Nov 23rd 2008 8:05PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Giants, NFC East, NFC West, NFL CoachingThe Arizona Cardinals are on the cusp of clinching the NFC West, and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. They received a good litmus test today, as the best team in the NFL visited them in the desert. The Cards found out they aren’t quite there yet, but when the dust settles they need to realize this game showed they are quite close to joining the upper echelon in the NFL.

The little things separated them.

- Domenik Hixon averaged 60 yards per return via kickoff, allowing the Giants incredible field position for most of the day.

- A botched extra point meant the Cards were going to have to go for two eventually.

- Neil Rackers duffed a 68 yard free kick chance at the end of the first half. Man, that would have been awesome to see him make it.

- The Cardinals twiced attempted onside kicks, and twice came up empty-handed. On the first attempt, Rackers connected on possible the best onside kick I’ve ever seen. The ball went far enough airborne for the Cards to get players into position, and it bounced right into the hands of Ralph Brown. Brown dropped it, and the Giants recovered.

Of course, they also lost the turnover battle, 2-0. That is definitely not a “little thing.”Continue Reading