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• Cardinals Hang Tough To Knock Off Giants

SCOUTING REPORT

Cardinals-Giants: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cardinals-Giants matchup. 1. Arizona needs to slow down the impressive New York ground assault: The Cardinals have been excellent at defending the run, yielding less than 60 yards per game, but will have their hands full against an angry Giants team that was embarrassed by the Saints last week. Look for this to be a test of wills between the big boys in the trenches.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
ARI	7-3	250	197	2-3	5-0	3-1	5-2
NYG	6-4	266	235	3-2	3-2	2-1	4-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Arizona Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Warner 67.5 2718 20 11 Leinar... 68.0 119 0 1

NY Giants Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 60.5 2454 18 9 Carr 62.5 172 1 0

Arizona Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Wells 100 469 4.7 4 Highto... 102 430 4.2 5

NY Giants Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jacobs 163 656 4.0 3 Bradsh... 115 549 4.8 4

Arizona Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Fitzge... 71 792 11.2 9 Boldin 51 612 12.0 2

NY Giants Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 65 798 12.3 5 Mannin... 40 617 15.4 4

Full Player Stats: Arizona | NY Giants

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	ARI	364.0
	NYG	386.0
Yards Passing	ARI	270.0
	NYG	251.7
Yards Rushing	ARI	94.1
	NYG	133.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	ARI	350.4
	NYG	282.2
Pass Yds Allowed	ARI	247.2
	NYG	177.4
Rush Yds Allowed	ARI	103.2
	NYG	104.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
NY Giants leads 4-3
Nov 23, 2008	ARI 29, @NYG 37
Sep 11, 2005	ARI 19, NYG 42
Nov 14, 2004	ARI 17, @NYG 14
Sep 29, 2002	ARI 21, @NYG 7
Dec 15, 2001	ARI 13, NYG 17
Nov 11, 2001	ARI 10, @NYG 17

Despite getting dominated last week, the New York Giants somehow still own the top-ranked defense in the NFL.

While that may be the case, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals are probably excited by what they saw from New York's beleaguered unit.

The last two NFC champions meet Sunday night at Giants Stadium, with the Cardinals seeking a third straight victory and the Giants still smarting from their first loss of the season.

New York was riding high with its first 5-0 start since 1990 before a humbling 48-27 loss at New Orleans last Sunday. The Giants gave up 34 points in the first half and 493 yards for the game -- their highest total allowed since the Cardinals gained 495 on Nov. 11, 1988.

The vaunted pass rush of the Giants produced no sacks after notching 15 during the undefeated start.

"We just made some mistakes that we can't make, especially when you're playing a team of that caliber," cornerback Corey Webster said. "So we take the film, we take the whipping that they issued out, and we go back and start working hard and compete."

The Giants maintained the top defense in the league based on the strength of their performances in their first five games. They'll likely need to show that form again against Arizona (3-2).

The Cardinals have won consecutive games for the first time this season and improved to 2-0 on the road last Sunday with a 27-3 win over Seattle. Warner -- who started nine games for New York in 2004 before Eli Manning took over -- was 32 of 41 for 276 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Fitzgerald matched a career high with 13 receptions for 100 yards and caught his fifth touchdown of the season to lead all receivers. He quickly turned his attention to the Giants.

"Oh, that game is huge," Fitzgerald said. "It's really going to be an opportunity to see where we're at."

Warner has done an excellent job at distributing the football, with five players having at least 15 receptions and four catching touchdowns.

"Kurt Warner is having a real good year," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "He is throwing the ball very well. All four receivers are involved. The tight end is involved. The backs -- Tim Hightower is the third-leading receiver. They have excellent distribution. The numbers are spread around real good."

While Fitzgerald is considered one of the best receivers in football, it's a Giant who leads the NFC in that department. Steve Smith is tied for the league lead with 41 receptions and has 525 yards to top the conference.

"We're going to put him in some different spots and do different things with him," Manning said about Smith. "He is doing a good job of everywhere he goes, running routes, catching the ball and getting open. We just have to keep doing that with him and all the receivers."

New York's fifth-rated rushing attack will be tested by a Cardinals' run defense that is the best in the league, allowing an average of 59.6 yards per game. The Giants were held to a season-low 84 yards rushing last week.

The Cardinals went 0-5 on the East Coast last year in the regular season before beating Carolina in a divisional playoff game and posting a 31-17 win over Jacksonville on Sept. 20.

"We are excited, but we know it is going to be a great challenge this weekend going on the road playing against this football team," Warner said. "It is the best we felt at any point during this season. I think we have played our best football the last couple of weeks."

Manning outdueled Warner in New York's 37-29 road win last Nov. 23 as he completed 26 of 33 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Warner was 32 of 52 for 351 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight road games against the Giants and also want to redeem themselves for a poor effort Sept. 27 in a 31-10 loss to Indianapolis in their last Sunday night appearance.

"I just know we play New York next. I don't care about stats or any of that," Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson said. "We want to win this game. It's a big game for us. The last time we played on national TV, it wasn't a good game."

Giants' Bradshaw wears boot on sprained ankle

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw is wearing a protective boot on his sprained left ankle, and it's uncertain whether he'll make the trip for the team's game at Denver.

Giants' Jacobs says leg feels fine, should be OK

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs says his right leg feels "really good" after injuring it against Atlanta, and he could've returned to the game Sunday.

Vikings-Cards Dec. 6 game flexed to nighttime

The NFL has moved the Minnesota at Arizona game to the night slot on Dec. 6 under its flexible scheduling policy.

Joyner: Week 12 pickups

You never know when an injury or a slump will doom you, so you'd better have depth.

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.

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.