CARDINALS
FIRST AND FOREMOST
Start fast. Don't give the Giants any confidence. Quarterback Carson Palmer must be sharp and that might be hard given that he was limited in practice this week with a sore right shoulder. On defense, the Cardinals must get to quarterback Eli Manning, and a talented secondary should have some interception opportunities.
KEY PLAYER
DE Calais Campbell: His name wasn't called much during last week's game, but Campbell applied consistent pressure up the middle. What Campbell needs to do better is get his hands up once his penetration has been stopped. Campbell is 6-feet-8-inches tall and hard to throw over, or around.
KEY STATISTIC
4: That's the number of times the Cardinals have won their first two games of the season since moving to Arizona in 1988. A win today against an NFC opponent on the road with a 10 a.m. start (Arizona) would indicate this team has some toughness.
Injury report
RB Andre Ellington (foot), OLB Alex Okafor (thigh), DE Frostee Rucker (calf), G Paul Fanaika (knee), FS Rashad Johnson (ankle), QB Carson Palmer (right shoulder), P Dave Zastudil (groin), S Tyrann Mathieu (knee).
GIANTS
First and foremost
Make a couple of big plays when the Cardinals blitz. The Cardinals will run a lot of man coverage, so receivers should have some opportunities deep. The Giants can't afford to miss on them, as the Chargers did a week ago. The line has to figure out a way to pick up the Cardinals blitz long enough to give Eli Manning time.
Key statistic
2: That's the number of pass plays the Giants had last week that gained at least 20 yards. One went for 21 and the other 20. That's an indication of poor protection and the inability of receivers to get open. The Giants are going to need some big plays today against the Cardinals. They won't move the ball pounding away.
Key player
WR Victor Cruz
The Giants won't get much out of the running so they will need Cruz to win matchups against Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie. That's easier written than done. Quarterback Eli Manning might have to take some chances, so Peterson and Cromartie could have opportunities for interceptions.
Injury report
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring), T James Brewer (back), DT Cullen Jenkins (hip), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), DT Markus Kuhn (ankle), P Steve Weatherford (ankle), LB Jon Beason (foot), T Charles Brown (shoulder).
CARDINALS ON OFFENSE
The Cardinals had a lot of reasons for not getting receiver Larry Fitzgerald the ball last week. He wasn't open. The quarterback followed his progressions and Fitzgerald wasn't one of them. Fitzgerald's knee was still bothering him. Maybe those excuses are valid, but Fitzgerald has to be a bigger part of this offense if the Cardinals are going to be successful. One reception, his total last week, is not good enough.. The Giants front four is no longer formidable, though right end Jason Pierre-Paul might be a challenge for left tackle Jared Veldheer. The Cardinals should have advantages against this secondary. Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an exceptional athlete but he's susceptible to double moves. Look for the Cardinals to challenge cornerback Prince Amukamara with Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.
Edge: Cardinals
CARDINALS ON DEFENSE
The Giants have a new offensive scheme, though the word "scheme" wasn't applicable last week. The Giants bumbled around throughout, scoring just 14 points and gained only 197 yards in the loss to Detroit. Quarterback Eli Manning doesn't look like the guy who helped the Giants win two Super Bowls. He threw only 18 touchdowns a year ago and had 27 passes intercepted. He had two intercepted last week against the Lions. The Giants have difficulty protecting Manning, and no one in the league brings more pressure than Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Even with Cardinals linebacker John Abraham out, this is a bad matchup for the Giants. The Cardinals secondary should have little trouble covering Victor Cruz and Rueben Randall. The Giants don't have a threat at tight end, which thrills the Cardinals, who couldn't cover them a year ago.
Edge: Cardinals
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cardinals problems on special teams in 2013 carried over to the open of 2014. Ted Ginn Jr., made poor choices in returning kicks last week and didn't get much blocking. The Cardinals also had a punt blocked. The bright spot was rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who made both field goals and had touchbacks on all his kickoffs. Both teams' punters are dealing with injuries. Dave Zastudil has a groin strain, and the Giants Steve Weatherford has a left ankle problem.
Edge: Giants
BOTTOM LINE
The Giants will be looking to make up for an embarrassing offensive performance last week against Detroit. The Cardinals need to get off to a fast start to keep the Giants from gaining any confidence. That means protecting quarterback Carson Palmer and getting the ball to receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
FIRST AND FOREMOST
Start fast. Don't give the Giants any confidence. Quarterback Carson Palmer must be sharp and that might be hard given that he was limited in practice this week with a sore right shoulder. On defense, the Cardinals must get to quarterback Eli Manning, and a talented secondary should have some interception opportunities.
KEY PLAYER
DE Calais Campbell: His name wasn't called much during last week's game, but Campbell applied consistent pressure up the middle. What Campbell needs to do better is get his hands up once his penetration has been stopped. Campbell is 6-feet-8-inches tall and hard to throw over, or around.
KEY STATISTIC
4: That's the number of times the Cardinals have won their first two games of the season since moving to Arizona in 1988. A win today against an NFC opponent on the road with a 10 a.m. start (Arizona) would indicate this team has some toughness.
Injury report
RB Andre Ellington (foot), OLB Alex Okafor (thigh), DE Frostee Rucker (calf), G Paul Fanaika (knee), FS Rashad Johnson (ankle), QB Carson Palmer (right shoulder), P Dave Zastudil (groin), S Tyrann Mathieu (knee).
GIANTS
First and foremost
Make a couple of big plays when the Cardinals blitz. The Cardinals will run a lot of man coverage, so receivers should have some opportunities deep. The Giants can't afford to miss on them, as the Chargers did a week ago. The line has to figure out a way to pick up the Cardinals blitz long enough to give Eli Manning time.
Key statistic
2: That's the number of pass plays the Giants had last week that gained at least 20 yards. One went for 21 and the other 20. That's an indication of poor protection and the inability of receivers to get open. The Giants are going to need some big plays today against the Cardinals. They won't move the ball pounding away.
Key player
WR Victor Cruz
The Giants won't get much out of the running so they will need Cruz to win matchups against Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie. That's easier written than done. Quarterback Eli Manning might have to take some chances, so Peterson and Cromartie could have opportunities for interceptions.
Injury report
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring), T James Brewer (back), DT Cullen Jenkins (hip), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), DT Markus Kuhn (ankle), P Steve Weatherford (ankle), LB Jon Beason (foot), T Charles Brown (shoulder).
CARDINALS ON OFFENSE
The Cardinals had a lot of reasons for not getting receiver Larry Fitzgerald the ball last week. He wasn't open. The quarterback followed his progressions and Fitzgerald wasn't one of them. Fitzgerald's knee was still bothering him. Maybe those excuses are valid, but Fitzgerald has to be a bigger part of this offense if the Cardinals are going to be successful. One reception, his total last week, is not good enough.. The Giants front four is no longer formidable, though right end Jason Pierre-Paul might be a challenge for left tackle Jared Veldheer. The Cardinals should have advantages against this secondary. Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an exceptional athlete but he's susceptible to double moves. Look for the Cardinals to challenge cornerback Prince Amukamara with Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.
Edge: Cardinals
CARDINALS ON DEFENSE
The Giants have a new offensive scheme, though the word "scheme" wasn't applicable last week. The Giants bumbled around throughout, scoring just 14 points and gained only 197 yards in the loss to Detroit. Quarterback Eli Manning doesn't look like the guy who helped the Giants win two Super Bowls. He threw only 18 touchdowns a year ago and had 27 passes intercepted. He had two intercepted last week against the Lions. The Giants have difficulty protecting Manning, and no one in the league brings more pressure than Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Even with Cardinals linebacker John Abraham out, this is a bad matchup for the Giants. The Cardinals secondary should have little trouble covering Victor Cruz and Rueben Randall. The Giants don't have a threat at tight end, which thrills the Cardinals, who couldn't cover them a year ago.
Edge: Cardinals
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cardinals problems on special teams in 2013 carried over to the open of 2014. Ted Ginn Jr., made poor choices in returning kicks last week and didn't get much blocking. The Cardinals also had a punt blocked. The bright spot was rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who made both field goals and had touchbacks on all his kickoffs. Both teams' punters are dealing with injuries. Dave Zastudil has a groin strain, and the Giants Steve Weatherford has a left ankle problem.
Edge: Giants
BOTTOM LINE
The Giants will be looking to make up for an embarrassing offensive performance last week against Detroit. The Cardinals need to get off to a fast start to keep the Giants from gaining any confidence. That means protecting quarterback Carson Palmer and getting the ball to receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
