"That's where it starts. You can't let them stand back there and throw the ball," said Tom Coughlin. "It could be three (down linemen), it could be four, whatever. They need to be able to get the quarterback somehow, disrupt (him) or get him out of rhythm."

The rhythm of the Cardinals' offense has been that of a well-oiled machine. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are arguably the NFL's best receiver tandem, and Warner has passed for 3,155 yards, 20 TDs and a league-best 105.5 passer rating. That yardage total is the third-best in history through 10 games.

The best way to slow him is to sack him, a tough task since he gets rid of the ball so quickly. But the Giants - who have just one sack combined the past two games - must hit Warner or at least force him to move in the pocket.

"We're not worried about sacks; we could care less. It's about hits on the quarterback," said Antonio Pierce, adding wryly "and really you don't even want to hit the quarterback the way things are going in the league right now.

"It's tough. You have to be smart, instead of just running towards the quarterback you put your hands up, deflect passes, get in the throwing lanes; that way he sees your color jersey instead of their colors."

But if they can put hits on Warner, he may put the ball on the ground. He's been sacked 18 times and fumbled seven times this year, losing five of them. Since 2004, when Warner put the ball on the ground a dozen times in just 10 games as a Giant, his 50 fumbles lead the NFL according to Elias.

"We want to rattle him," Pierce said. "Obviously he's a veteran and it's going to be hard. But if you hit somebody often and hard enough it'll make him a little nervous; hopefully we can see if he can drop a couple balls back there or throw some to us."

Justin Tuck, who has 8 1/2 sacks but none in the last two weeks, agreed.

"We're always itching. But we haven't (gotten there) so obviously we have to step up our game, and what better week than this week?" Tuck said. "We know Kurt had a couple of problems in the past as far as when he got sacked losing the ball. But you hit a quarterback right, regardless of who it is, you're going to get him to fumble."