Giants' Offense Makes Strides, but Late Miscues Erase Those Efforts

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The day seemed to begin fortuitously for the Giants when Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was ruled out of Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium with a shoulder injury. His replacement was Drew Stanton, a career backup who had not played in the N.F.L. since 2010.

But the Giants quickly fell behind by 10 points. They were whistled for nine penalties, many of them at crucial times. Their running game continued to sputter. When the Giants rallied to take the lead in the second half and appeared in control of the game, they gave up a stunning fourth-quarter punt return for a touchdown that put them behind again. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff was yet another Giants setback.

But the Giants showed some resilience and were soon driving for a potential touchdown, that if accompanied with a 2-point conversion, would have tied the game late in the fourth quarter. And then another fumble - this one by running back Rashad Jennings at the Cardinals' 15-yard line - doomed the Giants chances.

The 2014 Giants, who began last season with a 0-6 record, fell to 0-2 Sunday after a 25-14 loss to the Cardinals. It was a game that saw the Giants improve considerably on offense - and eventually on defense. But like last year's team, the Giants stumbled at the worst times and ultimately could not hold onto the football, with disastrous consequences.

While the Giants trailed at halftime, 10-0, their offense looked the best it has this season in the third quarter as Manning led an eight-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to take a 14-10 lead. A pass interference penalty on Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, who had been beaten into the end zone by Victor Cruz, led to a 1-yard touchdown pass from Manning to the backup tight end Daniel Fells that capped the drive

But with the help of multiple penalties for defensive holding or illegal contact in the secondary, the Cardinals marched back into Giants territory early in the fourth quarter. Chandler Catanzaro cut the Giants lead to a point with a 37-yard field goal.

The Giants defense was playing the final minutes of the last quarter without two of its regulars as middle linebacker Jon Beason left with a toe injury and nickel cornerback Walter Thurmond was sidelined with a pectoral muscle injury.

But those players, while key, were not going to be on the field during special teams and it was the kicking game units that put the Giants in a hole in a matter of minutes.

Arizona's Ted Ginn Jr., caught a punt at his own 29-yard line and was nearly tackled immediately by Zack Bowman. But Ginn evaded the tackle and dashed through a gaping hole in the Giants coverage in the middle of the field.

Punter Steve Weatherford had a shot at Ginn but could not slow him on his way to a 71-yard touchdown return that put the Cardinals ahead 19-14. An ensuing 2-point conversation attempt failed.

But when the Cardinals kicked off after the touchdown, Giants return man Quintin Demps fumbled and Arizona recovered. It led to a 32-yard field goal by Catanzaro.

The game opened inauspiciously for the Giants, with a recurring theme of poor defensive play on third down - something that went on throughout the first half. The home crowd was on its feet when the Giants forced a third-and-10 during the first Cardinals possession. Then Stanton completed a 17-yard pass. Running back Andre Ellington carried for 22 yards on the next play but Arizona was soon facing a third-and-17. But a penalty on Jameel McClain - he hit Stanton after a delay of game call - gave the Cardinals a first down.

Arizona benefited from an illegal contact penalty on defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and was soon inside the Giants 10, where a 7-yard reception to Larry Fitzgerald led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Dwyer.

The Giants offense followed the Cardinals onto the field and moved the ball into Arizona territory. Manning completed a 10-yard pass to Rueben Randle and two passes to running back Rashad Jennings that totaled 30 yards. But on a third-and-8 at the Arizona 30, Manning tried to throw a short pass over the middle intended for Cruz.

What followed was a classic Manning turnover circa 2013, when he threw a career-high 27 interceptions. The pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage with the football deflecting high in the air. It was snatched by Arizona linebacker Sam Acho.

A promising Giants drive ended in more disappointment.

The Cardinals did not waste time capitalizing on the miscue. The Giants forced a third-and-14 but Ellington sprung free for 15 yards on a simple draw play.

A third-and-10 became another first down on an illegal contact penalty by cornerback Prince Amukamara, and the Cardinals capped the drive with a 49-yard field goal from Catanzaro to extend their lead to 10-0.

The Giants defense continued to struggle to stop the Cardinals passing game although Arizona did not pad its lead. The Giants offense sputtered despite some good plays until late in the first half when they mounted a 13-play drive from their own 10.

Manning looked the most comfortable he has so far this season and was accurate with the football. He connected with Randle for 13 yards and tight end Larry Donnell for 11, but the big completion was on a third-and-11 when Manning found Cruz, his favorite target, for 27 yards.

Cruz, who was barely involved in the offense during the Giants opening night loss in Detroit, caught two more passes before Manning threw to the corner of the end zone for Randle.

Although he was being held by Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, Randle made a one-handed grab for a 7-yard touchdown that cut the Cardinals lead to 10-7 with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter.

The Giants ended the half with just 31 rushing yards on 13 carries. Manning completed 12 of 14 passes.

But there were still some anxious moments for the Giants as their secondary continued to play erratically. Fitzgerald caught a pass at the Giants 22-yard line with 21 seconds remaining in the half but the gain was nullified by a face-mask penalty on Arizona.

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