A week after beating the Cowboys by one point, Big Blue kicked a chip-shot field goal as time expired to beat the Saints 16-13 on Sunday. Considering all the money they spent on their defensive line, adding Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison and re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul, and getting Johnathan Hankins back healthy, the pass rush was supposed to be the best part of their defense. He completed 78.0 percent of his passes, and three of his nine incompletions were drops. “A lot of good things can happen”, Drew Brees said during post-game interviews.
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The Saints blamed themselves for a second straight close loss. They also didn’t force a turnover. “The offense is going to do what it takes to get the job done and we’re going to continue getting better”. “Offensively we didn’t do what we should have done with those turnovers”. Manning said. “It might have something to do with it”. Just about the only thing he did wrong was stumble at the Saints’ 17-yard line and fail to score on a 32-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
For the Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. had 8 catches for 86 yards receiving. He led the Giants with eight receptions (on eight targets) for 117 yards, including a crucial third-down catch on the final drive.
Roman Harper’s recent experience tells him it would be short-sighted for the Saints to succumb to pessimism this early in the season.
After connecting with Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead for a combined 315 yards in week one against the Oakland Raiders, Brees was stifled for most of the first half and the Giants held Cooks and Snead to 68 and 54 yards respectively. “We can go out there with anybody, no matter what talent level they have, no matter how young we are on defense”. It’s to the point where it’s become maddening to find out why they just can’t convert. It took until late in the second half for the Giants’ offensive architects to realize running the ball on just about every freaking first down was akin to starting a drive at second and 10. They couldn’t get out of their own way throughout the afternoon.
Coby Fleener has been non-existent, with three catches in his first two games.
While his status for next Monday’s game is still up in the air, New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams reportedly received some good news regarding his injury.
Williams was injured after making a diving tackle on Giants tight end Larry Donnell and colliding with linebacker Craig Robertson who was tacking Donnell from the other side.
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New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) runs off the field after the Giants defeated the Saints 16-13 at MetLife Stadium. Newhouse also left wearing a boot on his foot after the Giants said he had a calf injury.
