Cardinals intercept Manning three times to shock Giants
2009-10-25

Nations U.S. States North Carolina Category Regions People Lawrence Tynes Eli Manning Kurt Warner Event 2009 NFL Clubs Arizona Cardinals New York Giants Source (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Arizona Cardinals intercepted New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning three times and surged to an upset 24-17 road victory on Sunday.

The Cardinals (4-2), who have seldom won at Giants Stadium, put together 17 consecutive points in the second and third quarters -- the final seven after Manning was intercepted -- to take a 24-14 lead with 2:32 left in the third quarter as they posted their third straight win.

New York (5-2) could muster only a field goal in the final quarter with its last two drives ending in a fumble and an interception.

"Our defense played great today. We made enough plays on offense to get a win," Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who passed for 231 yards and a touchdown, told reporters.

Arizona, the defending NFC champions, moved into first place in the West Division with the victory while New York remained atop the NFC East despite its second consecutive loss following a 5-0 start.

Safety Adrian Wilson sparked the aggressive Arizona defense, making a key third quarter interception.

Wilson picked off a Manning pass at the Giants 24 and three plays later Jason Wright scored on a six-yard pass from Warner as the Cardinals went up 24-14.

Antrel Rolle sealed the win by intercepting Manning at the Arizona 21 with 68 seconds to play.

"We have been playing kind of consistently on defense in the secondary," said Wilson. "We just kind of got on a roll today and ended up making our plays.

"(We wanted) to kind of confuse him (Manning). To give him some looks he had not seen on tape and just take his first read. I think we did a good job of that."

Manning, who completed 19 of 37 passes for 243 yards, staked the Giants to a 14-7 lead on a 62 yard pass to Hakeem Nicks late in the second quarter.

But that would be the last New York points until Lawrence Tynes kicked a 20-yard field goal with 8:14 to go in the game.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina. Editing by Alastair Himmer)