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New Orleans Saints 26 – New York Giants 14

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 26 – NEW YORK GIANTS 14…
Turnovers, mistakes, missed opportunities, and sloppy play doomed the New York Giants after a fast start against the New Orleans Saints. The previously-winless Saints defeated the Giants 26-14 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Giants fell to 1-4 on the season.

The Giants actually out-gained the Saints in first downs (23 to 18), total net yards (335 to 332), net yards rushing (136 to 88), and time of possession (31:50 to 28:10). The Giants also held the Saints to 0-of-3 in red zone efficiency.

But the issue was turnovers. There were five of them for New York, all consecutive, including three fumbles (one returned for a touchdown) and two interceptions. The Saints did not turn the ball over.

The Saints received the ball to start the game and promptly went three-and-out. The Giants responded with an 8-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaxson Dart to tight end Theo Johnson. On their second possession, New Orleans put together a 14-play, 70-yard drive that stalled in the red zone. The Saints settled for a 28-yard field goal.

New York’s offense remained hot on its second possession as the Giants also drove 70 yards. It took them just eight plays to reach the end zone as Dart hit Johnson again, this time from 15 yards out early in the second quarter. Giants 14 – Saints 3. However, those were the last points the Giants would score on the day.

At this point, the game dramatically turned against the Giants. First, the Saints scored again on their third drive, gaining 49 yards in 12 plays to set up a successful 53-yard field goal. The third Giants’ drive was sabotaged by two dropped passes, one deep by wide receiver Darius Slayton and one by running back Devin Singletary. On the first offensive snap after the New York punt, quarterback Spencer Rattler connected on an 87-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, beating safety Tyler Nubin. Just like that, the Giants’ lead was cut to one point, 14-13.

The Giants continued to make costly mistakes on their fourth possession. On 3rd-and-2 from their own 48-yard line, the Giants ran a flea flicker. Slayton was open deep, but Dart underthrew the ball and Slayton could not come down with the catch. The Giants ended up punting. New York did catch a break when the Saints missed a 52-yard field goal that would have given them the lead with 1:25 left before halftime.

With just over a minute to play, Dart connected with Slayton for a 9-yard gain. But disaster struck when Slayton fumbled the ball away at the New Orleans’ 32-yard line. The Saints’ defender returned the ball 27 yards.Their offense was able to gain another 30 yards to set up a 29-yard field goal as time expired. It was a 6-10 point swing.

At the half, the Saints led 16-14.

The mistakes not only continued, but accelerated, for the Giants in the second half. After converting on 4th-and-1 from their own 45-yard line, the Giants turned the ball over on their first drive of the second half when the ball slipped out of Dart’s hands untouched by a defender for a turnover after he decided to scramble. The Saints responded with a 10-play, 45-yard possession that ended with their fourth field goal, this one from 28 yards out. Saints 19 – Giants 14.

Despite all of these errors, the Giants were still very much in the game. They proceeded to gain 55 yards in 11 plays, reaching the Saints 12-yard line. On 2nd-and-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter, running back Cam Skattebo fumbled after being tackled. The loose ball was recovered by safety Jordan Howden and returned 86 yards for a back-breaking touchdown. It was a 10-14 point swing in the game, and the Saints now led by 12 points, 26-14.

Cornerback Deonte Banks returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the New York 47-yard line. The Giants converted on 4th-and-1, but three penalties (one declined) pushed the Giants back. On 4th-and-6 from the New Orleans’ 38-yard line, Dart’s desperate deep pass intended for wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was intercepted at the 5-yard line with 10 minutes to play.

The Saints picked up one first down and punted with 6:30 left in the game. The Giants once again converted on 4th down, but another penalty pushed the Giants back. On 2nd-and-20, Dart threw to wide receiver Beaux Collins, who looked like he gave up on the play, and the pass was intercepted.

The Saints tried to put the game to bed for good. They also converted on a 4th-and-5, reached the New York 28-yard line, but missed the 46-yard field goal attempt.

Down by 12 with 1:56 left to play, the Giants needed a miracle comeback. They didn’t get it. They gained 47 yards on six plays, but turned the ball over on downs with a 4th-and-9 incompletion (dropped by wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson) at the New Orleans 17-yard line with 40 seconds left. Ball game.

Dart finished 26-of-40 for 202 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also fumbled the ball away and gained 55 yards on seven carries. Skattebo carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards, but had the killer fumble returned for a touchdown. Skattebo (six catches for 45 yards) and Johnson (6 catches for 33 yards and 2 touchdowns) led the receivers.

The Giants held the Saints to one offensive touchdown, the 1-play, 87-yard score. But they did allow four lengthy, field goal drives too. Worse, they did not force a turnover or sack the quarterback. They only had one quarterback hit and three pass defenses. The defense did have seven tackles for losses. They also held the Saints’ two primary backs to just 68 yards rushing.

GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.

PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants activated (standard elevation) ILB Neville Hewitt and PK Jude McAtamney from the Practice Squad.

Inactive for the game were RB Tyrone Tracy (shoulder), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring), QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), OG Evan Neal, and DL Elijah Garcia.

ILB Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) left the game with injuries.

POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll and the team’s coordinators will address the media on Monday by Zoom.