In NFL history, no club that began a season with a 2-8 record or worse has ever advanced to the playoffs. And it will take a lot from the New York Giants to become the first team to end that record, as they must win their next game in order to overtake five other clubs.
However, keep that from the Giants. They know they have very little chance of winning the table and making the playoffs, but they’re not giving up on the possibility of extending their current three-game winning streak to four, matching their four-game winning streak from Weeks 4–7 of the previous season under head coach Brian Daboll.
Leading the way will be quarterback Tommy DeVito, who is still having a fantastic season in a terrible Giants season in 2023. In the previous week, DeVito ran for 71 yards and completed 158 passes for one touchdown, earning him the titles of Pepsi Rookie of the Week and NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Along with Wan’Dale Robinson (115 yards), rookie Jain Hyatt, and returning tight end Darren Waller—who will be subject to a pitch count—he will have running back Saquon Barkley (two rushing touchdowns). It was entertaining to see the Giants offensive against the Packers.
Let’s not overlook the defense despite all the praise and recognition DeVito has received during the Giants’ current three-game winning streak. Jordan Love, the quarterback for the Packers, was forced into two mistakes last week by New York. Security The Giants tied for third-most takeaways in the NFL with 22 this season when outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux forced a fumble and Jason Pinnock picked off the Packers’ quarterback.
For the first time since they prevailed in a thrilling overtime game in 2021 thanks to quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, the Giants will be returning to the Superdome. It hasn’t been easy to play in the Superdome because of the unbelievably loud noise level. The Giants, especially their offensive line, will need to watch their Ps and Qs to avoid jumping too soon.
Can New York pull off another victory and extend their winning streak? Let’s see how it goes.
The Reasons the Giants Will Come Out on Top
Chris Olave, a receiver for the Saints, is allegedly out due to an ankle ailment. The Saints grabbed Marquez Callaway off their practice squad to prepare for the prospect of losing their top receiver.
Olave is the best receiver for the Saints and someone who opens up the field, thus this alone is important. Apart from that, the Giants’ defense has excelled at creating mistakes. Over their current three-game winning streak, New York has twelve. For Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who has thrown three interceptions in his last three games, it may not be good news.
There is also the issue of pressure. It’s no secret that Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale enjoys applying pressure packages to quarterbacks. That would not be good news, once more, for Carr, who has only been able to complete three of his thirteen touchdown throws when facing pressure.
For the most part of the year, the Saints offense has been lacking. They are ranked 13th in total yardage with 337.5 per game, but they struggle in the red zone (ranked 22nd) and have been plagued by poor play calling, poor execution, and poor performance while playing on their own, where they are ranked 19th. Additionally, their average scoring per game is only 21.9.
The Giants have as good a shot as anyone to win this one if they can maintain their three-game record of not turning the ball over and use pressure to cause one or two turnovers against Carr and the Saints.
Reasons for the Giants’ Loss
The Giants’ run defense, which ranks 29th in the league (135.1 yards per game) and gives opponents an average of 4.8 yards per carry (31st) is likely to present the Saints with their greatest opportunity to defeat them on the ground. Eleven runners with at least 70 yards gained, including two 100-yarders, have been let by the Giants.
Dexter Lawrence, a vital component of that run defense, returned to the Giants last week after missing the previous week’s game due to a hamstring injury. But Lawrence was on a pitch count, and it’s expected that he will be this week as well, even if he might play a little bit longer than he did against the Packers.
If the Saints’ offensive line can control the line of scrimmage—and they may have to do so without tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who was listed as questionable with a knee issue—they have the ground game talent to exploit the Giants run defense, even though their rushing attack hasn’t exactly lit the league on fire, ranking 20th in the league (104.5 rushing yards per game) and 28th in average yards per rushing attempt (3.7).
Forecast
In that Superdome, which has been a “House of Horrors” for the Giants lately, my instinct tells me to take the Saints in a close game. However, my gut tells me to go with the Giants since they are generally the healthier team, have established a rhythm on offensively, and are playing solid defense.
The NFC South crown is dangling in front of the Saints, who have dropped their past four games 1-3. However, until they resolve many of their internal problems and bring some of their injured stars back for this game, the heart will prevail in this match.
Saints 17, Giants 23
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