It’s an ancient story that’s fading into folklore status about how the Giants began the year without the respect due a defending champion. They started the year without newly retired Michael Strahan and then lost their other premier pass-rushing end, Osi Umenyiora, before the season began. Once the season began, they had to deal with the immaturity of receiver Plaxico Burress.

None of it slowed them down. They’ve become like the Patriots have been during their great run — a true team that is greater than the sum of its parts. If somebody goes down, they plug another body in, and that new body gets the job done.

Sunday was another example of that. The Giants were without their bruising rusher, Brandon Jacobs, and Burress, their most dangerous receiver. The Cardinals attempted to take advantage of the perceived holes by stacking up against the run. And it did them no good. If the running game was wounded, they simple went upstairs and Eli Manning took the Cardinals apart.

The season isn’t over, and it’s doubtful that the Giants will finish 15-1, if only because it's incredibly hard to do and they’re going to be playing teams who are desperate to win. 

Awaiting are the Redskins, Eagles, Cowboys, Panthers and Vikings. Every game except Philly is going to be a potential playoff preview. Every game is one in which the other guys are the ones who have to show what they have.

With a three-game cushion in the NFC East, the Giants can drop two games and still probably be the top NFC seed. At the beginning of the season, no one predicted the Giants would be in this position. Seven weeks ago, when they got blasted by Cleveland, we wanted to know what was wrong with them.

The answer was delivered loud and clear Sunday in Arizona: not a darned thing.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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