New Orleans Saints 49 – New York Giants 24

Saints Blast Giants: The New York Giants were annihilated by the Saints 49-24 Monday night at the the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The loss dropped the Giants’ overall record to 6-5, one full game behind the division-leading Dallas Cowboys. It was the Giants third loss in a row after a 6-2 first-half start to the season.

The Giants’ defense played incredibly poorly, allowing 577 total net yards, 372 net yards passing, 205 net yards rushing, and 31 first downs. The Saints scored touchdowns on seven of their 11 possessions in the game. New Orleans also had 10 plays of 20 yards or more.

The Giants did pass for 392 total net yards and accrued 29 first downs, but only managed 73 net yards rushing. New York also turned the football over twice while the Saints did not.

The game was never really all that competitive after the first quarter. The Saints drove 70 yards in 11 plays on their opening possession but turned the ball over on downs on an unsuccessful fake field goal attempt. The Giants responded with a 9-play, 72 yard drive that ended with interception in the end zone.

After that, the roof caved in as the Saints scored three touchdowns on their next four possessions of the first half, including drives of 80 (10 plays), 80 (7 plays), and 88 (6 plays) yards. The last was the most damning as the Saints began the drive at their own 12 with 1:09 before halftime and New Orleans drove the field in 34 seconds.

Meanwhile,  New York’s five first half drives ended with an interception, two punts, a 42-yard field goal, and a missed 61-yard field goal. At halftime, the Saints led 21-3.

The Giants’ offense did show some life in the second half of the game, scoring three touchdowns on drives of 6-plays, 67 yards; 3-plays, 84 yards; and 12 plays, 80 yards. QB Eli Manning hooked up twice for touchdowns with WR Victor Cruz and HB Brandon Jaccobs also scored. However, the Giants still could not keep pace with the Saints as New Orleans managed four more touchdown drives of 73 yards (9 plays), 29 yards (2 plays), 80 yards (9 plays), and 40 yards (3 plays). The short 29-yard drive was set up by a fumble by rookie HB Da’Rel Scott on a failed 3rd-and-1 play. The Giants also botched a fake field goal attempt late in the third quarter when P Steve Weatherford failed to see that the play had been called off, turning the ball over on downs near midfield after a Saints’ post-possession penalty.

Manning finished the game 33-of-47 for 406 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Cruz caught 9 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: DE Osi Umenyiora missed the second half of the game with a sprained ankle. WR Hakeem Nicks suffered bruised ribs but continued to play. LB Mark Herzlich left the game with an ankle sprain and did not return.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Post-Game Press Conference: The video of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game press conference is available at Giants.com.

Post-Game Player Media Q&As: Video clips of post-game media Q&As with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• DT Chris Canty (Video)
• LB Mathias Kiwanuka (Video)
• CB Corey Webster (Video)

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were HB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Mario Manningham (knee), OT Will Beatty (eye/back), OT James Brewer, DT Jimmy Kennedy, LB Michael Boley (hamstring), and S Derrick Martin (hamstring).

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