TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Tiki Barber rushed for 118 yards, Kerry Collins threw a touchdown pass and the New York Giants defense played well from start to finish Sunday in a 17-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Giants (5-4), who also received a rushing touchdown from Ron Dayne, won their second straight to remain a half game behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. The victories come on the heels of a three-game losing skid.
New York, which has won seven of the last nine games in this series, led by a touchdown after Morten Anderson connected from 25 yards with 11:44 to play in the contest.
The Giants received a huge break on the ensuing kickoff when the ball bounced through the legs of MarTay Jenkins. By the time the young wideout was able to gain possession, he was swarmed by the New York coverage at the 10.
However, despite totaling only 207 yards on the afteroon, the Cardinals embarked on one of their best drives of the game. They converted a pair of third downs and were in New York territory with just under six minutes remaining.
But Jake Plummer threw an incompletion and, after Michael Pittman rumbled for seven yards to the 38, the drive stalled when Plummer's pass intended for Jenkins on fourth and four fell incomplete.
The Giants salted the game away over the next four minutes by pounding "Thunder and Lighting," the monikers given to Dayne and Barber, at the Arizona defense. The Cardinals (2-6) eventually took control on their own 13 with 18 seconds remaining and hope virtually gone.
