Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters; Logos via sportslogos.net
The New Orleans Saints beat the New York Giants 34-27 on Sunday, October 18, at MetLife Stadium. The win improves the Saints’ record to 2-4, while the Giants fall to 3-3-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Things didn’t start on the right foot for the Saints. Daniel Carlson’s kickoff fell short of the landing zone, allowing the Giants to start at their own 40-yard line. However, New York couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out.
Tyler Shough and the Saints’ offense didn’t fare much better on their opening drive. CJ Donaldson broke off an 11-yard run for a first down, but New Orleans followed with a three-and-out of its own.
The Giants’ second drive is where trouble started for New Orleans. A 13-play drive, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston to Tyrone Tracy, put New York ahead 7-0.
The Saints struggled to get anything going in the first quarter, managing just 38 yards on 11 plays.
In the second quarter, New Orleans finally began moving the ball. After picking up a couple of first downs, the Saints faced a third-and-long. With the pocket collapsing, Alvin Kamara laid a diving block on a blitzing Giant, allowing Shough to step up and scramble for nine yards and a first down.
However, the drive fell apart shortly afterward. A deep pass from Shough to Kamara fell incomplete, and Kamara got up shakily before heading to the medical tent. On the next play, Bryce Lance dropped an uncontested pass, forcing the Saints to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which Carlson missed.
The Saints’ defense came up with a big red-zone stand late in the second quarter. Constant pressure on Winston prevented him from making an accurate throw, forcing the Giants to settle for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
Barion Brown gave the Saints excellent field position with a 41-yard kickoff return, setting the offense up at the Giants’ 44-yard line. After a couple of positive plays, the drive stalled, and Carlson lined up for a 58-yard field goal. He just got it through, putting New Orleans on the board at 10-3.
The Saints’ special teams made another big play on the ensuing kickoff. Isiah Stalbird delivered a huge hit to force a fumble, which New Orleans recovered at the Giants’ 28-yard line.
On the first play, Shough made a big play with his legs, picking up 25 yards on a scramble. After a few negative plays, the Saints faced fourth-and-goal with five seconds left in the half. Choosing to be aggressive, New Orleans went for it. Shough found a wide-open Lance on a slant route in the back of the end zone for Lance’s first NFL touchdown, tying the game heading into halftime.
The Saints received the ball to start the second half and marched down the field, aided by a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty. They eventually found the end zone when Shough connected with Kamara on a 31-yard pitch-and-catch for another touchdown, giving New Orleans its first lead at 17-10.
The Saints doubled their lead on the next scoring drive, fueled by Kendre Miller’s five carries for 33 yards. Shough capped it with a one-yard quarterback sneak, extending New Orleans’ run to 24 unanswered points.
The Giants tried to regain momentum, but Martin Emerson Jr. intercepted Winston and returned the ball to the Saints’ 38-yard line.
New Orleans turned the interception into three more points, with Carlson drilling a 51-yard field goal.
Julian Blackmon added another interception for the Saints’ defense. Under pressure, Winston tried to find his tight end but overthrew the pass directly into Blackmon’s hands.
One play later, Shough connected with Chris Olave on a back-shoulder pass in the front of the end zone, pushing the Saints’ lead to 24 points.
Emerson Jr. picked off Winston again, ending the Giants’ next drive and giving New Orleans interceptions on back-to-back possessions.
However, the Saints gave the ball right back two plays later when Donaldson fumbled.
Tracy gave the Giants some life with a five-yard touchdown run up the middle, cutting the deficit to 34-18 after a successful two-point conversion.
The Saints went three-and-out on their next drive, giving the ball back to New York. Backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy entered and connected with Charlie Jones on a deep, 49-yard completion that was bobbled and nearly intercepted. McCarthy then fired a pass to Likely in the end zone for another touchdown. The Giants went for two again but couldn’t convert, leaving New Orleans ahead 34-24.
After another short Saints drive, the Giants added to their total. McCarthy connected with Malik Nabers and Jones multiple times to set up a 41-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning, cutting the Saints’ lead to 34-27.
New Orleans went three-and-out again while trying to run down the clock. The Saints punted with just 57 seconds remaining and the Giants out of timeouts.
On the first play, McCarthy scrambled out of the pocket for a 28-yard gain. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, he found a wide-open Likely for a 20-yard completion, moving the Giants to the Saints’ 23-yard line.
Another spike and a nine-yard completion to Nabers set up a fourth-and-one with 12 seconds remaining. On the deciding play, McCarthy dropped back and heaved a pass toward the end zone, but it fell incomplete.
The Saints breathed a sigh of relief as they escaped with the win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tyler Shough
The Saints’ quarterback finished 16-of-30 for 144 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Shough added 33 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
BIG NUMBER: 34
The Saints scored 34 points after falling behind 10-0 early in the game. Shough, Olave, Lance and Kamara all found the end zone during New Orleans’ offensive surge.
UP NEXT:
The New Orleans Saints will head overseas to Paris, France, for the NFL’s Paris game on Sunday, October 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Central Time at Stade de France.
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