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Giants use second-half surge to beat Cardinals

Nov 24, 2008 - 2:49 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Eli Manning and the New York Giants did not need any fourth-quarter heroics in their latest trip to University of Phoenix Stadium.

Manning threw three touchdown passes Sunday afternoon and the Giants used a second-half surge to defeat the Arizona Cardinals, 37-36, in a battle of NFC division leaders.

The contest marked New York's first trip to the desert since last February 3, when the Giants rallied from a last-minute deficit to stun the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Manning thrived under the fourth-quarter pressure that night, completing an improbable desperation heave to David Tyree before throwing the game-winning TD to Plaxico Burress en route to being named Super Bowl MVP.

Nearly 10 months later, Manning and the Giants were able to coast to another win.

"It was a totally different feel being here today, it is a different time," Manning said. "We are the away team - the crowd was against us, so it never really flashed back to (the Super Bowl).

"It was a total different atmosphere. We knew (Arizona) has been playing well, so we just focused on that."

Manning completed 26-of-33 passes Sunday for 240 yards while Domenik Hixon finished with 269 total yards for the Giants (10-1), who have won their last six games.

"We knew coming in we were going to have to throw the ball," Manning said. "They are good at stopping the run and we knew that would be there main focus."

In solidifying their spot atop the NFC East, the Giants also delayed a long-awaited postseason return for the Cardinals (7-4), who could have clinched the NFC West with a victory.

The Cardinals have not made the playoffs since 1998.

By virtue of losses from San Francisco and Seattle, Arizona needed to beat the Super Bowl champs to secure its first division title since 1975.

The Cardinals put themselves in good early position to wrap up a playoff berth, taking a trio of first-half leads. Arizona went ahead, 12-10, on Neil Rackers' 20-yard field goal with 3:49 remaining in the second quarter.

But despite playing without leading rusher Brandon Jacobs, who was inactive with a knee injury, and Burress, who missed most of the game with a hamstring injury, the Giants outscored the Cardinals by a 24-7 margin bridging the second and fourth quarters.

"Our guys, they say 'OK, we have an injury so we have to play at a higher level,'" Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "The one thing that occurred that was really good was Domenik had the full week of practice; he really did well."

While Manning operated with relative ease, Arizona's Kurt Warner was constantly harassed by New York's fierce pass rush.

A two-time league MVP and a former Giant, Warner finished 32-for-52 for 351 yards and a TD but also was intercepted once and lost a fumble. Both of Warner's turnovers led to touchdowns for the Giants.

"That is what you expect when you play a team like this," Warner said. "One of their strengths is their pass rush, so I will be sore for a couple of days."

Facing a 9-7 deficit midway through the second quarter, New York gained excellent field position thanks to the first of three long kickoff returns from Hixon, who raced 83 yards to set up John Carney's 33-yard field goal.

Arizona regained the lead on Neil Rackers' 20-yarder, but Hixon responded with a 68-yard return to the Cardinals' 32-yard line.

"One guy gets the stats, but the guys up front did a heck of a job," said Hixon, who served as Burress' primary replacement and finished with a team-leading six receptions. "Getting the reps in practice is a good thing because you have been there before."

New York took the lead for good six plays later on Manning's first TD - a 12-yard crossing route to Amani Toomer with 1:08 left in the first half.

After Warner lost a fumble at Arizona's 40-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, New York used a four-play drive to take a 24-12 lead. The march was punctuated by Manning's 2-yard TD to fullback Madison Hedgecock.

"I'd like to see what would have happened if we didn't turn the ball over twice and give them two big kickoffs," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We left a number of plays out there today and against a good football team, you can't do that."

Arizona cut its deficit to 24-19 late in the third quarter on rookie Tim Hightower's second rushing TD of the contest.

But Manning, who completed 16-of-18 passes in the second half, orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 10-yard TD to tight end Kevin Boss that made it 31-19 with 11:15 remaining.

Carney made a 27-yard field goal with 6:17 left to give New York its biggest lead of the game at 34-19.

Derrick Ward, who handled the bulk of the workload in place of Jacobs, ran for 69 yards and a TD on 20 carries.

Justin Tuck had a sack while rookie Kenny Phillips finished with seven tackles for the Giants, who have won six of their last eight meetings with the Cardinals.

Anquan Boldin finished with 87 yards on 11 receptions for the Cardinals, who can win the NFC West with a victory at Philadelphia on Thanksgiving.

"You have to leave this game saying, 'I know we made some mistakes,'" Warner said. "But if we eliminate those mistakes and play our game, we can play with anyone in this league."