Taylor-Demerson’s OT pick-six gives Arizona Cardinals first win, 34-28 over New York Giants in Week 4

East Rutherford, NJ - Dadrion Taylor-Demerson returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown in overtime, delivering the Arizona Cardinals their first victory of Season 36 with a dramatic 34-28 win over the New York Giants in Week 4.

Both teams entered the afternoon winless at 0-3, guaranteeing that one of them would finally break through. Arizona appeared positioned to do so long before overtime, but New York erased an 11-point halftime deficit and forced the Cardinals to find one more answer after regulation.

The ending ultimately belonged to Taylor-Demerson and an Arizona defense that intercepted Jaxson Dart four times. Taylor-Demerson accounted for two of those takeaways and finished with 128 interception return yards, with his final one immediately ending the game.

Arizona established a 14-7 advantage in the first quarter before Cody Simon produced one of the defense's biggest plays just before halftime. Simon returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter, sending the Cardinals into halftime with a 21-10 lead.

New York responded after the break.

Dart connected with Malik Nabers for a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and Theo Johnson caught the ensuing two-point conversion to cut Arizona's advantage to 21-18. Nabers struck again early in the fourth, hauling in a 56-yard touchdown that pushed the Giants in front 25-21.

The Cardinals answered with 3:26 remaining when Jacoby Brissett found Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown, restoring Arizona's lead at 28-25.

New York still had enough time to respond. Dominic Zvada converted a 33-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining, tying the game at 28 and sending the two winless teams to overtime.

That was when Taylor-Demerson ended it.

With 1:39 showing in overtime, the Cardinals defensive back intercepted Dart and returned the ball 61 yards for the winning touchdown. No offensive possession was necessary afterward. Arizona had its first victory, 34-28.

"When I got the ball, there was only one thing on my mind," Taylor-Demerson said. "We'd been fighting for our first win, and everybody on defense had been making plays all game. Once I saw space, I just wanted to finish it."

The dramatic finish capped a remarkable defensive performance for a Cardinals team that was heavily outgained.

New York accumulated 517 offensive yards and 29 first downs, more than doubling Arizona's 242 offensive yards and 12 first downs. The Giants finished with 388 passing yards and 129 rushing yards, while the Cardinals recorded 146 passing yards and 96 rushing yards.

But four interceptions repeatedly altered the game.

Dart completed 36 of 54 passes for 401 yards and two touchdowns, and his production helped New York overcome the early deficit. His four interceptions, however, became the defining counterweight to those numbers.

"There were a lot of things we did well offensively, especially getting ourselves back into the game," Dart said. "But when you turn the ball over four times, and the last one ends the game, that's what you remember."

Nabers delivered the biggest offensive performance for New York, catching 11 passes for 163 yards and both of Dart's touchdown throws. Cam Skattebo added 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while the Giants defense consistently pressured Arizona and finished with eight sacks.

Arizona generated far less offense but found enough explosive plays to stay in front. Brissett completed 14 of 27 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Trey McBride led Arizona with four receptions for 76 yards, while Harrison and Kendrick Bourne each caught touchdown passes.

Jeremiyah Love was responsible for Arizona's largest rushing contribution, gaining 100 yards and scoring a touchdown on 10 carries. His 64-yard run helped the Cardinals produce offense despite finishing with only 12 first downs.

"We knew the numbers weren't going to look pretty in every category," Brissett said. "But the defense kept giving us opportunities, and we kept finding a way to stay in it. Then Dadrion ended it. To get that first win that way is something we'll remember."

For New York, the loss was particularly painful because of how much the Giants overcame. They trailed 21-10 at halftime, scored 15 unanswered points to take the lead in the fourth quarter and forced overtime with Zvada's field goal in the final minute of regulation.

Yet Arizona's defense produced the final answer.

The Cardinals intercepted four passes, scored two defensive touchdowns and turned Taylor-Demerson's second interception into the game-ending score. After beginning Season 36 with three consecutive losses, Arizona walked out of East Rutherford at 1-3.

The Giants, despite their 517 yards, 29 first downs and second-half rally, fell to 0-4.

Up Next

Arizona returns home in Week 5 carrying its first victory of the season into a matchup with the Detroit Lions, while the New York Giants will continue searching for their first win on the road against the Washington Commanders.