but it's only four games in. We have an opportunity. It gives us a great opportunity to go down there to Washington and try to play our best football game. And we can play so much better. We can play so much better. And that's what we'll be chasing."

Next up is a divisional road game against the Washington Commanders, who fell to 1-3 with a 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, starting in place of Jayden Daniels (left elbow) for the second consecutive week, suffered a knee injury in the game and was replaced by rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.