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Instant Analysis: Giants clinch 36-24 victory over Cardinals on Deonte Banks 98-yard pick-six

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AT A GLANCE

On fourth-and-goal with the Giants clinging to a six-point lead, cornerback Deonte Banks intercepted Jacoby Brissett and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown as time expired for a 36-24 victory over the Cardinals.

The Giants improved to 3-1 on the season while remaining undefeated at MetLife Stadium, where safety JevĂłn Holland sealed the victory a week ago with an interception in the closing seconds.

UP NEXT

The Giants will hit the road for the second time this season and face the Washington Commanders, who fell to 1-3 with a 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, already 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.

Photos from the Week 4 matchup between the Giants and Cardinals.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

The Giants dressed three quarterbacks on Sunday. Jameis Winston started the second consecutive game in place of Jaxson Dart. Jake Haener, who had been on the practice squad, and J.J. McCarthy, the former No. 10 overall pick acquired on Monday from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft choice, were also active.

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.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers converted two third downs on the Giants' first possession (which ended in a field goal), including a 39-yard jump ball from Winston on third-and-12. It was the Giants' longest play from scrimmage to that point in the season. Nabers had just six catches for 27 yards in his previous two games combined. He finished with a season-high 112 yards on six catches, including a 25-yard touchdown.

Winston completed 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. The first turnover led to a 60-yard field goal by Chad Ryland as time expired in the first half to cut Arizona's deficit to 19-17 at the time. The second occurred to start the third quarter and led to Jacoby Brissett's two-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Higgins, putting the Cardinals back ahead 24-19.

Including the start of Sunday's game, the Giants went nine straight quarters without scoring a touchdown for the first time since 1999. Rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields ended the drought with a 12-yard touchdown catch, the first of his career, with 4:30 left in the second quarter. Down 14-12, the Giants unsuccessfully attempted a two-point conversion.

The Giants retook the lead 27-24 late in the third quarter when tight end Theo Johnson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Winston and Najee Harris ran into the end zone on the following two-point conversion. Johnson had just one previous catch this season.

The Giants turned the ball over for the third time when Mack Wilson Sr. forced and recovered a Harris fumble with 11:08 left in the game. The Giants had turned the ball over just twice in their first three games.

Cam Skattebo had 18 carries for 58 yards. The Giants improved to 5-0 when he has 18 or more carries. They are 0-7 when he has 17 or fewer.

Photos from the Week 4 matchup between the Giants and Cardinals.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

The week began with the loss of another key player and leader. Outside linebacker Brian Burns, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL late in last Sunday's win over the Titans.

Cornerback Deonte Banks and safety Tyler Nubin returned to the starting lineup after missing time with calf injuries.

The Giants entered Week 4 as the only team that had not allowed a first down on their opponent's opening drive in each of the first three games of the season. That changed – and then some – on Sunday as Jacoby Brissett threw a 12-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr., capping an eight-play, 58-yard opening drive. Arizona also scored on its second possession with a 22-yard touchdown run by Tyler Allgeier. Combined with rookie Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals averaged nine yards per carry in the first quarter (nine attempts for 81 yards) as they built an 11-point lead.

Cornerback Greg Newsome II stopped Arizona's hot start with his first interception as a Giant. On the throw, rookie linebacker Arvell Reese forced Brissett to lob the ball after delivering a big hit on the quarterback. The Giants have now recorded an interception in each of their first four games for the first time since 1993.

Reese followed up his Week 3 breakout with another performance that the Giants envisioned when they drafted him with the No. 5 pick. The Ohio State product finished with nine solo tackles (one for loss), three passes defensed, and an interception off a pass batted by Shelby Harris. Reese returned the pick eight yards to the Cardinals 26, leading to Nabers' first touchdown of the year to give the Giants their first lead of the game with 2:24 remaining.

Safety JevĂłn Holland, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month, kicked off October with seven tackles (four solo).

Banks was called for defensive passing interference, giving the Cardinals a first-and-goal at the four-yard line with 22 seconds remaining. After three straight incompletions, Banks then made the biggest play of his career.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Dominic Zvada continued the perfect start to his career by making three more field goal attempts on Sunday, including a long of 52 yards that extended the Giants' lead to six points with two minutes remaining. The undrafted rookie has now made all nine of his attempts, including three from at least 50 yards.

Zvada is the first Giants rookie to make three 50-yard field goals. The only NFL rookie to make three or more 50-yarders last season was New England's Andy Borregales (four).

Tyrone Tracy Jr. broke a career-long kickoff return for 55 yards, leading to a Zvada field goal.

Jordan Stout downed two more punts inside the 20, none more important than the one he stopped at the three-yard line while the Giants clung to a 27-24 lead with six minutes remaining.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: WR Braxton Berrios (foot), S Jason Pinnock (concussion), DL Chauncey Golston (neck)

ARI: S Andrew Wingard (knee), OL Isaiah Adams (ankle), TE Hunter Long (knee)

INACTIVES

NYG: S Ar'Darius Washington, RB Devin Singletary, CB Nikko Reed, OLB Jihad Ward, OL J.C. Davis, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis

ARI: QB Carson Beck (3rd QB), CB Starling Thomas V, S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, LB Cameron Robertson, OL Josh Fryar, WR Reggie Virgil

THE WEEKLY WIRE

NYG: QB Jake Haener (elevated from practice squad), OLB Trace Ford (elevated from practice squad), QB J.J. McCarthy (acquired from MIN for 2027 fifth-round pick), DL P.J. Mustipher (practice squad addition), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (released), OLB Brian Burns (reserve/injured), WR Braxton Berrios (signed to active roster from practice squad), WR Charlie Jones (signed to active roster from practice squad), OLB Jihad Ward (signed from MIN practice squad), OL Darian Kinnard (released from practice squad), OL Kendrick Green (practice squad addition)

ARI: OLB Cameron Robertson (elevated from practice squad), OL Matt Pryor (signed to NE practice squad from ARI practice squad)

GIANTS GAMEDAY CAPTAINS

Week 4 vs. ARI: DL D.J. Reader, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, LB Micah McFadden, RB Cam Skattebo

Week 3 vs. TEN: S JevĂłn Holland, FB Patrick Ricard, LB Zaire Barnes

Week 2 at LAR: OLB Abdul Carter, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, QB Jaxson Dart, S Elijah Campbell

Week 1 vs. DAL: OLB Brian Burns, DL Chauncey Golston, P Jordan Stout, OT Andrew Thomas

Preseason Week 3 at NYJ: LG Jon Runyan, S Tyler Nubin, LB Zaire Barnes

Preseason Week 2 at MIA: QB Jameis Winston, LB Micah McFadden, CB Greg Newsome II

Preseason Week 1 vs. MIN: QB Jaxson Dart, P Jordan Stout, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

See the Giants arriving ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Cardinals at MetLife Stadium.

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