Giants look to bounce back against Arizona after devastating 40-0 loss

Rich Eisen: the Giants’ 40-0 Beatdown by the Cowboys Was NFL Week 1’s Worst Loss

On Sunday, the New York Giants are set to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 of the NFL season at State Farm Stadium. The Giants seek to bounce back from their 40-0 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys earlier in Week 1. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are eager to prove themselves under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Kicking off at 4:05 p.m. ET, oddmakers put the Giants on the current odds and lines of -4 (-110), while the Cardinals at +4 (-108).

New York Giants offensive line in a pinch

The Giants’ offensive line, except for All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas, struggled hard last season. In the 2023 opener, the unit hit a new low, yielding seven sacks and 12 QB hits to the Dallas defense. This resulted in relentless pressure on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones on 67 percent of his dropbacks, surpassing any other Week 1 passer-by by 13.6 percent.

The right side of the line is particularly concerning, where the No.7 pick last year, RT Evan Neal, gave up eight pressures and one sack. Meanwhile, RG Mark Glowinski surrendered nine pressures and three sacks.

In contrast, Arizona may appear to have the league’s worst record this season, but their defense is not to be underestimated. Last week, the Cardinals sacked Washington QB Sam Howell six times and scored a touchdown from a fumble recovery. Adding to the challenge for the Giants’ offensive line, Thomas is a game-time decision due to a hamstring injury.

This game will also see the return of Arizona’s 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Simmons. The linebacker returned to the field after being traded to the New York Giants in August for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick.

Despite his versatility and playing multiple positions for the Cardinals, he had a limited impact with 258 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks and four interceptions over three seasons. His transition to a full-time defensive back under new Cardinals head coach Gannon faced challenges in preseason coverage, leading to his trade.

In his first appearance with the Giants, Simmons had minimal impact. He played only 15 snaps and had one tackle. However, many Giants had limited playtime due to the substantial deficit and adverse weather conditions. DC Don “Wink” Martindale confirmed this week that Simmons is set for an expanded role in upcoming games.