The New York Giants traveled down to The Big Easy to face the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday in a matchup of two teams attempting to keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Giants came into the game riding a three-game winning streak while the Saints are coming off a 28-6 win in Week 14 over Carolina that stopped a three-game losing streak.
Here’s how things went…
Final score: Saints 24, Giants 6
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Giants | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Saints | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
Keys to the game
- The Giants were just 1-for-12 on third downs before garbage time in the fourth quarter. The defense was just as bad, allowing the Saints to convert on 6 of 11 attempts, including several long gains.
- The Giants came into the game averaging an NFL-high 4.0 takeaways over the last three games. They had none in this game.
- The offensive line was back to its old ways, committing penalties, missing assignments, and was basically dominated by the New Orleans front the entire game.
- The Saints had allowed 191.3 yards rushing over their last three games – the highest in the NFL over that period. The Giants could not capitalize on that, rushing for just 60 net yards on the afternoon.
- Tommy DeVito had little chance of success, getting sacked seven times and hit a total of nine. The Giants receivers did little to help him out, dropping several passes in key spots.
It was over when...
Saints quarterback Derek Carr found a wide-open Jimmy Graham in the middle of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown connection with 10:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The score gave the Saints a 24-6 lead and with the Giants having difficulty moving the football, it put the game out of reach.
Players of the game
- Punter Jamie Gillan averaged 47.5 yards on five punts and kicked a 40-yard field goal after kicker Randy Bullock led the game with a hamstring injury.
- Tight end Darren Waller, who was activated off IR this week, caught four passes for 40 yards in his first game back from a hamstring injury.
- Safety Jason Pinnock led the team with eight total tackles including the Giants’ only sack on the day.
Injuries
Giants kicker Randy Bullock left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury suffered during a kickoff. This was just after he had nailed a 56-yard field goal to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.
Punter Jamie Gillan, who was also banged up in the game, took over the placekicking duties and made a 40-yarder right before the half. Returner Gunner Olszewski took over Gillan’s role as the holder.
Quarterback Tommy DeVito was knocked from the game late in the second quarter after his head was banged off the turf. He was checked for a concussion and headed to the locker room. Tyrod Taylor relieved him. DeVito was cleared at halftime and returned to the game in the third quarter but suffered an ankle injury in the fourth.
Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches limped off the field in the fourth quarter and did not return.
What's next?
Head coach Brian Daboll will hold a Zoom call with the team’s beat writers on Monday afternoon before a few players are also made available.
Big Blue will return to practice on Wednesday ahead of a Week 16 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, December 25 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. ET.
