On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints visited East Rutherford, N.J. to take on the New York Giants. New Orleans was able to leave with a victory, but not without its costs.
FIRST QUARTER
The Saints would receive the ball to start out the game. Running backs Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams would be back to punt. Williams would return the ball, but not before muffing it. That essentially set the tone for the first drive, as New Orleans would go three-and-out.
Thankfully, the Giants first drive wouldn't fair much better. They did get a first down—on an ugly 15-yard scramble by Drew Lock—but would fail an attempt to go for it on fourth down, turning it over on downs.
New Orleans’ next drive had a touch more success than their first. Actually gaining a first down thanks to a nine-yard run by running back Alvin Kamara, they would end the drive in field goal range. Unfortunately, kicker Blake Grupe would miss the 53-yard attempt.
The Saints defense would be a little more awake their next time out, forcing the Giants to a three-and-out. However, their punter, Jamie Gillan, nicknamed “The Scottish Hammer," would send the ball all the way to New Orleans’ own two-yard line.
Derek Carr and the Saints offense would be able to handle the tough field position, though. Carr would execute consecutive big passes, first to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and then to Juwan Johnson, setting the tone for the drive. Rookie tight end Dallin Holker, a UDFA out of Colorado State, would also have his first career catch on the drive as well. The score would come from Kendre Miller, who, in his return from injured reserve, had himself a day. Looking at the play, it’s safe to say that the young player is feeling just fine.
Kendre Miller cuts and powers his way into the end zone!
: #NOvsNYG on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Y6fggU5EkK
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
The Giants would respond with another three and out. And big credit to the Saints defense—in particular defensive tackle Bryan Breese—for their shutdown play. On the drive, Drew Lock would be the first Giants quarterback since 1991 to throw seven straight incompletions ,and the first in the NFL to do so since Kendall Hinton in 2020, according to the broadcast. He would end the drive with an eighth straight incompletion.
SECOND QUARTER
Unfortunately, the Saints would also go three and out their next time out. The offense would start out by going backwards, on a negative yard through from Carr to Johnson. TE Foster Moreau would then have an impressive one-handed catch, but nothing else would come out of the drive.
Lock would complete his first pass of the game to TE Daniel Bellinger on the first play of his next drive. It seems he would be a bit more alive after that, as he would also complete a 17-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Thankfully, the Saints defense would sack Lock after stuffing running back Tyrone Tracy at the line of scrimmage, forcing a field goal attempt.
Bryan Breese with the 3rd down sack pic.twitter.com/dRptHb4AtW
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) December 8, 2024
On their next drive, the Saints offense continued to struggle. Facing another three-and-out situation, the team would attempt a fake punt on fourth and three. The key word here is attempt, as it wasn’t successful and turned the ball over on downs.
Thankfully, the Saints defense was still in excellent shape and forced another three and out. Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry would highlight the drive with his excellent coverage on Malik Nabers.
From this point on, punters would dominate the game. From this time out, every drive except one leading up to halftime would end with a punt. The one exception would be on the last drive of the half, which saw the Saints march down the field and attempt a 60-yard field goal. For Grupe, if successful, it would be a new career long. Unfortunately, it would be blocked by Giants defensive tackle Casey Rogers.
7-3 Saints over the Giants at the halfway point.
THIRD QUARTER
New York would receive the ball to start out the second half, and unfortunately for them, the offense would continue to struggle. Tyrone Tracy managed to execute one decent run, but he was later twice stuffed at the line of scrimmage without any gain.
For New Orleans, their inaugural drive of the second half started out fine. Kamara would have chunk runs leading them to a first down, and Jamaal Williams even made a positive appearance. Sadly, Carr was not as up to par. On 3rd & 10, he would severely underthrow a deep ball that was intended for wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. Unfortunately, Giants cornerback Tre Hawkins III would be the one to make the catch. That would be their first interception since Week One, in which linebacker Darius Muasau took one away from Vikings QB Sam Darnold.
On their next appearance, the Giants offense would once again go three and out. Defensive tackle Chase Young nearly responded with his own interception but would not be able to secure the ball.
The New Orleans offense also came close to committing a three-and-out. But on third down, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson would connect with Carr on an 18-yard pass. Kendre Miller would follow that up with two chunk plays, and then TE Moreau would connect with Carr on a 32-yard pass. Carr would then throw it to TE Juwan Johnson for the score.
Uncovered. Untouched. Touchdown Juwan
FOX pic.twitter.com/WNOVYjl8bJ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 8, 2024
That would be the last full drive of the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Next time out, the Giants offense would be more confident. They would execute chunk play after chunk play, advancing down the field. Lock attempted another scramble of more than 10 yards, but fortunately, a penalty called it back. However, he responded with a 14-yard pass to WR Malik Nabers, and RB Tracy made another short run. In field goal range, Giants’ Head Coach Brian DaBoll would send out their kicker Graham Gano. In a bizarre turn of events, Graham Gano managed to make the kick, but an unnecessary roughness penalty during it negated it, forcing New York out of field goal range.
In response, the New Orleans offense would start off the next drive hot. Kendre Miller would earn a first down on two rushes, and Carr would have a 16-yard pass to Valdes-Scantling. Then, the defense would stifle Miller at the line. This seemed to dampen the momentum of the offense, as Carr threw an incomplete pass and subsequently received a delay of game penalty. Not even a 16-yard run by Kamara could earn the team a fresh set of downs.
More board points for New York would be coming soon. On their next drive, the Giants would go 82 yards down the field for the touchdown. The defense of New Orleans nearly had them stopped, but the Giants would convert on 4th & 10. After that, a 22-yard catch by Nabers put them at the Saints one-yard line. From there, Tracy would run it in. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt would be successful. 14-11 Saints over the Giants.
Sadly, the Saints offense wouldn’t be able to respond in kind and would go three-and-out. On the drive, Carr would also injure his non-throwing hand and not return to the game.
The Giants would basically pick up where they left off. Tracy’s 20-yard run would highlight their drive as they executed chunk plays. However, Saints’ linebacker Demario Davis intercepted Drew Lock when they went for it again on fourth down.
DEMARIO 4TH DOWN INT
: FOX pic.twitter.com/GhrVK66jSR
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 8, 2024
Alas, the Saints would not be able to respond. In fact, they would only go backwards on another three-and-out drive. Jamaal Williams would run for one yard, followed by a sack of backup QB Jake Haener for 10 yards. Kamara would then only be able to get one yard of his own before the Saints were forced to punt.
New York would have just over a minute of game time to try to tie or win the game. And boy, were they close. In 10 plays—one being another ridiculous scramble by Lock—they marched 56 yards down the field to put themselves in range for a chip shot, a 35-yard field goal.
Then, something unexpected. Defensive tackle Bryan Breese—effectively this game’s MVP—would block the attempted kick.
BRESEE MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/GG8Qc5C59E
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 8, 2024
From there, the offense would be in victory formation, with Haener kneeling that ball just once to end the game.
The Saints next opponent will be the visiting Washington Commanders on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 12:00 p.m.
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