Preview: New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals - Nov. 23, 2008

By Platinum Plays

This Sunday we have a “matchup” of divisional leaders in the NFC of which I propose is really a mismatch.  The (7-3) NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals will be hosting the current Super Bowl Champions and leader of the NFC East, the (9-1) New York Giants.  We’ll give the Cardinals credit, they have finally achieved some of the results on the field which people have been predicting and expecting from them for the last couple of years.  They have done so with Kurt Warner, the former NFL MVP and Super Bowl winning quarterback, who turned into a journeyman backup and now once again has been thrust into the starting position due to the failure of former 1st round draft choice and USC product, Matt Leinart.  If nothing else, Warner has had one of the most interesting and controversial football careers in the history of the National Football league which at times has even been controversial due to his intense religious convictions and his wife’s big mouth.  A roller coaster would be considered a ride in the tea cups when compared to the Warner’s job history and performance.  Meanwhile, the Giants have fervently set about defending their Super Bowl Championship much like the team they defeated last February 3rd to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the New England Patriots, who won consectutive Super Bowls for the 2003 & 04 seasons.  Considering the Giants meteroric ride late last season to win the NFL Championship, a letdown may have been expected but, let’s give coach Tom Coughlin credit for keeping the Giants level of play as high if not higher than last season’s finish despite the retirement of DE Michael Strahan in the offseason and the loss of DE Osi Umenyiora for year in the seasons first game.  Umenyiora led the NFC in sacks last season with 13 sacks in the regular season.

The Cardinals possess the best wide receiver combination in the NFL with Anquan Boldin (back from injury) and Larry Fitzgerald.  Teams may be able to slow down one of these talented wideouts but, the only way you’ll stop both of them is by stopping the quarterback.  Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive coordinator have done a masterful job of keeping Warner from harms way by utilizing 3 and 5 step quarterback drops in the passing game.  High-price free agent Edgerrin James has been replaced by rookie RB Tim Hightower to anchor the running game while former first round draft choice, RB J.J. Arrington is finally starting to produce on the field as a mutli-talented weapon the team envisioned when they drafted him.  Warner currently leads the NFL with a quarterback rating of 105.5 and only Drew Brees has thrown for more yards with not nearly the success of the Cardinals.  The Cardinal defense really has no standout players and are led in tackles by LB’s Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes and S Adrian Wilson is noted as one of the hardest hitters in the NFL.  The defense ranks middle of the pack in the NFC but, being at a +5 in the turnover department has aided their cause.

The Giants have proved their run at the end of last season wasn’t a fluke and if nothing else, have proved they were a team that gelled rather than a team that got hot at the right time.  What’s most impressive about this year’s Giants team their depth and the ability to overcome injuries (like Umenyiora) and the distractions  provided by the likes of TE Jeremy Shockey (traded) and WR Plaxico Burress (suspended).  Eli Manning may not be as good as his brother Peyton but, he’s definitely closed the gap between them, improved this decision making and has a longer future in front of him.  The loss of both your Super Bowl starting defensive ends would be devasting to most teams but the Giants just moved LB Mathias Kiwanuka back to his college position and the other defensive end, Justin Tuck has upped his level of play to be considered one of the top players at his position in the league.  The Giants have three running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw who will attack and beat you in different ways on the ground.  Second year WR Steve Smith looks light years ahead of last year and has become a favorite target of Manning.  The enigmatic Burress may be a distractions but, can produce with the best of them on the field.  The Giants defense ranks third in the NFC and has a +7 turnover ratio.  However, most of the credit has to go to head coach Tom Coughlin was on the verge of being fired and ripped in the press by former Giant RB Tiki Barber to turning this team and his career around into one of the most feared teams in the NFL.

The Giants are the best team in the league and could well repeat as champions while the Cardinals have benefitted from playing in the very weak NFC West and cleaning up on their weak schedule.  They may very well play with the Giants this Sunday being a home game and all but, don’t kid yourself they could actually give the Giants a run in the playoffs.  The current line for this game is the Giants - 3½ with a total of 49.  The Cardinals will find out what it’s like to play against a top notch defense and this game will stay under the 49 points.  Good Luck.