Giants Coach Tom Coughlin was not happy after loss to Colts. He may have had a hand in handing the Colts a TD in the second quarter. Photo by Pete Lerro / contrastphotography.com

Giants vs. Cardinals Postgame Notes
By Michael Eisen
Sept. 14, 2014

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Notes and statistics from the Giants’ 25-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in MetLife Stadium:

*The Giants lost for the second time in as many games and have started 0-2 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1995-96.

*The Giants are 2-3 in MetLife Stadium home openers and have lost their last three in a row, to Dallas, Denver and Arizona. They are 49-38-3 overall in home openers.

*The Giants led, 14-10, entering the fourth quarter before they were outscored in the final period, 15-0. It was the first time they lost when leading after three quarters since Dec. 3, 2012 at Washington, where a 16-10 lead became a 17-16 loss. The Giants had won their previous eight games when leading after three quarters.

*That game in Washington was also the last in which the Giants led at any point in the fourth quarter and subsequently lost.

*It was the first time the Giants were outscored by at least 15 points in any fourth quarter since Dec. 19, 2010 (28-7 vs. Philadelphia). It was the first time they were outscored by at least 15 points in a fourth quarter while getting shut out in the period since Oct. 13, 2008 (15-0 at Cleveland).

*The Giants had four turnovers (two interceptions, including one on their final offensive play, and two lost fumbles) and, for the second week in a row, no takeaways. They have lost their last 12 regular-season games in which they did not force a turnover.

*The Giants had nine accepted penalties, their highest total since they had 11 in a loss to Dallas last Nov. 24.

*The Giants, who allowed an NFL-high nine non-defensive touchdowns last season, including three on punt returns, gave up one against Arizona on a 71-yard punt return by Ted Ginn Jr. that
gave the Cardinals the lead for good with 10:10 remaining. It was the first punt return touchdown allowed by the Giants since Oct. 21, 2013, when Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels scored on an 86-yard runback. It was the first special teams touchdown against the Giants since Oct. 27, 2013, when Philadelphia’s Najee Goode scored on what was officially a two-yard fumble return after recovering Zak DeOssie’s high punt snap.

*The Giants’ first touchdown drive covered 90 yards, their longest such possession since they had a 90-yarder vs. Oakland on Nov. 10, 2013.

*Arizona’s Jonathan Dwyer scored a touchdown on the game’s first possession on a one-yard run. It was the second time in as many games the Giants surrendered a touchdown on their opponent’s first offensive series. They had last allowed first-possession scores in consecutive games on Dec. 16 and 23, 2012, against Atlanta and Baltimore.

*Eli Manning completed 26 of 39 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rueben Randle, who made a terrific one-handed catch in the second quarter, and tight end Daniel Fells scored the touchdowns.

*Fells, who did not play football last season, scored for the first time since Dec. 24, 2011, when he caught a 17-yard touchdown pass for Denver against Buffalo.

*Preston Parker, who was also out of the league in 2013, had his first Giants reception, a 29-yarder. It was Parker’s first catch since Jan. 1, 2012, when the caught four passes for Tampa against Atlanta, including a 48-yarder.
*Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer was inactive with a shoulder injury, so Drew Stanton started and played the entire game. It was Stanton’s first start – and the first time he threw a regular-season pass — since Dec. 19, 2010, when he played for Detroit at Tampa Bay in a 23-20 win. Stanton completed 14 of 29 passes for 167 yards, and neither a touchdown pass nor an interception.

*The Giants sacked Stanton four times, matching their high total for the 2013 season, which they reached four times, most recently vs. Seattle last Dec. 15.

*Jason Pierre-Paul led the way with 1.5 sacks, his first since last Nov. 10 vs. Oakland.

*Second-year defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins registered the first sack of his career when he dropped Stanton for an eight-yard loss early in the third quarter.

*Robert Ayers had his second sack in as many games and Mathias Kiwanuka had a half-sack.

*Running back Rashad Jennings led the Giants with 64 rushing yards and he also deflected a punt by Arizona’s Drew Butler.

*Tight end Larry Donnell led the Giants with seven receptions – one less than his career total entering the game – for 81 yards.

*Cornerback Prince Amukamara led the Giants with nine tackles (eight solo).

*Rookie defensive tackle Jay Bromley was active for the first time and was credited with a solo tackle.

*The Giants’ inactive players were wide receiver Odell Beckham; offensive linemen Adam Snyder, Charles Brown and James Brewer; defensive end Kerry Wynn; defensive tackle Markus Kuhn; and linebacker Devon Kennard.

*Middle linebacker Jon Beason (toe) and nickel corner Walter Thurmond (pectoral) left the game with injuries. Mark Herzlich stepped in for Beason and Trumaine McBride substituted for Thurmond.

*David Wilson, wearing his No. 22 jersey, led the Giants out of the tunnel and onto the field prior to the game. Wilson, who is officially on injured reserve, was forced to retire at age 23 in July after he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. He watched the game from the Giants’ sideline.