Arizona Cardinals: Can They Win on the East Coast?
By Cyle Gill
Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
This week the Arizona Cardinals stroll into MetLife Stadium 1-0 to take on the 0-1 New York Giants. Last week the Giants lost 35-14 to a very similar team in the Detroit Lions. The Giants were able to make plays. They just couldn’t capitalize on most of them.
Eli Manning went 18-33 for 163 yards and one touchdown. Manning got sacked twice and threw two interceptions. Running backs Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams combined for 21 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown. Receivers Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, and Jerrel Jernigan combined for eight catches for 50 yards. While tight ends Larry Donnell and Daniel Fells along with RB Jennings combined for 10 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
The Cardinals defense should have no problem against the Giants running game. Also their outside receivers. My main concern is covering and tackling the receivers coming over the middle. If the Cardinals defense can get consistent pressure on Manning. He`ll make bad decisions.
The Giants defense could be a good unit. On the line are Jason Pierre-Paul and Johnathan Hankins. Pierre-Paul and Hankins combined for only nine tackles last week. Even though they didn’t do that good, they can tear things up.
In the secondary are Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rolle and Amukamara are some of the best at their positions. Rodgers-Cromartie has a fast break on the ball with good hands. Other than that I believe he is an overrated cornerback. If the Cardinals can get Micheal Floyd one on one with Rodgers-Cromartie, Floyd wins that contest nine times out of ten.
I expect the Giants defense to play this week being at home. I also expect the Cardinals` offense to do just fine. They have fire power everywhere that the Giants won`t be able to handle. Even if Carson Palmer and Andre Ellington miss this game.
Seeing how the Giants played last week, I just can`t see them winning this game. Tom Coughlin is a good coach who will fine the holes in the Cardinals defense. The Cardinals just have too much strength on the offense. The defense also has too much good depth to get bested by the Giants. I think it’s safe to say the Cardinals win this match-up and start the start 2-0.