The New York Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-24 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and the final turnover sealed it. Both teams gave the ball away 3 times, but only the Giants turned one directly into points: a 98-yard interception return as time expired.
Arizona trailed by 6 and needed a touchdown when Banks took the ball the other way. The Cardinals' passing game never found traction, averaging 4 yards per pass and throwing 3 interceptions.
How It Happened
Arizona started fast. Jacoby Brissett hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown at 11:08 of the first quarter. Dominic Zvada answered with a 39-yard field goal, and Tyler Allgeier then ran 22 yards for a score to make it 14-3 after one.
The second quarter belonged to the Giants. Zvada opened it with a 50-yard field goal, and Jameis Winston found Malachi Fields for a 12-yard touchdown at 4:30. The two-point pass failed, leaving New York down 14-12.
About two minutes later, Winston hit Malik Nabers for a 25-yard score and a 19-14 lead. Chad Ryland closed the half with a 60-yard field goal at the gun, cutting it to 19-17 at the break.
Arizona went back in front in the third quarter when Brissett found Elijah Higgins from 2 yards out at 7:20, making it 24-19. Winston answered at 1:44 with an 11-yard touchdown to Theo Johnson, and Najee Harris ran in the two-point conversion for a 27-24 Giants lead.
The fourth quarter stayed scoreless until Zvada drilled a 52-yard field goal at 2:11 for a 30-24 cushion. That forced Arizona to chase a touchdown, and the chase ended with Banks' pick-six on the final play.
Key Performers
Jameis Winston: 3 touchdown passes – 12 YDS to Malachi Fields, 25 YDS to Malik Nabers, 11 YDS to Theo Johnson
Deonte Banks: 98-YD interception return for a touchdown
Dominic Zvada: 3 field goals – 39, 50 and 52 YDS
Jacoby Brissett: 2 touchdown passes – 12 YDS to Marvin Harrison Jr., 2 YDS to Elijah Higgins
Giants passing: 18-29, 232 YDS
Cardinals rushing: 26 ATT, 123 YDS
Winston's three scoring throws led a Giants offense that was more productive through the air than on the ground. New York ran 28 times for 87 yards, about 3 yards a carry, while the passing game averaged 7 yards per attempt.
Arizona had the better run game, with Allgeier's touchdown run the highlight of nearly 5 yards a carry. It didn't matter, because the Cardinals couldn't sustain drives through the air and went 4-of-12 on third down.
What It Means
The Giants move to 3-1, and every win has come at home. They are 3-0 at MetLife Stadium and 0-1 on the road.
That split is the story of their season so far. New York won this game despite being outrushed and despite matching Arizona's turnover total, and its only road game so far ended in a loss.
Arizona falls to 1-3, including 1-2 on the road. The Cardinals scored touchdowns on 2 of their 3 red-zone trips and outgained the Giants on the ground, but 3 interceptions sank them.