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NEW YORK GIANTS (2-12) at ARIZONA (6-8)

Sunday Frostee Rucker Jersey , 4:25 p.m., ET, Fox

OPENING LINE – Cardinals by 6

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Giants 5-9, Cardinals 5-8-1

SERIES RECORD – Giants lead 80-43-2

LAST MEETING – Cardinals beat Giants 25-14, Sept. 14, 2014

LAST WEEK – Giants lost to Eagles 34-29; Cardinals lost to Redskins 20-15

AP PRO32 RANKINGS – Giants No. 31, Cardinals No. 22

GIANTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (24) Jared Veldheer Jersey , RUSH (28), PASS (17)

GIANTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (32), RUSH (31), PASS (31)

CARDINALS OFFENSE – OVERALL (21), RUSH (30), PASS (15)

CARDINALS DEFENSE – OVERALL (7), RUSH (6) Tyvon Branch Jersey , PASS (14)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Giants, Cardinals were in NFL or NFC East together from 1950-2001, playing each other twice a year (with two exceptions). … Giants QB Eli Manning returns to scene of Super Bowl MVP performance vs. New England in 2008. … Manning has 13 consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons, tying brother Peyton for third-longest streak in NFL history. Brett Favre did it for 18 straight seasons, Drew Brees 14. … Manning’s 434 yards passing last week vs. Eagles was his ninth career 400-yard game. … Orleans Darkwa’s four rushing TDs through Week 15 are most by Giants RB in single season since 2014. … Giants are 3-2 playing on Christmas Eve since 1989. … New York allowed 106 points combined in losses to NFC West teams 49ers (31-23) J. J. Nelson Jersey , Rams (51-17) and Seahawks (24-7). …Giants one of three teams (along with Bears and Patriots) that Arizona has not beaten at University of Phoenix Stadium. … Cardinals have faced Giants more times than any other team. … Series dates to 1926, Cardinals’ third oldest behind Bears, Packers. … Arizona loss would clinch second straight losing season after three winning years since coach Bruce Arians arrived. … At 34, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald needs eight catches and 18 yards to become oldest player to have 100 receptions, 1,000 yards receiving in single season. … Arizona Pro Bowl OLB Chandler Jones leads NFL in sacks (15), 1 1-2 behind Cardinals franchise record by Simeon Rice in 1999 … Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson has made Pro Bowl in each of his seven NFL seasons A.Q. Shipley Jersey , first on special teams, last six as CB. … Arizona has gone 10 quarters without TD. … Cardinals return to Drew Stanton at QB after Blaine Gabbert went 2-3 as starter. Stanton is 7-4 as starter for Arizona, 1-1 this season. … Arians needs one victory to tie Ken Whisenhunt for most in Cardinals history at 49. …. Fantasy Tip: Manning has completed 68 of 103 passes (66 percent) in two starts since one-game benching for 662 yards, four TDs, three interceptions.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) When Carson Wentz went down for the Philadelphia Eagles Antonio Garcia Jersey , the pressure fell on backup Nick Foles and everyone else to step up.

The defense rose to the challenge in the first playoff game.

They harassed Matt Ryan, contained Julio Jones and made a goal-line stand at the end in a 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

”We know defense wins championships. You say it all the time. You hear it. It’s clich锟?but it’s true, especially where we are now at home,” Pro Bowl safety Malcolm Jenkins said.

The strong defensive effort helped the underdog Eagles (14-3) advance to the NFC championship game for the sixth time since 2001. They’ll host the Vikings (14-3) next Sunday. Minnesota advanced with a thrilling 29-24 win over New Orleans.

”We don’t even care,” linebacker Nigel Bradham said about a preferred opponent. ”Obviously Derek Rivers Jersey , we’ll see a good game and get ready to prepare for whoever we’re going to play next.”

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s unit was No. 1 against the run, 17th against the pass and fourth in points allowed.

They held the Falcons to 281 yards, no points in the second half and Atlanta’s only touchdown drive came after a fumbled punt at the Eagles 18.

”We don’t point fingers,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. ”Just stay the task and keep playing your technique. Keep playing with effort. The second half, we went out there and did that. Nobody gave us a shot. We have another 60 minutes next week. I’m happy with this team because we are a great team. We stay together even through adversity.”

Eagles coach Doug Pederson showed his confidence in the defense when he chose to have Jake Elliott kick a 21-yard field goal instead of going for fourth-and-1 at the Falcons 3 with a 12-10 lead and 6:05 remaining.

The defense had forced two three-and-outs and held Atlanta to only 49 yards in the second half. But Ryan led the Falcons on a long drive Nate Solder Jersey , converting a fourth-and-6 along the way. Atlanta had a first down at the Eagles 9 with 1:19 left.

Ryan threw incomplete to Jones and T.J. Ward. After a 7-yard pass to Jones to the 2, the season came down to one play.

Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian inexplicably called a rollout, taking half the field away for Ryan.

The defense read the play when they saw the formation, pressured Ryan and forced him to throw it up to Jones in the corner of the end zone. Jalen Mills had tight coverage and the ball sailed over Jones’ hands.

”We probably had three guys calling out the play on that one just based on our preparation, our study Devin McCourty Jersey ,” Jenkins said.

Jones had nine catches for 101 yards, but Mills and Ronald Darby kept him out of the end zone.

”The whole motto and the slogan was just `do your job,”’ Mills said. ”Nobody has to go out there and be superman. Know what you have to do for one, then go out there and execute.”

The defense did its part. The defense will have to do it again next week because the offense isn’t going to win a shootout.

”It was on us and we wouldn’t want it any other way,” Bradham said. ”That’s how you feel when you’re on (defense) and you feel like we lead this team. We set the tone for this team and we set the pace for this team. That’s how we feel. We feel like all the energy and everything comes through us and everybody feeds off of it.”

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WASHINGTON (AP) Kirk Cousins‘ time with the Washington Redskins is about to end after they chose not to use the franchise tag on the quarterback as expected.

The Redskins have agreed to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs Nick Boyle Jersey , effectively pushing Cousins into free agency following a tumultuous six years with the club the drafted him. Cousins will be the top free agent available when the league year opens in mid-March and should have no shortage of suitors.

”Next week is now officially the first time since 2007 that I’ll be choosing where to play football,” Cousins posted on Twitter. ”I’m open to suggestions.”

The 29-year-old Cousins is coming off his third consecutive 4,000-yard passing season. In his time as a full-time NFL starter, he has completed 67 percent of his passes for 81 touchdowns Terrance West Jersey , 36 interceptions and a 97.5 QB rating.

Despite previously saying Washington could win with Cousins, coach Jay Gruden said at the scouting combine that ”it’s time for us to move on” and find some continuity at the position.

The Redskins now seemingly have that in Smith, who will join the Redskins once the trade becomes official March 14 and has agreed to a four-year extension with $71 million guaranteed.

Cousins could easily command more than that on the open market with the New York Jets, Denver Broncos Mike Wallace Jersey , Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns among the teams interested in upgrading at quarterback.

After becoming the first QB in NFL history to play two consecutive seasons on the franchise tag – making almost $44 million in the process – Cousins is looking for long-term stability in the wake of almost-weekly questions about his future in Washington persisted over the past few years. Agent Mike McCartney declined to comment on the plans of the Cousins camp in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

This is perhaps the first time in Cousins’ football career that he has been No. 1 on any list. He did not have any scholarship offers as a high school senior, was not considered a top prospect after four years at Michigan State and got picked in the fourth round in 2012 by the Redskins – the same draft they traded up to make Robert Griffin III the No. 2 pick.

Only 39-year-old Drew Brees, who’s expected to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints Eric Weddle Jersey , threw for more yards last season than Cousins, who is the best option available in a crop that includes Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Josh McCown. Though during the 2017 season it was reported that Cousins could set a record for QB contracts, it’s unclear how close he might come to the $135 million Matt Judon Jersey , five-year deal with $92 million guaranteed that Matthew Stafford signed with the Detroit Lions.

NOTE: The Redskins re-signed safety Deshazor Everett to a multiyear deal and waived running backs Dare Ogunbowale and Kenny Hilliard and tackle Kevin Bowen.

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