Arizona Cardinals get first shutout in 25 years as they blank New York Giants 23-0

It has been 25 years… I was six years old the last time the Arizona Cardinals shut out an opponent.

It was against the New York Giants on December 12, 1992 at Sun Devil Stadium.

Well, after 25 years, the Arizona Cardinals have their second shutout in their history since the move to Arizona as the Cardinals blew out the New York Giants 23-0.

It has been two and a half games without a touchdown, today, the Arizona Cardinals had three.

That's how fast the momentum between games changes and the Cardinals found their offense, behind Larry Fitzgerald, today.

Fitz finished with 9 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown on the day, while also completing one pass for 21 yards.

Drew Stanton was exactly what he has always been as a starter.

Steady.

He ended the day with two interceptions, but one was a bad throw by Stanton while the other was another inexcusable drop from J.J. Nelson, something that Blaine Gabbert had to suffer through in his five starts as well.

The offense was good enough, but it was the defense yet again who set the tone for the Arizona Cardinals.

Even in the fourth quarter, after the second Stanton interception on the Nelson drop, the Cardinals forced the Giants to take two penalties backing them up to a 2nd and 29, making the field goal from 58 yards instead of 39 yards and the Giants deciding to go for it and the Cardinals getting the stop.

They also had two Antoine Bethea interceptions a forced fumble by Deone Bucannon that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Robert Nkemdiche and just an overall dominant performance that we've seen the last five games of the season.

It is a good one for 2018, if they can keep the group together.

What's better is you saw some life from the offense today and that seemed to rejuvenate the defense.

There were a couple subtle plays from Stanton that show why he was brought back into start over Gabbert.

The biggest being the touchdown pass to John Brown where Stanton, with bodies all around him, stepped up in the pocket, waited for Brown to clear the cornerback and threw and absolute dart for the second offensive touchdown or the game.

The individual performances were impressive, but today was about the fact the Cardinals for the first time in 25 years shutout an opponent.

This was what we expected to see from the defense.

We knew it could happen, it was just a matter of when.

It took ten games, but there's not a defense playing better football in the NFL than the Arizona Cardinals.

A hat tip to James Bettcher and his staff and the players.

Well done and congratulations. For the second time since the move to the desert, the Arizona Cardinals have shutout an opponent.