After a slow start to the 2009 NFL season, last year's Superbowl runner up Arizona Cardinals may have turned the corner. On Sunday they used a tenacious defense to force four New York Giants' turnovers and went on to upset their hosts 24-17. The Cards' potent offense of last year still hasn't regained form, but their defense is picking up the slack.
NFL pointspread players who took the +7' with the Cards as road underdogs cashed their tickets with the outright win. Arizona has now won and covered three straight, improving their ATS record to 4-2 on the year. The Giants have lost two straight both straight up and to the number after winning and covering their first five games. The 41 combined points scored went UNDER the posted total of 47.
After the contest, all of the Cards' offensive stars were paying tribute to their ball hawking defense starting with quarterback Kurt Warner:
"Tonight we definitely fed off our defense."
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin commented:
"We feel like we've got one of the best defenses in the league. It's tough for teams to move the ball on them, let alone score on them."
Cards' linebacker Gerald Page explained the defense's mindset heading into the game:
"Our game plan was to get Manning rattled, make him make quick decisions and quick throws. He made some plays, but they came up short."
Safety Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie added:
"We played team defense. Everybody stepped up. When we had interception opportunities, we made them."
Arizona's active defense caused trouble for the usually efficient Giants' offense explained center Shaun O'Hara:
"They are constantly moving around and flipping safeties and they did a good job with that. Sometimes we caught them and sometimes they caught us."
While New York coach Tom Coughlin summed up the loss with this short observation:
"Anytime you turn the ball over four times, you don't have much of a chance to win."
Arizona will try to keep their momentum rolling on Sunday as they host the swooning Carolina Panthers. The Cards are a -10 home favorite with the total set at 42. The Giants will hit the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Philadelphia played on Monday Night, and the game is currently off the board pending the status of several injured Eagles' players. They'll return home to host the San Diego Chargers the following Sunday before a bye week, and they'll get back in action on November 22 at home against the Atlanta Falcons.
Author Resource:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in mixed martial arts, college football and NFL betting . He serves as a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook in Costa Rica and is a noted authority on Internet sports betting of all forms. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and several pet iguanas.
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