It is customary, even expected, for the head coach of a team to praise the team he's about to play, and the Giants' Tom Coughlin has the practice down to a science.

But most of those who spend their time observing this 9-1 team don't put much credence in it any more.

"We play them one at a time, and we only look to the next week," Coughlin said Wednesday. "The Cardinals have an outstanding team and they are playing very, very well. Their 7-3 record reflects that, but also the fact that in the last two years they are 10-2 at home at this point in time."

And then he drifted off into garish praise for quarterback Kurt Warner and his main receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the offensive line, the defense and even the special teams."