Giants vs. Cardinals: Preview, prediction, what to look at for

An inside take a look at Sunday’s Giants-Cardinals NFL Week 2 matchup in Glendale, Ariz:

Marquee matchup

Cardinals RB James Conner vs. Giants MLB Bobby Okereke

This is not going to be a one-on-one battle, in fact, however Okereke is the centerpiece of the run protection.

Conner will not be a star operating again — he has by no means reached 1,000 dashing yards in any of his six NFL seasons — however he figures to be a central determine on an offense that doesn’t need to rely too closely on the fitting arm of quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

Conner had 62 yards final week at Washington and caught 5 passes, although for simply 8 yards.

Aside from a 25-yard run by Tony Pollard, the Giants had been robust towards the run versus the Cowboys, with Okereke (5 tackles, one compelled fumble) pretty quiet in his Giants’ debut.

Paul’s decide

No group will get a redo or a reset, however the Giants do get to point out what they’re after placing on show within the opener what they insist they don’t seem to be.

If this protection can not maintain down the Cardinals, what group can it subdue?

It’s time to defend Daniel Jones, put a cohesive offensive assault on the sphere and discover the top zone a couple of times, for the primary time this season.

Giants 24, Cardinals 16

4 downs

Acquainted foe: When he was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator the previous few seasons, Jonathan Gannon’s guys gave the Giants matches.

Gannon is now the Cardinals’ head coach, and he introduced his system to Arizona.

There might be loads of quarters protection, with four-deep throughout the back-end, which means the Giants could possibly be enticed to run the ball.

“They do a superb job with the fronts and the way they use type of edge gamers in several methods to nonetheless be robust towards the run,’’ Daniel Jones stated. “Yeah, they’re good, they perceive what they’re doing and current some issues for the offense that approach.’’

Glow within the move: Mark Glowinski was not speculated to be a significant query mark this season for the Giants.

He was signed in 2022 to a three-year contract price $18.3 million to carry down the fitting guard spot.

The 31-year-old struggled within the opener, permitting three of the Cowboys’ seven sacks, and 9 whole pressures, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.

“It was very disappointing,’’ he stated. “All I can do is transfer on from that and be higher.’’

The suitable aspect of the road, with Glowinski and sort out Evan Neal, is off to a tough begin. Neal gave up one sack and eight pressures to the Dallas cross rushers. Shifty, diminutive Cardinals outdoors linebacker Dennis Gardeck had two sacks final week.

Steer the ship: Everybody seems to see how the person in cost reacts, in good occasions and in dangerous occasions.

There have been solely dangerous occasions after Week 1, and gamers and coaches alike waited to take their cues from head coach Brian Daboll.

“The most important factor is, and Dabs hit on this proper after the sport, you may by no means let one recreation beat you twice,’’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale stated. “So, you’ve obtained a selection in life. Arise, mud your self off and go play. That’s what our guys are going to do. I understand how they’re, and I understand how they’ll react to it.’’

Particular groups coordinator Thomas McGaughey stated Daboll set the right tone: “You anticipate the pinnacle coach to be doing these varieties of issues to ensure that the ship is tight and that it’s entering into the fitting course.”

Look to the vets: Think about that 40-point shellacking coming in your NFL debut.

“To your first recreation to go like that, it’s not the way you anticipate your NFL profession to begin,’’ Saquon Barkley stated.

As one of many group captains, Barkley stated it was crucial to ship the fitting message to the rookies.

In 2018, his first 12 months with the Giants, Barkley noticed how Eli Manning dealt with adversity.

“That was in all probability one of many largest issues I revered about Eli essentially the most, particularly on this market being a quarterback in New York, and on the time, we weren’t having lots of success,’’ Barkley stated. “Coping with the media, how he would are available each single week, how he would are available each single day.’’