Cardinals Uncage Secondary to Topple Giants

The Arizona Cardinals knocked off the New York Giants 24-17 at Giants Stadium on Sunday night and handed Eli Manning his first loss at home this season. The Cardinals improve to 4-2, while the Giants move to 5-2 with their second-straight loss. More importantly, the Cardinals took away the Giants swagger and added a big-time morale booster for themselves.

The Arizona Cardinals unleashed both their run game and their unheralded secondary to nab a 24-17 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night at Giants Stadium.

Several Cardinals players played a heavy hand in the demise of the Giants in Week 7. Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson led this group. Rolle proved to be a jack of all trades in a career game. He stalled the Giants in the most pivotal drive of the game. With a minute and some change left on the clock and just a touchdown between the Cardinals and the Giants, Rolle picked off Eli Manning to end the game in the Cardinals favor. Rolle also provided key tackles that kept the Giants scoreless through a quarter and, for most of the game, led his team in tackles with six.

Rolle earned his paycheck on Sunday but will likely be writing a check sometime soon for a helmet-to-helmet collision that he made on Giants' tight end Kevin Boss who had just completed a 25-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Rolle should hear from Comissioner Roger Goodell shortly.

Earlier in the game, Rolle threw a potential touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald who couldn't finish the play when he was pancaked by two defenders. Rolle demonstrated he could be used in trickery plays and has the ability to go yard.

Fellow safety Wilson also earned his keep as well. He registered five solo tackles and added an interception too (off a tipped pass by Calais Campbell).

Beanie Wells
(Getty)

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also added to his pick count with one. He produced a goal-line interception that gave the scoreless Cardinals another opportunity in the first quarter but like the Giants, neither team could capitalize in the opening 15 minutes. Later on, Rodgers-Cromartie accidentally helped the Giants re-gain their lead before the half. He tipped a pass but the ball popped up that led to a reception rather than an interception.

On the offensive front, the Cardinals utilized their running game to its potential. Rookie Beanie Wells earned his first career touchdown and led the team with 67 rushing yards.

Anquan Boldin, Wells and Hightower each provided quality ball movement in Wells' touchdown run that knotted up the score 7-7 in the second quarter.

Hightower also reached the end zone with a little help from fullback Dan Kreider, Reggie Wells and Mike Gandy.

Jason Wright also made a guest appearance in the end zone. Lyle Sendlein cleared the way for Wright's first touchdown as a Cardinal.

Wright's scoring celebration marked the Cardinals only receiving touchdown of the night but the Fitzgerald (83 yards) nor Boldin (75) were quiet.

Their shot-caller, Kurt Warner, threw for 231 yards with one pick and two sacks.

The Giants blitzed often but never really put pressure on the vet.