Giants vs. Cardinals Score Turns Ugly for Giants

The Giants vs Cardinals score was widely expected to go for the Giants. The Giants vs Cardinals score instead went to the defending NFC champs. Before the Giants vs Cardinals, it was quite easy to dismiss Arizona, as it always is. But the Giants vs Cardinals score finally gave Arizona the statement win they needed to prove they are still contenders this year. Their 24-17 win over the Giants gave the Cardinals full control of the NFC West again, and sent a message to the other NFC powers.

The Giants vs Cardinals score was defined by Giants mistakes, as Eli Manning had another one of his off nights. Three Manning interceptions and one fumble gave the Cardinals all that they needed, while Kurt Warner used small ball to get the job done.

The Giants vs Cardinals score wasn't a shootout, as one might expect from Manning and Warner. It wasn't the most efficient game for Warner, but he limited his mistakes and got key touchdown drives. The Giants couldn't get out of their own way to come back, and it cost them dearly.

Now after a 5-0 start, New York has lost two straight, each to division leaders. While the Saints and Vikings take up the early NFC headlines, the Giants are starting to slip. The Giants vs Cardinals score cut New York's lead in the NFC East to half-a-game, with a chance to lose that lead next week.

If the Eagles beat the Redskins tonight and go to 4-2, the Eagles can overtake the Giants by beating them next week - in merely the first Philadelphia-New York sports battle that day. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are suddenly getting hot at 4-2, also a half-game back of the division lead. With the NFC East tightening again, the Giants now must go through the usual NFC East wars to keep their Super Bowl hopes going.

The Giants vs Cardinals score made things much easier for the Cardinals, however. Now at 4-2, Arizona is back ahead in the NFC West over struggling San Francisco. If the Cardinals just play .500 ball the rest of the year, that should be enough yet again in the weak NFC West - and then the Cardinals know anything can happen in the playoffs.

The Saints and Vikings are still the early season class of the NFC, as the Giants vs Cardinals game matched up the other two division leaders trying to catch them. The Giants may be farther away in doing that than they hoped - though New York may not have noticed thanks to the Yankees - while the Cardinals showed they may not give up their NFC crown so easily.

Sources

NY Times- "Final: Cardinals 24. Giants 17"

AZ Central- "Commentary: Turnovers sink Giants vs Cards"