“I think you see guys who hold each other accountable and are going out there and flying around”, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said.
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DT Johnathan Hankins: The biggest play of the game came from the tackle.
Both offenses squandered away opportunities. No receiver for the Cowboys got close to 100 yards receiving and none caught a TD pass either. Victor Cruz dropped a few passes and also fumbled the ball after a catch and run which would have put the Giants into the red zone.
The Giants would answer with a field goal of their own in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead. “We’ll get that cleaned up; that’s my fault”.
The Giants did a reputable job in limiting Brees, the NFL’s active passing leader. It was a complete reversal from last season’s matchup when the Giants surrendered 608 yards in a 52-49 loss to the Saints.
The Giants defense has played great through the first two games of the season.
The Giants have allowed two touchdowns in two games with their lucrative investments – $200 million in free agents Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon Harrison, the re-signing of Jason Pierre-Paul plus the drafting of Eli Apple – paying immediate dividends.
The Saints needed this win badly, but they’re far behind in the playoff race.
“Both teams know what happened a year ago, ” Brees said. Vernon is a lighting quick end who has had no problem getting to the QB thus far in NY.
“I just heard the hand hit the ball and I just went looking for the ball and it was a ideal bounce and I just scooped and scored”, offered Jenkins. “This was a big day, and I wanted to start off really strong, I would like to have that 53-yarder back, but that’s part of it”. The second-year player was taken off the field on a stretcher after hitting his head against tight end Larry Donnell’s knee and seconds later being hit in the back of the helmet by a helmet. He was down on the field without much motion for a considerable amount of time before being carted off. Williams was able to move his fingers and toes, according to Fox Sports. This is also the fifth time in the Sean Payton- Drew Brees era they’ve started 0-2.
Anyway, let’s hand out some hardware for Hero, Nero, Zero, even though I’m tempted to make this a Nero, Nero, Nero affair with all the honors going to the Giants’ offensive coaches.
The Saints lost to the Giants, despite winning the turnover battle 3-0. Brees was sacked twice, hit six times, and had seven passes deflected. Brees finished with 263 yards passing and 1 touchdown.
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And the diminutive pass-catcher was a factor again against the Giants, catching five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. Two running plays netted one yard and Brees was sacked by Collins, who blitzed, on third down. The worst performance, though, came early in the fourth quarter when they had 1st and goal from the 1. Giants RT Marshall Newhouse suffered a calf strain late in the fourth quarter and did not return.
