The Arizona Cardinals are 1-2, looking to snap a two-game losing streak as they take on the 2-1 New York Giants on the road in MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 4.
It's an easier matchup than the record may suggest, especially since the Giants are already dealing with adversity with early-season injuries headlined by the injury to quarterback Jaxson Dart. Arizona has a realistic chance to get back to .500, a situation few expected when first looking at this demanding schedule to open the season.
Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. MST on CBS, with the matchup also available to be streamed on Fubu.
Injury news
The Giants' season already took a brutal turn when Dart underwent surgery on his left knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the regular season. Those injury issues also carried over to the defensive end of the ball, with linebacker Brian Burns suffering a torn ACL in the Giants' Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Besides those significant injuries to Dart and now Burns, the Giants currently have Devin Singletary, Deonte Banks, and Tyler Nubin all listed as questionable.
The Cardinals are relatively healthier, though still have injuries of their own to overcome in the secondary. Will Johnson suffered a season-ending neck injury, with Arizona placing its cornerback on IR. Meanwhile, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is listed as questionable.
Storylines
Cardinals are finally unleashing Jeremiyah Love
This could be more of a grind-it-out battle than the Cardinals are used to playing, which is even more reason for Mike LaFleur to lean on rookie running back Jeremiyah Love.
He was finally unleashed in Week 3. Love recorded 21 carries for 90 yards and five receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown, looking like the true bell cow role that No. 3 overall picks are typically expected to fill.
It's a fine line for LaFleur to want to preserve the Cardinals' recent draft investment, but this is an extremely winnable game. Arizona will need to rely on Love in that expanded role, similar to last week, as its X-factor.
What does the J.J. McCarthy trade mean for the Giants?
They Giants recently traded for J.J. McCarthy in a deal with the Minnesota Vikings, raising questions about Dart's durability.
It was only in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, which shows how drastically his value has declined since entering the league as the No. 10 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Good value for New York, you have to wonder why they felt the need to shop for another quarterback in the first place.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh has already noted Jameis Winston will remain the starting quarterback despite the trade for McCarthy. Regardless of who's their signal caller, both Winston and McCarthy have flaws that should give even a weak Cardinals defense a chance to contain their offense.
Will Marvin Harrison Jr. build off his Week 3 performance?
Marvin Harrison Jr.'s production will likely be a Cardinals storyline to continue to monitor for the remainder of the season. The bust narrative grew louder after a disappearing act through the first two weeks.
It wasn't necessarily a breakout Week 3, but it was encouraging to see Harrison get more involved in the offense and establish a connection with Jacoby Brissett. Even just those three receptions for 40 yards against the 49ers have Harrison trending in the right direction, which is a sign that Brissett and this new LaFleur offense are finally looking his way.
Prediction
The Cardinals actually enter the contest as slight favorites, with the 2-1 Giants trending downward due to brutal injuries. It's also a lower over/under than games Arizona is usually involved in, showing that they may need to rely on their volatile defense to pull this one out. The Cardinals' defense has been susceptible to big plays through the first three weeks, but here they'll clean that up to return to .500.
Cardinals: 23, Giants 21
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