The Arizona Cardinals looked like a completely different team offensively in the first half against the New York Giants. They went into halftime with a 20-0 lead.
However, the Giants finally woke up and rallied for 31 second-half points. Graham Gano hit a 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the game and the Cardinals managed only eight second-half points, losing 31-28 and falling to 0-2, entering what appears to be an impossible stretch of season.
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Prater misses 55-yard FG
The Cardinals moved the ball early. James Conner ripped off a 17-yard run and they picked up a couple of first downs.
But Josh Dobbs missed a wide-open Zach Ertz on a deep throw and then was errant on third down. Matt Prater’s 55-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
Cardinals 7, Giants 0
The Conner Strut.@budlight x #EasyToCelebrate pic.twitter.com/4jBhtFJQHe
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 17, 2023
The Cardinals looked good offensive for the second straight drive and did not stall.
Michael Wilson came up with a big 21-yard catch on third down and James Conner scored his first touchdown of the season, from four yards out.
The Cardinals took the early lead 7-1 with 6:11 left in eth first quarter.
Gardeck 3rd-down sack
Once again all effort from Dennis Gardeck. pic.twitter.com/ityCxj4qS5
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) September 17, 2023
The Cardinals forced a punt for the second straight series on defense, aided by Dennis Gardeck’s third sack of the season.
JODH DOBBS TD SCRAMBLE! CARDINALS 14, GIANTS 0
TOUCHDOWN: Joshua Dobbs scrambles for a 23-yd TD#NYGiants 0 #AZCardinals 14 2nd pic.twitter.com/ENXZW5bzFY
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) September 17, 2023
After forcing another punt, the Cardinals took a commanding 14-0 lead with a 23-yard Josh Dobbs touchdown run.
He had a 23-yard pass to Trey McBride, a 14-yard play to Zach Ertz and, running to his right to escapr pressure on a third down, a 14-yard throw to Rondale Moore to end the first quarter.
Dobbs scrambled 23 yards for the score on the first play of the second quarter.
Cardinals 17, Giants 0
The Cardinals tacked on three more points to take a 17-0 lead with a 37-yard Matt Prater field goal. Hollywood Brown had a nifty 22-yard catch for the big play of the drive.
The Cardinals had 15 first downs and 223 total yards after that score.
They had 210 yards and 13 first downs in their entire Week 1 game.
JALEN THOMPSON INT
we'll take that 🤷♂️@jt_broooo x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/hJXGCcX1ci
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 17, 2023
The Giants looked like they had some life on offense, picking up a couple of first downs. However, a tipped pass landed in the arms of safety Jalen Thompson for an interception. He returned it 35 yards to the Giants’ 34.
Cardinals 20, Giants 0
The Cardinals didn’t do much after the interception, gaining eight yards on six plays, getting hurt by an offensive pass interference penalty on rookie receiver Michael Wilson.
Prater added three points with a 44-yard field goal with 1:09 left in the half.
Cardinals 20, Giants 7
The Giants struck quickly to start the second half. Daniel Jones opened with a 58-yard bomb to Jalin Hyatt. Two plays later, Jones took it to the end zone himself with a 14-yard run.
DL Carlos Watkins hurt
Watkins, in the starting lineup because of injuries, left the game with an arm injury. He was questionable to return.
Cardinals 28, Giants 7
The Cardinals didn’t flinch at the New York touchdown.
They went 75 yards in eight plays, getting big runs from James Conner. He was up to 103 rushing yards on 18 carries for the game.
Josh Dobbs threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a three-yard throw to Hollywood Brown.
Dobbs ran in the two-point conversion to give the Cardinals a three-touchdown lead.
Cardinals 28, Giants 14
The Giants drove 12 plays for 75 yards to add another touchdown, getting a one-yard score from Saquon Barkley.
Ben Bredeson out with concussion
Starting guard Ben Bredeson exited the game and was diagnosed with a concussion. He was ruled out of the rest of the game.
Cardinals 28, Giants 21
The Giants started to make a game of it.
After getting a stop, they went 80 yards in 13 plays. Jones had a nine-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley. Jones picked up a couple of first downs with his legs and Darren Waller had catches for 14 and 25 yards.
Tie game!
The Cardinals went three-and-out and then Jones threw his second touchdown pass of the game, an 11-yard pass to Isaiah Hodgins.
Jalin Hyatt had a 31-yard catch on the drive.
With 4:25 left in the Cardinals the Cardinals needed to do something offensively.
3-and-out
Needing to score points, the Cardinals went three-and-out. They were flagged on two straight plays for a false start by guard Elijah Wilkinson and punted the ball back to the Giants with 2:31 to go in the fourth quarter.
Giants 31, Cardinals 28
The Giants completed the comeback and took the league with 19 seconds to go, going 56 yards in eight plays. Graham Gano hit the go-ahead field goal from 34 yards.
No miracle comeback
Michael Wilson had a 19-yard catch but Dobbs had an incompletion and a false start. The Cardinals lost the game, getting outscored 31-8 in the second half.
