Cardinals come up big

The Arizona Cardinals conquered their House of Horrors, thanks to an opportunistic defense and big plays by their veterans.

Arizona erased some bad memories in its last regular-season visit to Giants Stadium, creating four turnovers and bewildering Eli Manning with its blitzes in a 24-17 victory Sunday night.

The Cardinals finished 3-15 at Giants Stadium, but this win lifted the defending NFC champions into first place in the West Division at 4-2 with their third straight win.

Kurt Warner, who was 6-2 as a starter with the Giants in 2004, threw one touchdown pass and got help from star receiver Larry Fitzgerald and a defense led by safety Adrian Wilson.

“Tonight,” Warner said, “we definitely fed off our defense.”

Wilson had an interception and a fumble recovery, Antrel Rolle picked off a Manning pass to clinch it, and Jason Wright, Tim Hightower and rookie Chris Wells found the end zone.

The Giants (5-2) lost their second straight and were let down by their normally solid punter. Jeff Feagles struggled, helping give the Cardinals a solid edge in field position for much of the prime-time matchup.

Feagles said he used the wrong kicking angles trying to keep the ball away from Steve Breaston.

Wilson, Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who left late in the third quarter with an ankle injury -- X-rays were negative -- in the Arizona secondary benefited from the confusion the defense caused for Manning, who was 19 for 37 and had three passes intercepted.

“We played team defense,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “Everybody stepped up. When we had interception opportunities, we made them.”