Giants-Cardinals Preview: How to Watch, the Line and a Red-Zone Offense 0 for 4 Under Winston
Arizona is a 2½-point favorite at MetLife Stadium. The Giants scored touchdowns on all four red-zone trips in Week 1. The Cardinals have allowed touchdowns on seven of 10.
The Giants (2-1) host the Arizona Cardinals (1-2) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at MetLife Stadium as 2½-point underdogs. They have not scored a touchdown on any of their four red-zone trips since Jameis Winston took over at quarterback.
The Giants went 4 for 4 inside the Dallas 20 in the opener. In the two games since, their red-zone trips have ended in three field goals and an interception. Arizona's defense has given up touchdowns on seven of the 10 red-zone trips against it.
How to watch
The game airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+. WFAN carries the radio broadcast.
The line
Arizona is favored by 2½ points, with an over-under of 44½, on DraftKings' board as listed by ESPN at 10:45 a.m. EDT Saturday. The moneyline is Cardinals minus-142, Giants plus-120.
The red zone
The Giants have scored touchdowns on four of eight red-zone trips, 50%. Pro Football Reference ranks the Giants 21st. They have also reached the red zone less often than most teams: eight trips, against a league average of about 10.
All four touchdowns came in Week 1 with Jaxson Dart at quarterback. Cam Skattebo ran for one from the 3, Isaiah Likely caught passes of 15 and 2 yards for two more, and Devin Singletary caught a 9-yarder.
Table 1: Giants red-zone trips, Weeks 1-3
| Week | Opponent | QB | Red-zone trips | TDs | Other results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | Dart | 4 | 4 | — |
| 2 | at L.A. Rams | Winston | 2 | 0 | INT, FG |
| 3 | Tennessee | Winston | 2 | 0 | FG, FG |
| Total | 8 | 4 |
Dart was hurt on the opening drive in Los Angeles. On Winston's first red-zone trip, on third-and-7 from the Rams' 18, his pass for Malik Nabers was intercepted in the end zone. On the second, the Giants had first-and-5 at the 6 after a Rams offside penalty. Three runs netted nothing, and Dominic Zvada kicked a 24-yard field goal.
Against Tennessee, a direct snap to Skattebo lost 7 yards from the 5, and the Giants kicked a field goal. Later, an illegal shift and a holding penalty pushed them from second-and-goal at the 2 back to the 17, and they kicked again. Zvada's four field goals were the only points in the 12-7 win, the Giants' first win without a touchdown since 2013. Our film review details both drives.
Coach John Harbaugh tied the release of Odell Beckham Jr. this week to red-zone scoring. "Would like to get a few more points," he said at his Wednesday news conference. "We'd like to score some points in the red zone." The Giants released Beckham on Tuesday and signed wide receivers Braxton Berrios and Charlie Jones from their practice squad. Winston, asked the same day about going nearly eight quarters without a touchdown, said, "my desire is to score some touchdowns this game."
SNY posted video of Harbaugh's Wednesday news conference.
The Chargers scored touchdowns on two of three trips in Week 1, Seattle on three of five in Week 2 and San Francisco on both of its trips in Week 3. Pro Football Reference ranks Arizona's 70% rate 22nd. On offense, the Cardinals have scored touchdowns on six of their 11 red-zone trips. The Giants' defense has allowed touchdowns on seven of nine.
Keys to the game
The pass rush without Brian Burns. The Giants have a 10.5% pressure rate, the lowest in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. Brian Burns, who had five of their 11 pressures, is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux have two each, and our pass-rush numbers break down the rest. The Giants signed Jihad Ward off Minnesota's practice squad Thursday. Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett has started all three games and completed 82 of 117 passes for 652 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception. Our scouting report breaks down how quickly he gets rid of the ball.
Winston against a soft pass defense. Arizona allows 8.4 net yards per pass attempt. Winston has completed 25 of 49 passes for 229 yards in two games, with no touchdowns, one interception and a 55.6 passer rating.
The run game. Arizona has allowed 383 rushing yards on 84 carries, 4.6 per carry. The Giants average 3.9.
Arizona is 1-2 in its first season under coach Mike LaFleur. The teams last met Sept. 17, 2023, when the Giants trailed 20-0 at halftime in Arizona and won 31-28.
The quarterback room
Winston starts. J.J. McCarthy, acquired from Minnesota Sept. 28 for a 2027 fifth-round pick, is on the 53-man roster. Jake Haener re-signed to the practice squad Sept. 30. Asked Friday whether the backups were getting first-team snaps, Harbaugh said, "Jameis has taken the reps, I would say. I'm not going to parse it out in terms of who's getting what reps, though." Asked whether McCarthy would be the No. 3 quarterback, he said the team is not announcing that and is probably still figuring it out. Our numbers on McCarthy's 2025 season cover his 10 starts with Minnesota.
Injuries
The Giants listed no player with a game designation on their final injury report. Left tackle Andrew Thomas (groin) was limited Friday after missing two days. Center John Michael Schmitz missed Friday for a personal reason, and Harbaugh said he expects him to play. Cornerback Deonte Banks and safety Tyler Nubin, both coming back from calf injuries, practiced fully Friday.
Arizona ruled out safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (back). Outside linebacker Josh Sweat is questionable after a limited practice Friday. No other Cardinal received a designation.
Weather
The National Weather Service forecast for East Rutherford, updated at 9:51 a.m. EDT Saturday, calls for increasing clouds Sunday, a high near 66 degrees, east wind of 7 to 9 mph and a 50% chance of showers after 2 p.m.
The Giants play at Washington at 1 p.m. Oct. 11.
How we counted: Red-zone trips are possessions with at least one offensive snap inside the opponent's 20, from nflverse play-by-play data for Weeks 1-3, downloaded Oct. 3. That definition matches Pro Football Reference's red-zone totals for both teams. A Giants possession that reached the Dallas 20 in Week 1 and ended in kneel-downs is not counted.