NFL: Cardinals' defense beats back Giants, 24-17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Arizona Cardinals conquered their House of Horrors with a new approach: scary defense.

A team built around the passing of Kurt Warner and receiving of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin could be downright dominant with a stingy defense. And it sure wasn't the offense that carried the Cardinals to just their third win in 18 visits to the Meadowlands, 24-17 over the New York Giants on Sunday night.

"Tonight," Warner said, "we definitely fed off our defense."

In its last visit to Giants Stadium, Arizona forced four turnovers and bewildered Eli Manning with its blitzes. The Cardinals finished 3-15 at the Meadowlands, but this win lifted the defending NFC champions into first place in the West Division at 4-2 with their third straight victory.

"We feel like we've got one of the best defenses in the league," Boldin said. "It's tough for teams to move the ball on them, let alone score on them."

Safety Adrian Wilson had an interception and a fumble recovery, Antrel Rolle picked off Manning to clinch it, and less-heralded Cardinals Jason Wright, Tim Hightower and rookie Beanie Wells found the end zone.

"Our game plan was to get (Manning) rattled, make him make quick decisions and quick throws," linebacker Gerald Hayes said. "He made some plays, but they came up short."

The Giants (5-2) lost their second straight and were let down by, of all people, their normally solid punter. Jeff Feagles struggled, helping give the Cardinals a solid edge in field position for much of the prime-time matchup.

Feagles said he used the wrong kicking angles trying to keep the ball away from returner Steve Breaston.

Wilson, Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who left late in the third quarter with an ankle injury — X-rays were negative — in the Arizona secondary benefited from the confusion the defense caused for Manning, who was 19 for 37 and threw three interceptions.

"We played team defense," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "Everybody stepped up. When we had interception opportunities, we made them."

And they made the Giants look puzzled on offense.

"They are constantly moving around and flipping safeties and they did a good job with that," center Shaun O'Hara said. "Sometimes we caught them and sometimes they caught us."