Arizona @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 24, 2017 ) N.Y. Giants 0, Arizona 23

The New York Giants will be well-rested and hope to have star running back Saquon Barkley back on the field when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Giants have been off since a 35-14 loss at New England in a Thursday night affair Oct. 10, a stretch that has given Barkley (high ankle sprain) enough time to get back to full participation in practice this week.

"No doubt in my mind," Barkley told reporters Thursday when asked if he felt that his ankle, which has caused him to miss three games, would hold up in a game. Tight end Evan Engram (knee) could also return after missing the loss to the Patriots, potentially giving rookie quarterback Daniel Jones several weapons as he guides an offense that has scored just 24 total points during the team's two-game slide. The Cardinals are going in the other direction with back-to-back wins, during which they've scored 60 points behind their rookie signal-caller, Kyler Murray. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday's thrilling 34-33 win over Atlanta.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -3. O/U: 50.5

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (2-3-1): Arizona is ranked 30th in total defense (414 yards allowed per game) but should get a boost in the return of eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, who served a six-game suspension to begin the season. "We've just got to get him caught up on some things," coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters of his star cornerback. "He's a unique talent so we're going to put him back in and get him rolling as quickly as possible." The Cardinals are the only defense in the NFL yet to record an interception.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-4): After performing well in winning his first two starts, Jones has completed just 52.2 percent of his passes with four interceptions during the two-game losing streak. Despite missing half of the season thus far, Barkley still ranks as the team's top rusher by a wide margin and Engram is the team leader in catches (33) and receiving yards (373). Wide receiver Sterling Shepard has been limited in practice as he attempts to come back from his second concussion of the year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cardinals RB David Johnson, who has been limited by an ankle injury this week in practice, is on pace for a career-high 90 catches out of the backfield.

2. Giants LB Markus Golden has at least half a sack in five straight games.

3. Arizona won the last two meetings, including a 23-0 rout in 2017 in which WR Larry Fitzgerald had nine catches for 119 yards and a TD.

PREDICTION: Giants 28, Cardinals 24