Week 1 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 19, New York Giants 42

What you need to know

Arizona Cardinals

Though it may be hard to believe, The Cardinals led this game 13-7 at halftime and were unsuccessful on a two point conversion that would have tied the game with 7:04 left in the third quarter. Willie Ponder returned the following kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and the Giants never looked back.

Arizona came out throwing early and continued to throw often throughout the game. Kurt Warner and backup Josh McCown combined to attempt 56 passes in the game. The Cardinals were forced to throw because they could not establish any running game. Rookie J.J. Arrington had a nice 12 yard run on the Cardinals’ second play from scrimmage. However, the Cardinals only gained 19 yards on the ground for the remainder of the game.

Larry Fitzgerald set career highs with 13 receptions for 155 yards. Fitzgerald was clearly Warner’s preferred option throughout the game. Fitzgerald added a one yard touchdown catch to pull the Cardinals within two points in the third quarter.

Kurt Warner appeared comfortable running the Arizona offense. Warner was solid in the game. He finished 27 completions out of 46 attempts for 264 yards with one touchdown and one interception. McCown played just because the game was out of hand.

The Cardinals’ kick coverage units were a huge factor in the game. The Giants immediately regained the momentum in the game after the Cardinals had pulled to within two points midway through the third quarter. Willie Ponder returned the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown after the Cardinals had stopped him at the Giants’ 17 yard line, but were forced to re-kick after Antrel Rolle was ruled offside. Later, the punt team allowed a 52 yard touchdown return to Chad Morton.

New York Giants

The Giants marched 81 yards on their first possession. Eli Manning hit Jeremy Shockey in stride over the middle for a 20 yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead in the game. Manning was three out of five for 37 yards on the drive. Tiki Barber gained 16 yards on the ground. While rookie, Brandon Jacobs ran hard for 28 yards on the drive.

The Giants’ offense only managed two first downs for the rest of the first half. Manning threw a number of balls short of his receivers. The Giants’ offensive line also allowed three sacks before halftime. Two of Manning’s passes were intercepted by Karlos Dansby. Dansby returned the first for an 18 yard touchdown after the ball went through the hands of receiver David Tyree. The second interception resulted from a ball that was batted into the air at the line.

Things improved dramatically for the Giants after halftime. They scored 35 second half points, including the last 21 of the game. Special teams played a big part in the turnaround. Willie Ponder returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and Chad Morton scored on a 52 yard punt return in the fourth quarter. The Giants played turnover free ball and did not allow a sack in the second half.

Rookie Brandon Jacobs had six carries for 39 yards and a touchdown in the game. He looked great and it is likely that Jacobs will continue to take some carries away from Barber, especially in short yardage situations. Barber did have the majority of the carries, 13 for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Punter Jeff Feagles took over the record for most career punts in the game and is on pace to break Jim Marshall’s NFL consecutive games record later this year.

What you ought to know

QB Kurt Warner, Pass: 27 - 46 - 264 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 11 - 0

If this game is any indication, Warner will be throwing often this season. The Cardinal run game was nonexistent, so Warner was forced to put the ball in air 46 times. He completed 27 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown. Larry Fitzgerald was his favorite receiver. Fitzgerald finished with 13 receptions for 155 yards and the Cardinals’ only offensive touchdown. Warner threw one interception on a pass that did not get anywhere near his intended receiver. It appeared the ball might have slipped. Warner had two other passes that were nearly intercepted. For the most part Warner did a good job of getting rid of the ball fairly quickly. The Giants did sack him three times and forced him to scramble for short gains a few other times. This offense suits his talents much better than what he was working with in New York. A positive first outing.

QB Josh McCown, Pass: 5 - 10 - 52 - 0 TD / 1 INT

McCown relieved Warner after the game was already decided and completed five out of ten passing attempts for 52 yards with an interception. He made what was likely a touchdown saving tackle on Frank Walker after he threw the interception in the game’s final minute. There is no QB controversy. This was a move from Coach Green to get his starting QB off the field with the game well out of reach.

RB J.J. Arrington, Rush: 8 - 5 - 0, Rec: 4 - 22 - 0 (5 targets)

Arrington had one 12 yard carry. His other seven attempts netted a loss of 17 yards. Arrington also contributed 4 catches for 22 yards. Arrington split time pretty evenly with Marcel Shipp. It is important to note that Shipp did however get the nod in goal line situations. Arrington did not look much better than he did in preseason where he was unimpressive.

RB Marcel Shipp, Rush: 7 - 10 - 0, Rec: 2 - 5 - 0 (2 targets)

Shipp split time with rookie J.J Arrington at tailback. The television announcers theorized that he provided Warner with better pass protection than Arrington. It is important to note that Shipp and not Arrington was the tailback for the goal line offense. But with only ten yards on seven carries, Shipp certainly did not do anything to make Cardinal fans forget about Arrington. Both backs were ineffective.

RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Rush: 2 - 2 - 0, Rec: 5 - 29 - 0 (6 targets)

Ayanbadejo had two carries and five receptions. He played extensively at fullback as starting fullback James Hodgins injured a knee early in the game.

RB James Jackson, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0

Jackson had one carry for three yards.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rec: 13 - 155 - 1 (15 targets)

Fitzgerald, the second year receiver started off the year with a bang establishing career highs with 13 receptions and 155 yards. Early in the game Warner looked to him mostly on short routes. He later stretched the defense for longer gains, including a 30 yard reception on third and 19. Fitzgerald scored Arizona’s only offensive touchdown with a one yard catch in the third quarter.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 4 - 62 - 0 (11 targets)

Boldin had four catches for 62 yards. Early in the game Warner looked to Boldin on longer routes while Fitzgerald worked mostly underneath.

WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 2 - 27 - 0 (12 targets)

Johnson had two catches for 27 yards, but was targeted 12 times.

WR Charles Lee, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (3 targets)

Lee had three targets, but no catches.

TE Adam Bergen, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (5 targets)

Bergen had one reception for 10 yards. He was the target on an unsuccessful two point conversion attempt.

TE Eric Edwards (1 targets)

Edwards had one target.

PK Neil Rackers 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Rackers had a perfect day converting one extra point and field goals of 24 and 42 yards.

ARI Rush Defense

The Cardinals’ rush defense was not good. The Giants rushed 25 times for 121 yards (4.8 average). The rush defense gave up two touchdown runs. Brandon Jacobs scored from five yards out and Tiki Barber broke a run for 21 yards to the end zone. Middle Linebacker James Darling, left the game with an injury. He was later listed as okay to return.

ARI Pass Defense

Arizona’s pass defense was mostly good. They allowed 172 passing yards and two touchdowns to Eli Manning. Other than a 44 yard pass to Plaxico Burress, the pass defense did a good job. The Cardinals sacked Warner three times. Bertrand Berry, Orlando Huff and Karlos Dansby each contributed a sack. Dansby was all over the field. He also had two interceptions and a sack. Dansby returned the first interception 18 yards for a touchdown. The second one was a beautiful one handed, diving catch.

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 10 - 23 - 172 - 2 TD / 2 INT

Manning’s game was up and down. He was solid on the Giants’ opening drive, leading them 81 yards and hitting Jeremy Shockey for a nice 20 yard touchdown pass. After the opening drive Manning finished the first half going two for eight with two interceptions. In his defense, both interceptions were deflected and one should have been caught. A high number of Manning’s passes came up short. It is possible that the elbow injury he suffered in the preseason is still affecting him although he commented after the game that his elbow felt great and gave him no trouble whatsoever. Plaxico Burress was clearly Manning’s favorite target. Burress had five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was the target on 11 of Manning’s passing attempts, more than twice the number of targets of any other Giant receiver.

QB Tim Hasselbeck, Rush: 2 - -3 - 0

Eli Manning’s backup, Hasselbeck came in for two kneel down plays to run out the clock.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 13 - 62 - 1, Rec: 2 - 60 - 0 (2 targets)

Barber was the Giant’s primary tailback. He had a nice all around game with 62 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The touchdown run was a 21 yard burst up the middle. Barber also contributed in the passing game with two receptions on screen passes. The first went for 29 yards, the second for 31. Barber is likely to have fewer carries this year. New York used rookie Brandon Jacobs to spell Barber, especially in short yardage situations.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 6 - 39 - 1

Jacobs contributed with six carries for 39 yards, including a five yard touchdown run and a 21 yard burst around the right end. Jacobs, who weighs about 260, but is remarkably fast and nimble was the choice for short yardage situations and will likely take away some touches and scoring opportunities from Tiki Barber.

RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 4 - 23 - 0

Ward had four runs for 23 yards, including a 12 yard gain.

RB Jim Finn (2 targets)

Fullback Jim Finn did not carry the ball. He was the target on two unsuccessful pass attempts.

WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 5 - 76 - 1 (11 targets)

Free agent prize Burress was clearly Eli Manning’s favorite target in the opening game. Burress had five catches for 76 yards. Burress had a 13 yard touchdown catch to help put the Cardinal’s away in the fourth quarter. Burress also had a 44 yard catch that set up Brandon Jacob’s five yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half. Manning targeted Burress on 44% of his pass attempts for the game.

WR Tim Carter, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

Carter caught one short pass for seven yards.

WR David Tyree (2 targets)

Tyree was targeted two times. Tyree had a ball go through his hands resulting in an interception and 18 yard touchdown return by Cardinal linebacker, Karlos Dansby.

WR Amani Toomer (4 targets)

Toomer had the second most targets among Giant receivers, but did not catch a ball.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 2 - 29 - 1 (3 targets)

Shockey caught a 20 yard Eli Manning strike as he beat his man for a touchdown on the Giant’s first drive. He had one other catch for nine yards. Late in the game while blocking, Shockey had his leg rolled upon and appeared to suffer a sprained foot or ankle. He did not return to the game and was visibly upset on the sideline. He stayed in uniform on the sidelines and ran off the field with his team after the game. He was favoring his ankle but was able to jog.

PK Jay Feely 0 - 0 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 6 points

Feely did not attempt a field goal. He hit all six of his extra point attempts.

NYG Rush Defense

The Giants’ rush defense was tremendous. The Giants held the Cardinals to a total of 31 yards and a 1.5 yard average per attempt with a long gain of 12. The Cardinals tried to establish a running game, but were consistently overpowered at the line. Antonio Pierce had a nice debut with the Giants, contributing seven tackles, four assists and a half sack. Michael Strahan and Carlos Emmons also had seven tackles each.

NYG Pass Defense

The Giant pass defense gave up 316 passing yards. The Cardinals were forced to throw the ball 56 times and the Giants held up reasonably well allowing less than 5.7 yards per pass attempt, while playing without stating cornerback Will Peterson, who was declared inactive in warm-ups with a troublesome knee. The pass defense contributed two interceptions, one by Gibril Wilson and one by Frank Walker very late in the game. The Giants sacked Kurt Warner three times. Michael Strahan had one and a half sacks, William Joseph had a sack and Antonio Pierce contributed a half sack.