• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Eli Manning threw for 277 yards on Sunday vs Arizona including 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, nut showed signs of improvement. Credit: BOBBY O'HARA/PureSportsNY
Eli Manning threw for 277 yards on Sunday vs Arizona including 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, nut showed signs of improvement.
Credit: BOBBY O’HARA/PureSportsNY

The Giants lost to the Arizona Cardinals 14-25 Sunday in their home opener. The team had it going for them heading into this game. It was the home opener and the Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer was out. This was the break the Giants needed.

The game started off with a touchdown drive for Arizona followed by a field goal to put them up 10-0, but the Giants buckled down on defense and didn’t let them score for rest of the half.

The Giants then got their passing game to move the chains and ended a drive right before the half with a 7 yd touchdown pass to Rueben Randle. It was an incredible one handed catch in the corner of the end zone and was the first time the Giants passing game looked anything other than mediocre. Things were finally looking better.

New York had it’s share of turnovers, but the defense stood resilient. The Giants hurt themselves with 4 turnovers, 2 drops and 6 penalties resulting in 1st downs for the Cardinals Sunday. The Giants have the most turnovers in the NFL this season, and have yet to force one.

At the end of the third the Giants marched down the field on a 74 yd drive and capped it off with a 1 yd touchdown pass to Daniel Fells. It was definitely a change to see that New York’s passing game was accounting for most of the yards including the touchdowns.

Ted Ginn Jr. won the game for the Cardinals on a punt return for a touchdown in the fourth.  Credit: BOBBY O'HARA/PureSportsNY
Ted Ginn Jr. won the game for the Cardinals on a punt return for a touchdown in the fourth.
Credit: BOBBY O’HARA/PureSportsNY

Arizona who started the game with 10 straight points in two drives couldn’t do much and it seemed like this was finally going to be a turnaround for the Giants, but. Yea, I said it. But, not long after the Cardinals field goal that put them behind by just one early in the fourth the Giants punted the ball to Ted Ginn Jr. Any New York fan knows how dangerous he is on returns especially in MetLife. The Giants whiffed on a chance to bring him down and after that mistake Ginn danced his way around several New York special team players and bursted into the open field for a touchdown.

It was just another dark cloud over the Giants who, this season, just can’t seem to catch a break. Even after the Arizona touchdown the Giants showed that they could move the chains all the way to the red zone and put themselves in position for a touchdown to bring the game in reach. It actually looked like they were going to score, but. Yea I know, but Eli dumped the ball off the an open Rashad Jennings who caught the ball and got caught up by his own feet and fumbled the ball when he hit the ground. Since he wasn’t touched the ball was ruled a fumble and the Cardinals took over possession eventually leading to yet another disappointing Giants loss. Jennings was asked after the game about the play.

“It’s uncharacteristic of me, but regardless of how it came out of my hands, it came out.”

Their were some bright spots this week, however. Tight end Larry Donnell led New York with seven catches for 81 yards and some impressive ones at that. Watch out because he’s got hands and seems to be building up his chemistry with Eli every week.

“I think Larry’s played well the last two weeks. Last week he played well and made some big catches today – big target. That’s what we need. He’s a guy who is making some tough catches and making some big plays for us, so hopefully he can continue to do that. He made some nice plays today. Tom Coughlin who was upset over the loss also pointed out the positives in his post game press conference,” said Manning after the game.

“There was improvement along the lines. I was just surprised to look at the stats and see that we gave up 124 yards rushing. I thought our physical play was better. I thought our execution was better on offense. I thought at times we had the no-huddle thing going pretty well.”

The Giants play host to the Texans next week in search for the team’s first win of the season.

Bobby O’Hara:PureSportsNY

 

By Bobby O'Hara

Bobby is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting where he studied TV, Radio, and Journalism. Growing up in New Jersey, he is a hometown guy who loves the local fans’ passion for the game. Bobby currently covers football for PureSportsNY. Graduating with awards in both audio and video production, Bobby also produces video and graphics.

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