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NOVEMBER 21, 2008
The Giants make no secret about their defensive priority entering every game: stop the run. Tom Coughlin, Steve Spagnuolo and the defensive players believe all good things stem from an effective run defense. The opposing offense becomes one-dimensional, the Giants’ pass rush can tee off on the quarterback, the secondary can focus on the receivers and the result is … well, what we’ve seen so far this season. The Giants are eighth in the NFL in rush defense (91.0 yards a game), second against the pass (174.8) and fourth in sacks (31). Those numbers go a long way in explaining why the Giants are 9-1 and atop the NFC East.
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LB Danny Clark
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If the Giants were ever going to alter their philosophy for a specific game, this would seem to be the week to do it. On Sunday, they will face the pass-happy Arizona Cardinals in University of Phoenix Stadium, the site of their Super Bowl XLII triumph over the New England Patriots.
While the Giants have climbed to the top of their division with the NFL’s best rushing attack (172.7 yards a game), the 7-3 Cardinals have soared to a four-game lead in the NFC West with what is arguably the NFL’s finest aerial show. Arizona quarterbacks, running backs and receivers have attempted 386 passes and been sacked 18 times. That’s 404 passing plays as opposed to 252 rushing attempts, or 152 more passes than runs.
Contrast that with the Giants, who have more rushing attempts (328) than passing plays (317, including 12 sacks). Of course, the Giants have good reason to run the ball more frequently. They average an NFL-best 5.3 yards a carry. The Cardinals? A league-worst 3.4 yards a rush.
Arizona prefers to move the ball through the air. Quarterback Kurt Warner’s passer rating of 105.5 leads the league, thanks to his 70.9 completion percentage, 3,155 yards and 20 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions. Wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (67) and Anquan Boldin (62) are 1-2 in the NFC in catches. They have combined for 16 touchdown receptions.....READ
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11.21 
11.21 
