A New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals game does not carry the same weight it once did, but the history behind it is long. These two franchises were one-time NFC East rivals before Arizona moved to the NFC West in 2002, and since then the schedule has put them together only once every few years. Sunday, October 4, 2026, per the NFL Week 4 2026 slate, with kickoff set for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Both clubs arrive a little bruised. The Giants are 2-1 under first-year head coach John Harbaugh, but they have lost quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the regular season and just watched edge rusher Brian Burns tear his ACL. The Cardinals are 1-2 under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, riding a two-game losing streak after a 36-30 defeat at San Francisco, with a rookie running back who finally looks like the player Arizona drafted third overall.
Here is what this guide covers before kickoff: how each team looks right now, the full New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals history, the last time they met, the key New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats, the betting lines, where to watch New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals, and a few quick FAQs at the end. If you are tracking Cardinals vs Giants odds and numbers, this page keeps them in one place. And if you cannot catch the game live, highlights will be easy to find right after the final whistle.
New York Giants History: A Reset Under Harbaugh
Last year was one the New York Giants would rather forget. A 4-13 finish, Brian Daboll shown the door on November 10, and then the shock of Dexter Lawrence, an All-Pro tackle, being sent to Cincinnati in return for the 10th pick of the 2026 draft. John Harbaugh took over the sideline, Matt Nagy took over the offense, and with the No. 5 selection the club grabbed linebacker Arvell Reese.
Three weeks in, it has been a bumpy ride. Week 1 was the good night: Dallas came to town for Sunday Night Football and left on the wrong end of a 28-20 score, with Malik Nabers playing again after his torn ACL. Eight days later it all fell apart at SoFi Stadium. The Rams won 28-6, outgained New York 481 yards to 182, and Jaxson Dart went down with a knee injury that ended his regular season. Then came the Titans on Sunday, in a nor’easter, and the Giants squeaked it out 12-7. Dominic Zvada kicked all four field goals, and Jevon Holland picked off a pass in the end zone to seal it. The season tally so far: 46 points scored (15.3 a game) and 55 allowed (18.3).
Nobody will put that Tennessee game on a highlight reel. New York totaled only 238 yards. But there were no turnovers, the ground game chewed up close to 140 yards in the rain, and Winston, who took three sacks, went 14-of-22 for 118. Dull? Sure. It’s also precisely what Harbaugh was after.
What Makes the Giants Tick
- Jameis Winston has the job, at least for now. A two-year extension was signed September 7. Over Weeks 2 and 3 his line reads 25-of-49, 229 yards, one pick, five sacks. New York did trade a 2027 fifth-rounder to Minnesota for J.J. McCarthy, yet Harbaugh insists Winston is still the guy.
- A run-first offense. Cam Skattebo carried 20 times for 60 yards against Tennessee, and Najee Harris added 52 yards on nine carries, a 5.8-yard average.
- A defense full of takeaways. Holland has an interception in all three games, plus two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Reese leads the team with 24 tackles through three starts, with two tackles for loss and no missed tackles.
- A pass rush that needs new answers. With Burns on injured reserve, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter become the starting edge rushers. Harbaugh said the Giants “need to get to the quarterback more.”
New York Giants Snapshot
| Detail | Info |
| Division | NFC East |
| Head coach | John Harbaugh (1st season with the Giants) |
| Offensive coordinator | Matt Nagy |
| Quarterback | Jameis Winston (Dart out for the regular season) |
| Identity | Ball-control offense, opportunistic defense |
| Recent form | 2-1, won last time out 12-7 |
| 2026 results | Beat Dallas 28-20, lost at the Rams 28-6, beat Tennessee 12-7 |
Looking at the New York Giants standings through three weeks, New York is 2-1 and level with Philadelphia at the top of the NFC East, with Dallas and Washington both at 1-2. It is a better spot than most people expected from a team that won four games last year, and the New York Giants standings will look healthier still with a win on Sunday. Among all New York Giants games so far, the Rams loss was the low point, and it cost the club far more than a result.
Arizona Cardinals History: A Quiet Rebuild With a Loud Rookie
Arizona’s story is a different kind of rebuild. The Cardinals won three games in 2025, went 0-6 inside the NFC West, and opened this season with the lowest win total on the board at 3.5. Mike LaFleur replaced the old staff, veteran Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback, and the team spent the No. 3 pick on running back Jeremiyah Love. The schedule is rough: ESPN ranked it the third hardest in the league, and the Cardinals have no primetime games at all.
So far, the Cardinals have been better than the pre-season talk. Arizona opened with a 26-14 win at the Chargers, was blown out 31-7 at home by defending Super Bowl champion Seattle, then fought back at San Francisco from a 23-6 deficit in the third quarter before falling 36-30. The Cardinals have scored 63 points (21.0 a game) and allowed 81 (27.0 a game).
The Arizona Cardinals games so far show an offense that protects the ball almost perfectly. Arizona has one turnover in three games, tied for the fewest in the NFL, and has not fumbled once. The concern is that the attack has been efficient without being explosive, and the defense has given up too many big plays.
What Makes Arizona’s Team Tick
- Jacoby Brissett is accurate and conservative. He has completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 652 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, but his 5.6 yards per attempt ranks last among quarterbacks who have started all three games. When he is not pressured, he is 66-of-84 for 501 yards and a 107.4 rating. Under pressure, that drops to 16-of-33 and a 48.9 rating.
- Trey McBride is the engine. The tight end has 26 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns. His 26 receptions lead all tight ends and rank third among all NFL players.
- Jeremiyah Love arrived in Week 3. After an ankle injury in the preseason slowed him, the rookie ran 21 times for 90 yards and added five catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.
- Michael Wilson got fed. He caught 11 of 17 targets for 89 yards and his first touchdown of the year at San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals Snapshot
| Detail | Info |
| Division | NFC West |
| Head coach | Mike LaFleur (1st season) |
| Quarterback | Jacoby Brissett |
| Identity | Duo-based running game, ball security, shaky defense |
| Recent form | 1-2, two straight NFC West losses |
| 2026 results | Beat Chargers 26-14, lost to Seattle 31-7, lost at San Francisco 36-30 |
On the Arizona Cardinals standings, the picture is simple: 1-2 in a division where Seattle and San Francisco have already beaten them. The Arizona Cardinals standings leave very little room for another loss, especially with a three-game stretch of Detroit, the Rams and Denver still to come. Arizona Cardinals games like this one, on the road against a banged-up opponent, are exactly the ones the team must win to stay in the race.
NFL Schedule This Week
Kickoff for Sunday’s NFL Week 4 2026 game is set for 1:00 p.m. ET, which is 12:00 p.m. CT, 10:00 a.m. in Arizona and 10:30 p.m. IST, at MetLife Stadium on CBS. It is the Giants’ third home game of the season and their second straight, and the team will honor the 1986 Super Bowl championship squad by wearing its Legacy Blue uniforms.
| Team | Next matchup | Date | Location |
| New York Giants | at Washington Commanders | October 11 | Away |
| Arizona Cardinals | vs Detroit Lions | October 11 | Home |
Neither slate is a picnic, though the New York Giants schedule at least has a breather built in: Washington on the road October 11, the Saints at home October 18, a trip to Houston October 25, and then Week 8 off. After the bye they open at Philadelphia on November 8. The Arizona Cardinals schedule looks rougher. Detroit comes to Glendale first, then it’s the Rams away on October 18, Denver at home on October 25, Dallas on November 1 and Seattle on November 8, with no bye until Week 14 (December 13).
Planning around the New York Giants schedule or the Arizona Cardinals schedule? Both clubs are back on the field October 11, so double-check kickoff windows closer to the date.
Head-to-Head History: Full Timeline
On paper the Giants own this series, 81-46-2 over 129 meetings dating all the way to 1926. The recent picture tells another story. Arizona has been in the NFC West since 2002, and in that stretch the Cardinals lead 7-4, including 5-2 across the last seven. The latest results are below.
| Date | Winner | Location | Score | Notes |
| Sept. 17, 2023 | Giants | Away | 31-28 | Giants rallied from 21 down at State Farm Stadium |
| Dec. 13, 2020 | Cardinals | Home | 26-7 | Arizona wins at MetLife Stadium |
| Oct. 20, 2019 | Cardinals | Home | 27-21 | Arizona wins at MetLife Stadium |
| Dec. 24, 2017 | Cardinals | Away | 23-0 | Giants shut out in Glendale |
| Sept. 14, 2014 | Cardinals | Home | 25-14 | Arizona wins at MetLife Stadium |
| Oct. 2, 2011 | Giants | Away | 31-27 | Hakeem Nicks scores the winning touchdown |
| Oct. 25, 2009 | Cardinals | Home | 24-17 | Last visit before MetLife opened |
| Nov. 23, 2008 | Giants | Away | 37-29 | Giants win in Glendale |
| Sept. 11, 2005 | Giants | Home | 42-19 | Special teams scored two touchdowns |
Note: “Home” and “Away” in the table are from the Giants’ point of view.
A Few Things Worth Pointing Out
- Road teams have taken seven of the last eight in this series. Only 2017, in Glendale, went to the home side.
- Every Arizona trip to the New York area since 2009 has ended in a win, four in a row, and the Cardinals are 3-0 at MetLife Stadium against the Giants.
- Should New York win, it would be the first back-to-back wins over Arizona since 2005 and 2008.
- This is game number 130 overall and the 12th since Arizona switched to the NFC West.
- A Giants win moves the series to 82-46-2. An Arizona win makes it 81-47-2 and stretches that road streak, which started in 2009, to five.
Last Time These Two Teams Met: Giants 31, Cardinals 28
You have to go back to September 2023 and State Farm Stadium for the last time these teams met. Arizona raced to a 21-0 lead. Joshua Dobbs was still hunting his first win as a starter, and Jonathan Gannon, in his debut season as head coach, was hunting his first win too. Neither got it.
The turn came on the opening snap of the second half, when Daniel Jones heaved a 58-yarder to Jalin Hyatt. From there the Giants kept piling on. Jones ended up with 321 yards, Saquon Barkley found the end zone twice (a one-yard run and a nine-yard catch), Isaiah Hodgins tied it at 28 on an 11-yard touchdown, and Graham Gano’s 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds left decided it. A 21-point comeback like that hadn’t happened for New York since 1949. Same opponent, too.
Not much of that cast is left, and the Giants Cardinals matchup feels different now. Kayvon Thibodeaux played in that game and is now being counted on to anchor the pass rush without Burns. With rosters turned over almost completely, this week’s injury lists will say more than the old box score.
Where Both Teams Stand Entering Sunday
Three weeks into the season, the gap between these rosters looks smaller than the standings suggest. New York has the better record, and Arizona has the better offense on paper. Before looking at the numbers below, it is worth framing this New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats snapshot simply: pressure, turnovers and the running game will probably decide it.
| Stat | New York Giants | Arizona Cardinals |
| Record | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| Points per game | 15.3 | 21.0 |
| Points allowed per game | 18.3 | 27.0 |
| Point differential | -9 | -18 |
| Starting QB | Jameis Winston: 25-of-49, 229 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT (Weeks 2-3) | Jacoby Brissett: 70.1%, 652 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Turnovers (season) | Winston has 1 interception | 1 total, 0 fumbles |
New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Quarterbacks and Receivers
Live New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats will populate on the NFL’s game page and the CBS Sports app once the game starts. Until then, here are the verified numbers through three weeks.
| Player | Season stats through Week 3 | Last game (Week 3) |
| Jameis Winston (NYG) | 25-of-49, 229 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT (two games) | 14-of-22, 118 yards, 0 INT, sacked 3 times |
| Jacoby Brissett (ARI) | 70.1%, 652 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 5.6 Y/A | Led a comeback from 23-6 down in the third quarter |
| Trey McBride (ARI) | 26 catches, 211 yards, 2 TD | One of the league’s top tight ends |
| Michael Wilson (ARI) | First TD of the season in Week 3 | 11 catches on 17 targets, 89 yards, 1 TD |
| Jeremiyah Love (ARI) | Rookie, No. 3 overall pick | 21 carries, 90 yards; 5 catches, 19 yards, 1 TD |
| Najee Harris (NYG) | Giants’ efficient change-of-pace back | 9 carries, 52 yards (5.8 avg.) |
| Cam Skattebo (NYG) | Workhorse in the Week 3 win | 20 carries, 60 yards |
| Dominic Zvada (NYG) | Rookie kicker | 4-of-4 on field goals, long of 39 |
New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Team Numbers from Week 3
| Stat | Giants vs Titans | Cardinals at 49ers |
| Result | W 12-7 | L 36-30 |
| Points scored | 12 | 30 |
| Points allowed | 7 | 36 |
| Total yards | 238 | n/a (rallied from 23-6 down) |
| Rushing leader | Skattebo, 20 for 60 | Love, 21 for 90 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | n/a |
Winston has been steady, and the Giants have not asked him to do much. Brissett has been efficient but short-armed, and the Cardinals’ run game with Love and Tyler Allgeier has taken on more weight. If this trend holds, the winner will be the team that wins the sack and rushing battles. When the New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats begin to update on Sunday, watch Brissett’s pressure rate, Winston’s sack total, and how often McBride and Wilson are targeted. The NFL app, ESPN and CBS Sports all track the New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats in real time, and fantasy managers will care about the same numbers at running back and tight end.
Key New York Giants Players to Watch
Across New York Giants games this season, the most important of the New York Giants players has been Winston himself, because his sacks and decisions will shape the game. He was taken down five times in two games, so the offensive line, including left tackle Andrew Thomas, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a groin issue, matters a great deal. Behind him, Skattebo, Harris and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (knee) carry the run game. Nabers, Darnell Mooney, tight end Isaiah Likely and rookie Malachi Fields are the targets. On defense, Holland’s takeaway streak, Reese’s tackling and the Thibodeaux and Carter pass rush are the storylines, and Harbaugh has pointed out that Arizona’s running backs are tough to bring down.
Key Arizona Cardinals Players to Watch
The Arizona Cardinals players to watch begin with Love, who has become the focal point of LaFleur’s offense, and McBride, who is the first read on nearly every play. Wilson’s 17-target game suggests Brissett is willing to lean on him, and Marvin Harrison Jr. caught three passes for 40 yards after a quiet start, which is progress. The Arizona Cardinals players under the microscope on defense are in the secondary, where cornerback Will Johnson is on injured reserve with a neck injury, and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is listed as questionable.
Injury Report
Final designations come Friday, so check again before kickoff.
| Team | Out or unavailable | Status to watch |
| Giants | QB Jaxson Dart (knee surgery, out for the regular season), OLB Brian Burns (torn ACL, IR), CB Paulson Adebo (IR) | OT Andrew Thomas (groin) and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (knee) missed Wednesday’s practice. Devin Singletary, Deonte Banks and Tyler Nubin are questionable, per recent reports |
| Cardinals | CB Will Johnson (neck, IR) | S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is questionable |
Burns’ absence is the biggest concern for New York, because he was the leader of the defense and the Giants have not been getting home on the quarterback. For Arizona, the secondary is the issue, since a pass defense that gives up plays needs every healthy body.
Coaching Matchup: Harbaugh vs. LaFleur
Harbaugh is a veteran head coach in his first year in New York, working with Nagy. LaFleur is a first-year head coach in Arizona whose offense draws heavily from the Rams’ scheme, with duo runs, double-team blocking and play action off the run game, as Harbaugh noted this week.
| Factor | New York (Harbaugh) | Arizona (LaFleur) |
| Experience | Veteran head coach, 1st season with the Giants | 1st season as head coach |
| Quarterback situation | Winston, after Dart’s injury | Brissett, accurate but short on yards |
| Offensive identity | Run first, protect the ball | Duo runs, play action, McBride first read |
| Defensive identity | Takeaways, strong against the run | Prone to big plays, thin secondary |
| Program status | 2-1, trying to survive injuries | 1-2, trying to snap a losing streak |
This matchup says as much about where each team sits as about play-calling: a Giants group that has to win ugly, against a Cardinals group that needs to turn efficiency into points.
Betting Angle: What the Odds Say
Arizona is a small road favorite. The spread is Cardinals -1.5 (-110), the moneyline is Cardinals -126 and Giants +108, and the total is 43.5, with the over at -115 and the under at -105, according to FanDuel’s listings. For Cardinals vs Giants, that is about as close to a pick’em as the NFL gets.
Win probability models lean slightly toward the visitors: numberFire gives the Cardinals a 51.2 percent chance. The Giants vs Cardinals total is one to watch. Arizona has covered the spread twice this season, and so have the Giants. The over has hit once in three games for each team. Oddsmakers see a competitive game rather than a mismatch, even with Dart out. None of this is betting advice. Lines move, and injury news can change them quickly.
Match Prediction: Giants vs Cardinals
Prediction for: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants, NFL Week 4, Sunday, October 4, 2026
Kickoff (US time): 1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT at MetLife Stadium, on CBS
The models and the oddsmakers are close to agreeing on this one. numberFire leans Arizona, a Raising Zona preview picks the Cardinals 23-21, and the market has them by under two points. Most Cardinals vs Giants projections land within a field goal, and nobody is calling it a blowout either way.
Why New York can win
- Home field and an emotional afternoon, with the 1986 champions being honored.
- A running game that has produced nearly 140 yards even in a nor’easter, plus a defense that has forced timely takeaways.
- Arizona’s offense gets much worse under pressure, with Brissett’s rating dropping from 107.4 to 48.9, and the Giants can bring it with Thibodeaux and Carter.
Why Arizona can win
- The Cardinals have the more productive offense, with 21.0 points a game against 15.3 for the Giants.
- Love’s expanded role and McBride’s volume give Brissett easy answers if the pass rush does not get home.
- History is on their side: the Cardinals have won four straight road games in this series, and the visiting team has won seven of the last eight.
The swing factors: whether the Giants replace Burns’ pressure, whether Winston avoids sacks, and whether Arizona’s secondary can handle Nabers and Mooney.
Our pick: Giants 20, Cardinals 17. The Giants Cardinals matchup looks like a one-possession game, and a defense that has created turnovers and a run game that controls the clock should edge an offense averaging 5.6 yards per pass attempt. The Giants at +1.5 are a sensible lean, and the under is worth a look, but this is a three-game sample and a loaded injury list. As always, this is analysis, not betting advice.
Where to Watch New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals
If you are wondering where to watch New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals, the answer is CBS, which carries the Giants Cardinals game with the game in the early Sunday window at 1:00 p.m. ET. Because it is a regional broadcast, CBS decides which stations carry it, and the network’s TV map showed the game in the blue region.
- Local CBS station: Free with an antenna and included in standard cable and satellite packages.
- Paramount+: Streams the local CBS feed live, and NFL+ also carries the game on phones and tablets.
- Live TV streaming services: Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV carry CBS in most markets. Check your zip code first.
- NFL Sunday Ticket: The legal option if the game is not on your local station.
- Radio: New York fans can listen on WFAN 101.9 FM and 66 AM, with Giants Gameday starting at 11:00 a.m. ET.
For fans in India, the 10:30 p.m. IST start means a late Sunday night. Whichever route you choose, the simplest answer to where to watch New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals is your local CBS station, since that is the one place the game is guaranteed to appear.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Both seasons hinge on this game more than the records suggest. Few Arizona Cardinals games this fall will matter more, and few New York Giants games before the bye carry this much weight. A win would lift the New York Giants standings to 3-1 and give them a little breathing room before Houston and the bye. A loss would leave them 2-2 without their quarterback or their best pass rusher, and with the Commanders next on the schedule.
The New York Giants schedule offers a manageable trip to Washington next, while the Arizona Cardinals schedule turns heavy after Detroit. For Arizona, a win would return the Cardinals to .500 before they host the Lions and then play two games on the road. A loss would drag the Arizona Cardinals standings to 1-3 with the Rams, Cowboys and Seahawks still ahead, a steep climb for a team with the lowest win total in the league.
The matchup that likely decides it is Arizona’s offensive line against the Giants’ reshuffled pass rush, and the Giants’ run game against a Cardinals defense that has been leaky. Whoever wins both fights probably wins the game. For the latest, check the Friday injury report, the inactives about 90 minutes before kickoff and the live game center during the game.
Check Match Highlights: Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys | Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts
Quick FAQs
Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
CBS, Paramount+, or NFL+ on mobile devices.
NFL.com and CBS Sports app, live after kickoff.
The Giants, 81-46-2.
Jameis Winston, since Jaxson Dart is out for the regular season.
Paramount+, or NFL+ on mobile devices.
Giants 2-1 after beating Tennessee; Cardinals 1-2 after losing at San Francisco.
Source: ESPN
