Giants-Cardinals Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Warner carrying Cards, but Eli has helpThe Cardinals will find out exactly where they stand in the current NFL hierarchy when the Giants roll into Phoenix on Sunday. This game features two division leaders, the defending Super Bowl champions and a spurned quarterback who will get a chance at some payback against a former team. Big games are nothing new for New York, but Arizona hasn't been in this position in some time. The Cardinals are on the cusp of capturing their first division title since 1975, but the punishing Giants -- one of the hottest teams in the league -- stands in their way.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
NYG	12-4	427	294	7-1	5-3	4-2	9-3
ARI	9-7	427	426	6-2	3-5	6-0	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

NY Giants Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 62.3 4021 27 14 Carr 63.6 225 1 0

Arizona Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Warner 66.1 3753 26 14 Leinar... 66.2 435 0 3

NY Giants Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jacobs 224 835 3.7 5 Bradsh... 163 778 4.8 7

Arizona Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Wells 176 793 4.5 7 Highto... 143 598 4.2 8

NY Giants Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 107 1220 11.4 7 Mannin... 57 822 14.4 5

Arizona Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Fitzge... 97 1092 11.3 13 Boldin 84 1024 12.2 4

Full Player Stats: NY Giants | Arizona

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	NYG	356.0
	ARI	366.0
Yards Passing	NYG	198.6
	ARI	292.1
Yards Rushing	NYG	157.4
	ARI	73.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	NYG	292.0
	ARI	331.5
Pass Yds Allowed	NYG	196.2
	ARI	221.3
Rush Yds Allowed	NYG	95.8
	ARI	110.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
NY Giants leads 4-2
Sep 11, 2005	NYG 42, @ARI 19
Nov 14, 2004	NYG 14, ARI 17
Sep 29, 2002	NYG 7, ARI 21
Dec 15, 2001	NYG 17, @ARI 13
Nov 11, 2001	NYG 17, ARI 10

The New York Giants hope their return to the site of their stunning Super Bowl victory allows them to take another step toward a second straight championship.

The Giants travel to University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday to face the surprising Arizona Cardinals, who behind former Giant Kurt Warner have a chance to clinch the NFC West this week.

New York (9-1) defeated heavily favored New England 17-14 on Feb. 3 in Phoenix for its third Super Bowl title. The victory apparently didn't dampen the Giants' desire for another championship run, as they've emerged as the NFC's dominant team this season.

New York continued to roll last Sunday, knocking off Baltimore 30-10 for its fifth straight victory. The Giants' NFL-best rushing attack piled up 207 yards against a Ravens run defense that came in yielding a league-low 65.4 yards per game.

"We were confident that we would be able to run the ball," guard Chris Snee said. "We knew it was going to be tough and they were going to make some plays and stop some runs but we were confident that if we stuck with it we would be able to break some and that is what happened."

Ahmad Bradshaw (96 yards, nine carries) and Brandon Jacobs (73 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries) led the way for the Giants, who are averaging 172.7 yards on the ground. New York's depth could be tested this week, though, as Jacobs suffered a knee injury that might keep him out Sunday.

Jacobs, with 879 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season, didn't practice Wednesday.

"We expect that he will be able to go tomorrow, but as you know these things are day to day," said coach Tom Coughlin, whose team leads the NFC East by three games. "He feels good, and I hope in another day he has made the progress necessary to allow that he would practice tomorrow."

If Jacobs can't go, Bradshaw and veteran Derrick Ward will see their roles expanded. Ward ran 11 times for 41 yards last week and has 531 yards on the season.

The Giants' defense also put together a dominant effort last week, limiting Baltimore to 275 total yards and 154 passing yards. New York's secondary, however, will face a considerably more daunting task this week.

Led by Warner, the Cardinals (7-3) are averaging 305.8 passing yards -- second in the league. The former Giants quarterback, who played 10 games with New York in 2004, has utilized big receivers Larry Fitzgerald (939 yards) and Anquan Boldin (792) in a powerful air attack that has carried the franchise to the verge of its first division title since 1975.

The Cardinals need to beat New York, have San Francisco lose at Dallas and Seattle tie or lose at Washington to win the division crown for the first time since the team was based in St. Louis. Arizona last made the playoffs in 1998.

"We're in good position," said coach Ken Whisenhunt, whose team leads the weak NFC West by four games, "but it's not a done deal yet."

New York hopes its powerful pass rush will make throwing tough for Warner, keeping pressure off its secondary as it tries to handle Fitzgerald, Boldin and fellow receiver Steve Breaston.

That secondary looked good last week, as cornerback Aaron Ross earned NFC defensive player of the week honors with two interceptions -- one returned 50 yards for a touchdown -- and six solo tackles.

"They have a great quarterback and a lot of great guys at the skill positions so it is going to be all hands on deck, and anything that we can possibly do to stay close to their skill positions and know where they are at all times is going to be a plus for us," Ross' fellow starting cornerback Corey Webster said of the Cardinals.

While the Giants are bound to be hit with some memories of the stirring victory over the Patriots, they'll need to focus on the task at hand against an Arizona team that's 10-2 at University of Phoenix Stadium under Whisenhunt.

The Cardinals return home after defeating Seattle 26-20 last week. Warner completed 32 of 44 passes for 395 yards -- his franchise-record fourth straight 300-yard game -- to give Arizona its third straight win.

"You know, it's fun. That's all I want is another chance to compete for a championship," said the 37-year-old Warner, whose streak of 300-yard games is tied for the third-longest in NFL history. "We're back in the mix again. Obviously, there's still a long way to go, but to be 10 games in and be in the mix is fun. We haven't been there in a while. I haven't been there in a while."

If Warner wants to help the Cardinals do their part to secure the division title, he'll have to manage the Giants' pass rush and hope Arizona's defense can slow down New York. The Cardinals are giving up only 89.8 yards per game on the ground, but the Giants had little trouble against the more formidable Ravens rush defense last week.

New York's Eli Manning, whose 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left lifted the Giants past the Patriots in the Super Bowl, will again look to take advantage of the perfect indoor passing conditions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Arizona is giving up 210.0 passing yards a contest.

The Giants have won five of the last seven meetings with the Cardinals, avoiding a third straight loss in the series with a 42-19 home win in the last meeting in 2005.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Cards sign ex-CFL LB Baggs to one-year deal

The Cardinals have signed outside linebacker Stevie Baggs to a one-year contract.

Beginning of end: Giants Stadium demolition on

The demolition of Giants Stadium got started Thursday when a giant metal claw attached to a crane started taking bites out of the cement helix at one of the four gates around the 34-year-old facility.

Traffic charges against Plaxico Burress dismissed

Four Broward County traffic tickets have been dismissed against former New York Giants football player Plaxico Burress , who still faces another case in which he's accused of cursing several times at a sheriff's deputy, the athlete's attorney said this morning.

NFL Putting Off Plaxico Punishment

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said today there is no timetable for making a decision on league disciplinary action for Plaxico Burress.

GIANTS: Updated: Boldin hires Eli's agent

KTAR Radio in Arizona reports that Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon to be his agent.

Moving the Chains: Giants' Umenyiora takes aim at Eagles

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. A special buzz is building around the 2009 football season in Philadelphia, and a lot of it has to do with the rivalry between the Eagles and Giants.

Canty happy to be part of 'tremendous defense' in New York

CHAREAN WILLIAMS The movers were at Chris Canty's new home last week. He is starting to feel at home in the New York Giants' locker room, too.Canty left the Dallas Cowboys almost three months ago, the Giants' six-year, $42 million offer too rich for Dallas to beat.

Sendlein played through pain in '08

It was surprising this off-season when the Cardinals opted not to try and upgrade their center position, given the occasional struggles of starter Lyle Sendlein in 2008.

Breaston blooms in Boldin's absence

Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, seen here in action against the 49ers last season, is taking advantage of Anquan Boldin's absence in summer workouts.

The Risk Remains

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald breaks the huddle during 11-on-11 drills Monday after coming down awkwardly on a catch earlier in the workout.

Fitzgerald OK after awkward catch

For a minute or two, it looked as if the first day of June would bring gloom to the Cardinals.

Boldin hires Condon as agent

Receiver Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon as his agent, replacing Drew Rosenhaus, who was fired last week.