The Giants won by 12. Arizona was at the four with a chance to win.

New York beat Arizona 36-24 on Sunday and moved to 3-1, but the final margin gives the wrong picture of the last minute. The Giants led 30-24 when the Cardinals reached first-and-goal at the New York four-yard line with 22 seconds left. Three incompletions followed. On fourth down, Deonte Banks intercepted Jacoby Brissett and returned the ball 98 yards for a touchdown as time expired. Six of the Giants' 36 points arrived after Arizona's last chance to win had already begun.

That is why a 12-point win can still be a narrow escape. The interception did more than protect a lead; its return changed the margin that future scoreboards will show. Banks had also been called for defensive pass interference on the drive, giving Arizona its first-and-goal opportunity. His final play did not make that penalty disappear, but it did decide the contest.

A 12-point final that was still a one-score game

The Giants had needed an offensive recovery well before the goal-line stand. Arizona went ahead 24-19 early in the third quarter after Jameis Winston's second interception. Winston finished with 250 passing yards and three touchdowns as well as those two picks. Theo Johnson's 11-yard touchdown catch and a two-point conversion put New York back in front 27-24 late in the third. Dominic Zvada later kicked a field goal to stretch the lead to six.

Malik Nabers supplied six catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, according to the Giants' game account. Rookie Malachi Fields ended a nine-quarter touchdown drought with a 12-yard scoring catch in the second. On defense, Greg Newsome II and Arvell Reese intercepted Brissett before Banks' final takeaway. The win was not a single miracle play. It was a mix of recovered offense, takeaways and one final defensive snap with no room left for another mistake.

A comeback that survived its own mistakes

New York remains unbeaten at home, according to the club. That is a useful early-season result, not proof that the turnover and coverage issues are settled. The cleanest reading of Sunday is also the most interesting one: the Giants found a way to win a game Arizona still had a chance to take with seconds remaining.