I've covered the Cardinals for a long time, and I've seen them shut out a couple of (ugly) times. But I've never seen them pitch a shutout before Sunday — the first time the franchise has done it since 1992 and only the second time it's happened since the team moved to Arizona in 1988.

No, the Giants aren't very good and have lost all of their offensive stars, but it means something that the Cardinals still have that kind of consistent performance. It's hard not to play what-if, the way this defense is performing. Win in Washington, like they probably should have, and beat the Tom Savage-Texans, like they probably should have, and next week in Seattle is much different.

But instead, the Cardinals will play spoiler, and while that isn't ideal, it means something. If the Cards can knock the Seahawks out of the postseason, that would mean something.

-- I truly believe that Larry Fitzgerald is undecided about playing next year. Actually, I think it's not just about what he wants to do but also what this team looks like — who is coach, who is quarterback — that will play a factor. Fitz has not told me this. But it is logical.

Regardless, what a showing to close out 2017 at home Sunday. Fitz is fun to watch. Always has been. That the fun has not fallen off as he plays at age 34 — he's the Cardinals' best playmaker, for goodness sake — says so much about how good he really is.

-- Chandler Jones didn't get a sack, so he'll need to do some work against Russell Wilson to get the franchise record for a season. He remains at 15, and Simeon Rice has the record at 16½. Two things on that: One, getting two sacks on Wilson —given his line and his penchant for running around in the pocket — is realistic. Also, Jones had another good pass-rushing game Sunday. He didn't get a sack, but Pro Football Focus had him with four pressures of Eli Manning.

-- The Cardinals rarely over the recent past have had teams miss field goals against them. It's only happened twice this season. But one was Sunday, a 33-yarder from Aldrick Rosas that obviously allowed the shutout to happen. It doesn't take away from the Cards' excellent performance, but sometimes, you need a little luck to blank an NFL team.

-- Back to Fitz. I've seen him throw a ton of passes over the years, in practice, in OTAs, messing around on the sideline. I'm not talk about plays, per se, but chucking the ball 40 yards on an accurate line back to one of the equipment guys after a practice catch, for instance. I've always felt they should try that once in a while. It doesn't help that he's not a threat as a runner out of the backfield, but still. The play was supposed to be a bomb to J.J. Nelson, but Nelson got knocked down and Jaron Brown instead got the 21-yard catch.

"I was hoping I was going to be able to throw it deeper, but I had to take what the defense gives me," Fitzgerald said with a smile. "That's what I was taught."

Said QB Drew Stanton, "He's coming for my job probably."

-- I thought Stanton was solid. He did exactly what Arians was hoping he would do — got them in the end zone, got them a win. The one time Arians has lost in Seattle since coming to Arizona, Stanton was the starting quarterback when Carson Palmer was hurt in 2014. Stanton gets a chance to redeem that next week.

-- More (happy) Fitz: He noted that Jaron Brown, with two catches (putting Brown at 30 receptions) earned a $500,000 contract incentive. (Editor's note: I have not confirmed this is true, but Fitz tends to be accurate when it comes to money.) "I made him an extra $500,000, so I'm happy for him and his family," Fitzgerald said. "I'm glad I could be a part of that. Merry Christmas, Jaron!"

-- Deone Bucannon looked great, and that's important. You want to see him continue to come back from the ankle surgery that clearly set him back. Robert Nkemdiche too, getting involved, will hopefully be a spark to get him going into next season. Oh, and the signing of veteran safety Antoine Bethea has been a good one. Five picks? And he's done a solid job all year.

-- I could go on but I won't. It's Christmas Eve. Hopefully you're reading this, but I've got a family to get home to. Happy holidays and a Merry Christmas to all.