When the Giants' schedule came out last spring, the Week 12 visit to Arizona seemed more like a Super Bowl homecoming than arguably the biggest game of the season. Yet that's exactly what it is. Luckily, running back Brandon Jacobs will likely play, even if wide receiver Plaxico Burress' status is in doubt.
While Eli Manning has metaphorically grown up before our eyes these last 11 months, it'll be New York's defense that could prove to be the difference against an upstart Cardinals team that currently sits at 7-3 and leads the NFC West. Kurt Warner, the Giants starter for the first half of the '04 season -- Manning's first in the league -- has had a resurgence of sorts in the Valley of the Sun. He's one of the league's best quarterbacks and is a legitimate MVP candidate.
New York's defensive line has been without Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora all year, but Justin Tuck, Matthias Kiwanuka and Fred Robbins have more than picked up the slack. They've combined for 20 sacks, and part-timer Dave Tollefson has added four more. And the Cards understand as much: stopping the Giants front four will largely determine the outcome. Via the Arizona Republic:
"It's like they didn't even lose a step," Cardinals right tackle Levi Brown said. "Obviously, a big part of our offense is passing the ball so picking up their dogs and blitzes is going to be key in our success or failure in the game."
Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt, trying to keep everything in perspective, added this: "There's going to be a lot of hype with this team ... But there was a lot of hype when Dallas came in here, there was a lot of hype when Buffalo came in here. I'm not comparing those teams, all I'm saying is I think our team recognizes that this is good football team, and we've got to be ready. But I think they're excited to play teams like this."
Yes, there will be plenty of hype following the Giants into University of Phoenix Stadium, and having some success against the Bills and Cowboys should certainly help the Cardinals tomorrow. Whether it'll be enough to pull the upset is a different story, but if it is -- and I can't believe I'm writing this -- Arizona suddenly makes its way into the "hey, they might actually be a Super Bowl team" conversation. Denny Green would be proud.
