East Rutherford, N.J. ? With the Giants defense playing so well, Eli Manning can afford to have an off day.

While Manning struggled, the defense put in another stellar performance, notching five sacks and three turnovers in a 13-7 victory over the New York Jets on Friday night. Neither offense did much of anything, but neither team seemed concerned.

Manning went 10-of-20 for 107 yards with an interception. Chad Pennington started for the Jets, but also played inconsistently, going 11-of-20 for 125 yards with an interception.

“We just couldn’t get a good rhythm,” Manning said. “We got something good going at the end of the first half, but the Jets did a good job of making it tough on our passing game by dropping a lot of guys.”

Tiki Barber was about the only player producing. His 20-yard run into Jets territory helped the Giants mount a drive late in the second quarter.

The Giants (3-0) scored when Brandon Jacobs plowed in on a one-yard run with 56 seconds left in the half. Manning played one series in the third quarter and led another scoring drive, capped by Jay Feely’s 39-yard field goal.

Barber finished with 11 carries for 60 yards in one half of work, and the Giants ran for 142 yards on 36 carries in the game. But it was the defense that stood out once again. Darrell McClover’s blocked punt return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter prevented the Giants from posting their second straight shutout.

“This is two straight weeks we have played well on defense,” said linebacker Brandon Short, who had two sacks. “The sky is the limit for this defense as we all get comfortable with this system.”

The Giants defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown since the opening series against Baltimore in a 17-16 win to open the preseason. The Giants had five sacks against the Jets, with several more knockdowns on Pennington and Kellen Clemens, and forced three turnovers.

Cardinals 23, Bears 16

Chicago – Matt Leinart Leinart took over for Kurt Warner in the second quarter and completed 15-of-21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown to lead Arizona over Chicago.

He entered the game with 5:13 left in the second quarter and completed 12 consecutive passes at one point, while leading the Cardinals (2-1) to a field goal at the end of the first half and a touchdown early in the third quarter.

Raiders 21, Lions 3

Oakland, Calif. – Randy Moss caught two touchdown passes from Aaron Brooks, and Oakland opened the preseason with four straight wins for the first time since 1975.

Brooks completed only one pass in each of his first two exhibition games. But after an improved performance last week against San Francisco, Brooks showed signs of being able to click with Moss better than Kerry Collins did last season.

Eagles 16, Steelers 7

Philadelphia – David Akers helped make Donovan McNabb’s brief appearance a productive one. Akers kicked field goals of 40, 49 and 52 yards. and Jeff Garcia connected with Greg Lewis on a 61-yard touchdown pass to lead Philadelphia over Pittsburgh.

Vikings 30, Ravens 7

Minneapolis – Fred Smoot’s reaction was much faster than Steve McNair’s release. Smoot highlighted a big night by Minnesota’s defense with a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown as the Vikings blanked Baltimore’s first-team offense.