SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 14, 2014
Cardinals 25, Giants 14: Ted Ginn Jr. unleashed a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown with 10:10 remaining as Arizona scored four times in the fourth quarter to spoil New York's home opener.
With Carson Palmer (shoulder) watching from the sideline, Drew Stanton was 14-of-29 for 167 yards without a turnover for the Cardinals (2-0), who scored in the fourth on Ginn's return and three field goals by Chandler Catanzaro. Andre Ellington contributed 91 yards on 15 carries while Jonathan Dwyer added a rushing score for Arizona.
Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes as New York (0-2) rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to take a second-half lead but was doomed throughout the afternoon by penalties (nine for 70 yards), turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions) and drops (five in the fourth quarter alone). Manning finished 26-of-39 for 277 yards with two TDs and two interceptions, while Rashard Jennings pitched in 64 yards on 18 carries.
The Cardinals took the game's opening possession and drove 80 yards, the final one coming from Dwyer to create an early 7-0 lead. The Giants' offense did not get on the board until 37 seconds remained in the half, as Manning's 7-yard TD pass to Rueben Randle made it 10-7 at intermission.
Manning's 1-yard TD pass to Daniel Fells late in the third quarter put New York ahead, but Arizona answered early in the fourth on Catanzaro's 37-yard field goal and, after a three-and-out, Ginn's fourth career punt return for a score. The Cardinals failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, keeping it a one-possession game, and the hosts drove deep into Arizona territory before Jennings' fumble and Catanzaro's fourth field goal sealed the outcome.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Stanton had not appeared in a regular-season game since 2010. ... Randle's touchdown was an impressive one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone. He finished with four receptions for 39 yards, while the Giants were led by Larry Donnell's seven grabs for 81 yards. ... Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, who had only one catch in a Week 1 victory over San Diego, bounced back with six receptions for 51 yards.