Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants Pick 10/20/19

Arizona Cardinals (2-3-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) vs. New York Giants (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS)
NFL Week 7
Date/Time: Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 1PM EST
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: Fox

Point Spread: ARI +3/NYG -3 (Intertops)
Over/Under Total: 49

The Arizona Cardinals come to East Rutherford on Sunday for an NFC matchup with the New York Giants. Both teams are working toward something and not quite there, each sitting with two wins coming into week 7. The Giants are coming off the long week following last week’s Thursday Night Football loss to the Patriots, 35-14. They hope for better at home against an opponent that would appear to be more manageable in the Cardinals. After two straight wins, they have now lost two in a row. The Cardinals are coming off a 34-33 win over Atlanta at home, riding a big day from rookie QB Kyler Murray. Who can get the cover this week at MetLife Stadium?

Cardinals Looking to Take to the Air

Murray was impressive on Sunday with 27-for 37 completions with 340 yards and three touchdowns. It was definitely his best game of the season and the second time he came through in a clutch way, a talent that can’t be taught. He’s making a nice connection with still-effective Larry Fitzgerald, along with running back David Johnson, who still catches a lot of passes even if his rushing prowess has waned. Still, he caught a TD and ran for one on Sunday. But with complementary pieces like Damiere Byrd, Trent Sheffield, TE Maxx Williams, RB Chase Edmonds, Murray has some tools with which to work. Getting Christian Kirk back would help, and he could be back. That line, though, is a different story and good thing Murray has legs to help bridge the gap a little bit.

How the Giants’ Defense Matches Up

To keep it short—not very well. A secondary that ranks toward the very bottom of the league has been getting torched lately. Those numbers might be a tad inflated, having faced some more pass-happy teams like Tampa and Atlanta, but suffice to say it’s not tip-top. Arizona might not have any stars aerially, but what they lack in star-power, they make up for in variety. And while New York’s pass-defense can make plays with guys like Janoris Jenkins and Jabrill Peppers, they haven’t been very stout. They could potentially make some big plays up-front, where they get after the QB a little with Markus Golden leading the way, along with Alec Ogletree and Dexter Lawrence creating some mayhem. Against that soft Arizona front, they could make some noise. But the Giants just don’t have the stiffness to match a developing playmaking component.

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Giants Offense Under Pressure

Rookie Daniel Jones is going through the typical growing pains of being a new NFL quarterback thrown into the fire. After being scintillating against Tampa in a big win in week 3, he has three TDs against six picks, and his completion rate is going down each week. It’s important to point out how depreciated they are on this side of the ball. At least the Cardinals are who they are, while the Giants are trying to piece something together, going deep into the barrel in some positions. Word is that Saquon Barkley could maybe resurface this week, though one would expect a muted presence if he were. That helps.

It’s not just Barkley, though. Their top receiver Sterling Shepard and other key role guys in this offense like TE Evan Engram and Wayne Gallman are iffy for this week. The short week didn’t come at the right time for this bunch. Getting Golden Tate back has already paid off, but the injuries have rendered this offense a diminished force. Still, even in they injured don’t go, Jones could potentially connect with his targets, and this would be an excellent game to ease back Barkley into the run game. There are some good matchups to exploit.

Arizona’s Achilles

While addressing the personnel issues of the Giants on offense, context is important because the Cardinals defense isn’t very good. Terrell Suggs and Chandler Jones make for a good 1-2 pass-rush combo punch when the stars line upright. But they are porous and dealing with injury issues of their own, missing a big chunk of their menace. Patrick Peterson is reinstated, but it’s unclear how he fits in with all the trade scuttlebutt. In any event, the secondary is awful. It’s not even that they haven’t gotten an interception yet, but they are as leaky as any unit in the conference. This is a game where both quarterbacks can thrive against defenses that can’t stop the pass well. Which rookie can shine in this spot?

Exploring the Range of Possibilities

This league is unpredictable enough. When dealing with rookie quarterbacks on both sides of the equation, the picture becomes even more volatile. It’s understandable how one would be hesitant to lay points on the Giants. But if their offense were ever to thrive, you would think it would happen against an Arizona road-defense. The return of Barkley looms as an X-factor too. It really comes down to which offense can thrive in this spot, and the case can be made on both sides. Neither defense is good in any area, but I think a greater playmaking element with the Giants could pay off in this home-game.

Take the Home Favorite

This doesn’t come down simply to which rookie quarterback is the better overall athlete or prospect. Though it’s too early to say definitively, the nod probably goes to Murray. He should be able to thrive at points against a Giants’ defense that is readily exploitable across all areas. I just see the Giants’ defense as being more likely to elicit some rookie mistakes in this matchup, while Jones is due for a good game, and if not in this spot, then when? I see the Giants eking out the win and cover this week. I’ll take the Giants and lay the short number.

Loot’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the New York Giants minus 3 points. This game should have a ton of points scored. A better bet is to insert this game into a 20 point teaser which allows you to bet the total at OVER 29 which could happen by halftime! You can find this fun bet option at Wagerweb Sportsbook. They offer a 50% bonus up to $1000 FREE too!