East Rutherford, N.J. — The New York Giants didn’t make it easy, but on a Sunday afternoon filled with nostalgia, big plays and another dramatic defensive finish, they found a way to win.
Jameis Winston delivered the full range of his game — spectacular throws, costly mistakes, and enough clutch plays to keep the Giants in front. Malik Nabers rediscovered his explosive form, and the defense came through when it mattered most.
Then Deonte Banks put the finishing touch on the victory.
Banks intercepted Jacoby Brissett and raced 98 yards for a touchdown late in the game, sealing the Giants’ 36-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals before a sold-out crowd at MetLife Stadium.
The win pushed New York to 3-1 and gave the Giants sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
It wasn’t perfect.
It didn’t need to be.
“It wasn’t the most beautiful game, as far as playing perfectly,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “It was a winning game. That’s what winning teams do: They find ways to win games, and that’s why they’re winning teams.”
For Winston, making his second consecutive start while Jaxson Dart recovers from injury, the afternoon was another example of why the Giants signed the veteran quarterback.
Winston completed 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions.
The difference was that his biggest mistakes didn’t define the afternoon.
His touchdown passes went to Malachi Fields, Nabers and Theo Johnson, with his 12-yard strike to Fields late in the second quarter ending a Giants touchdown drought that had stretched more than nine quarters.
Nabers, meanwhile, looked like the dynamic playmaker the Giants expected when they drafted him.
The receiver caught six passes for 112 yards, more than doubling his receiving production for the season. Nabers had totaled only 96 yards during his first three games back from a serious knee injury.
“I knew it was coming this game,” Nabers said. “I don’t know — I just felt good. I felt good through the whole week. I just didn’t want to jinx myself, so I was just trying to be humble and just wait for the game to come to me.”
Cardinals Strike First
Arizona wasted little time putting pressure on the Giants.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 14-3 advantage during the opening quarter after Brissett connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. for a touchdown and Tyler Allgeier added another score on the ground.
But the Giants gradually turned the game around.
New York’s defense began limiting Arizona’s offense while Winston and the offense found their rhythm.
The Giants eventually pulled even and then took control, forcing the Cardinals to play from behind.
Arizona managed only 138 total yards after its explosive opening stretch.
Brissett finished 21 of 35 and threw three interceptions, with the final turnover coming on the game’s last play.
“We kind of got in our own way,” Brissett said. “We made some plays after getting stops, but you can’t have three interceptions.”
That inability to protect the football ultimately proved costly.
Banks Delivers the Knockout Blow
Banks’ 98-yard interception return was the defining defensive play of the afternoon.
It came after the Giants had already forced Arizona into a difficult situation, and Banks turned the turnover into six points to put the game beyond reach.
The play was especially impressive considering Banks had been flagged for pass interference just a few plays earlier.
Harbaugh wasn’t thrilled with the penalty, but Banks quickly erased the mistake.
“I thought you had to touch a guy for it to be pass interference,” Harbaugh said. “He didn’t bat an eye. Nobody flinched, nobody blinked.”
The Giants’ defense also received a major contribution from rookie linebacker Arvell Reese.
Playing in front of Giants legend Lawrence Taylor, Reese recorded nine tackles and picked off Brissett for the first interception of his NFL career.
Taylor, who was at MetLife Stadium as part of the Giants’ celebration of their 40th anniversary of the 1986 Super Bowl championship, was impressed.
“He has been great,” Taylor said. “I think he’s a good player.”
Reese’s performance was another encouraging sign for a Giants defense that has repeatedly come through during the team’s 3-1 start.
A Day to Remember Giants History
Sunday was about more than the current Giants.
The organization honored members of its legendary 1986 Super Bowl championship team during halftime, creating an electric atmosphere inside MetLife Stadium.
Taylor was joined by several members of that championship squad, including Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Phil Simms, Mark Bavaro, Ottis Anderson, Mark Collins, Leonard Marshall, Gary Reasons, Bart Oates, Brad Benson and Phil McConkey.
For Giants fans, seeing so many of the players who helped deliver the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship created a powerful connection between the past and present.
Taylor even called on the “Football gods” to look favorably upon the Giants as the team tried to finish off the Cardinals.
The current Giants responded.
Rookie Kicker Remains Perfect
Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada continued to reward Harbaugh’s confidence.
Zvada remained perfect on field-goal attempts this season, improving to 9-for-9.
His reliability gave New York another weapon in a game that featured momentum swings throughout the afternoon.
Cardinals Searching for Answers
Arizona has now lost three consecutive games after opening the season with a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Mike LaFleur’s coaching debut.
The Cardinals showed flashes early but couldn’t maintain their offensive momentum.
LaFleur acknowledged that the team must regroup quickly.
“All three losses we’ve had over the last three weeks have been different,” LaFleur said. “This one is going to sting. It’s not going to be the most fun ride home. There are certainly things I know I could have done better. We have to get right back to work because no one is going to feel sorry for us.”
Arizona also dealt with several injuries.
Safety Andrew Wingard was carted off with a knee injury, while right guard Isaiah Adams suffered an ankle injury. Tight end Hunter Long left with a knee injury, and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was seen holding his left arm late in the game.
The Giants also lost several players to injury, including receiver/returner Braxton Berrios, defensive lineman Chauncey Golston and safety Jason Pinnock.
The Takeaway
Giants: New York continues to find ways to win while Dart remains sidelined. Winston made enough big plays to overcome his mistakes, Nabers showed signs of returning to his dominant form, and the defense once again delivered when the game was on the line. At 3-1, the Giants now sit alone atop the NFC East.
Cardinals: Arizona’s fast start wasn’t enough. Three interceptions from Brissett and an inability to sustain drives after the opening quarter proved costly. The Cardinals have plenty to correct as they try to stop their three-game slide.
Up Next:
Cardinals: Host Detroit next Sunday.
Giants: Travel to Washington next Sunday for an NFC East matchup.
