Giants-Saints: 5 plays that led to Saint’s Win and who takes the blame for Giant lose…
The New York Giants were humbled in New Orleans on Sunday as their three-game winning streak was ended by the Saints.
Derek Carr and the Saints efficiently – and effectively – picked apart the Giants defense as Tommy DeVito was harassed all game. The Giants only mustered 193 yards in their 24-6 loss.
Carr finished 23 of 28 passing for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara enjoyed 44 of those yards on five catches, as he earned 66 yards on the ground through 16 carries; Kamara was the leading receiver.
Carr distributed the football to ten different Saints receivers, with touchdown receptions from 37 year old Jimmy Graham, Keith Kirkwood, and Juwan Johnson.
DeVito was sacked seven times by the Saints defense. Saquon Barkley found little rushing room and only had 14 yards on nine carries, and several Giants receivers dropped the football through the game. The Giants were flat and figured out in the game.
Here are five plays, or sequences of plays, that led to the Giants’ ninth loss of the year.
Play(s) 1: Saints’ first TD drive
The game didn’t necessarily start terribly for the Giants. They received the football and were able to boot a 56-yard field goal after a nine-play, 37-yard, drive to try and quell the hostile crowd noise.
The Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out that was matched by the Giants’ offense.
Play(s) 2: Saints’ first drive of second-half
The Giants only trailed by one point at half-time. With the score just 7-6, the Saints drove the football down the field on a 10-play, 68-yard, drive that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown reception to Juwan Johnson.
A dubious Adoree’ Jackson defensive holding penalty extended the Saints’ drive on a third-and-7. Here’s the touchdown:
For the third straight week, 37-year-old Jimmy Graham caught a touchdown pass.
After two consecutive Giants’ second-half three-and-out drives, the Saints led this 11-play, 65-yard drive, that resulted in Graham’s touchdown off the play action pass. Isaiah Simmons (19) had to react to the full-back, which opened up space for Graham behind; Micah McFadden (41) could not get lateral to the outside to account for the corner route.
Play 4: Rasheed Shaheed
The Saints were without Chris Olave, but the return of speedster Rasheed Shaheed was welcomed for New Orleans.
On the Saints first second-half drive, the Giants forced them into a second-and-twenty after a holding penalty.
Again, the score was just 7-6 at this point, but the Giants defense could not contain Shaheed.
Play(s) 5: Missed opportunity
New York’s longest drive (other than their last one) was in the second quarter and was sparked by Darren Waller’s 29-yard gain on third-and-12.
The Giants found themselves in field goal range – perhaps even for their all-star kicker Jamie Gillan. At the Saints’ 36-yard-line, the Giants found themselves in a second-and-11, but DeVito failed to find Darius Slayton (86) on the fade