On a surface statistical level, the New York Giants defense that will visit the Caesars Superdome this week has not been especially impressive.
New York comes into its Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints ranked No. 23 in scoring defense and No. 29 in total defense. It has given up a staggering 6.1 yards per carry this season (rank: 31st). Opponents are converting 42.3% of their third downs (26th) and 72.7% of their red zone opportunities (27th).
But there is one specific unit on the Giants defense that might be rounding into form right as they roll into town: Their defensive line is loaded with talent and is coming off a strong performance against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers were without both of their star tackles, and the Giants took full advantage, pressuring quarterback Justin Herbert on nearly half of his drop-backs. The result was Herbert’s worst game of the season, with the star quarterback completing just 56% of his passes while compiling a season-low 57.3 passer rating.
As the Saints have done with their offensive line, the Giants have devoted a significant amount of resources into their defensive front.
They sent a second-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers last spring for Brian Burns, who currently leads the NFL with five sacks. In May of 2023, they made Dexter Lawrence one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackles with a $90 million extension. They used the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft on Abdul Carter, who had a team-high eight pressures last week, and the No. 5 pick in 2022 on Kayvon Thibodeaux.
All of those players have been on the field for at least 65% of the Giants defensive snaps this season.
“They got some of the best players in our league, premier players,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “They have some different tools where they can get them all on the field at the same time, which is obviously going to stress you from a protection standpoint. They're trying to create as many one on ones for these guys (as they can), because obviously they're really talented.”