Individually and collectively, the Giants decided to deliver a message to the Baltimore Ravens—"as early in the game as possible," according to right guard Chris Snee.

So, on the second play of Sunday's game against the team that doesn't allow many rushing yards and boasts about it, hulking running back Brandon Jacobs (6-4, 265 pounds) took a handoff from Eli Manning. He slanted to his right, then spun around and went left, and wasn't stopped until he had gained 32 yards. Two plays later he ran for 5 yards, and four plays later he pounded up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown—running directly at, and through, the loudest of the Ravens' boasters, inside linebacker Ray Lewis.

Pro football in the desert is a laughingstock no more. The joke is on the rest of the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals are on the brink of clinching a division title, something this franchise has not done in 33 years. And they could do it with five weeks to spare. "I know that people have said `Well, the division's down,"' coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Monday.

The New York Giants needed only two plays to show they could run the ball against Ray Lewis and the NFL's stingiest rushing defense. Of course, the one that set the stage was a busted play. Big Brandon Jacobs set up the first of his two short touchdown runs by bouncing to the outside for a tone-setting 36-yard ramble and the Giants (9-1) amassed more than 200 yards rushing for the third straight...