Giants at Saints: Preview and Prediction

Football is a game of inches. This much we know by now. For the New York Giants this year, that age-old truism has been especially cruel. Big Blue has lost their last two games on last-second field goals. They’re just a handful of unforced errors and missed opportunities from being 2-1 after three weeks. Instead, the 0-3 Giants are looking down the barrel of another losing season. New York would have to win 10 of their remaining 14 games to have a realistic chance at the playoffs, and they face a daunting schedule of opponents the rest of the way.

Rest-of-Season NFL Strength of Schedule based on my current evaluation of each team

Green = Easy
Red = Hard pic.twitter.com/1xcuqM449S

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 28, 2021

The Giants’ losses haven’t just been on the scoreboard, either. They’re already without two of their starting offensive lineman in Shane Lemieux and Nick Gates, and last week linebacker and defensive leader Blake Martinez was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both left last Sunday’s game with hamstring injuries, and are likely to miss some time.

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If Big Blue wants to climb the steep hill towards playoff contention, it needs to begin with a win this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. This will be the Saints’ first game played back in New Orleans at the Caesers Superdome following Hurricane Ida. That should turn New Orleans’ usual home-field advantage up a notch or two. The Saints enter this game at 2-1, with their defense ranking third-best in opponents’ points-per-game. Their offense has been middle-of-the-pack, and starting quarterback Jameis Winston has already displayed the inconsistency that has defined his career thus far. In short, New Orleans is solid, but no juggernaut. They’re a team the Giants should be able to beat if New York has any designs on becoming the quality team they hoped to be.

The lone bright spot for the Giants so far has been Daniel Jones. The third-year quarterback is off to the best start of his career in terms of efficiency and ball security. Jones will face a tough test on Sunday against the Saints’ potent defense. If he plays well again, Giants fans can, if nothing else, begin to believe their quarterback of the future is already on the roster.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s game, followed by a prediction for the final score.

Where and When

Caesers Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST

Injuries

New York: WR Kenny Golladay (Questionable), RB Saquon Barkley (Questionable), LB Tae Crowder (Questionable), WR Darius Slayton (Questionable), WR Sterling Shepard (Questionable), OG Ben Bredeson (Questionable), TE Kaden Smith (Questionable), S Logan Ryan (Questionable)

New Orleans: OT Terron Armstead (Doubtful), C Erik McCoy (Questionable)

Most Concerning Matchup: DE Cameron Jordan vs. OT Nate Solder

The Saints may have lost much of their depth in a cap-prompted purge this offseason, but they still have elite talent scattered across this roster. Perhaps foremost among their elite players is Jordan, who’s registered 94.5 sacks over his illustrious 10-plus year career. He’s gotten off to a slow start this season, having yet to record a sack, but he’s still great against the run and someone for whom you must gameplan.

Unfortunately for New York, Jordan will be lining up against right tackle Solder on Sunday. Solder was a surprise starter out of camp after having opted out of last season. He hasn’t faired very well so far, having given up multiple sacks and putting numerous bad reps on tape. Solder has been particularly susceptible to bull rushes and counter moves. A nuanced power rusher like Jordan could give him fits. The Giants will need to make sure they give Solder plenty of help on Sunday to keep their offense functional.

Most Promising Matchup: CB James Bradberry vs. WR Marquez Callaway

New Orleans’ star wideout Michael Thomas will still be out come Sunday, so that means the former undrafted free agent Callaway will once again be the Saints’ de facto number-one receiver. Callaway generated some hype in the preseason, but he’s been quiet with only seven catches for 63 yards through three games of the regular season.

Callaway should be a relatively painless assignment for the Giants’ top cornerback Bradberry, who’s had difficult matchups against Jerry Jeudy, Terry McLaurin, and Calvin Ridley so far. Considering Adoree’ Jackson is a good bet to blanket Deonte Harris on the other side, Big Blue’s secondary should be able to stifle the Saints’ sub-par receiving corps.

Keys to Victory

This is the game New York’s defense must live up to the hype they were getting this offseason. They did well to hold the Atlanta Falcons to 17 points last week. They’ll need an even better outing this week against their second straight NFC South opponent. This isn’t your big brother’s Saints offense, as Winston at quarterback is a steep drop from the mastery of Drew Brees. New Orleans ranks second-last in yards per game this season, so Big Blue’s defense has a chance at a dominant performance.

On offense, the Giants must avoid turnovers while hitting on more explosive plays than they have so far. Jones won’t have Shepard available as his security blanket in the short and intermediate levels of the field, so big gainers to Golladay and rookie Kadarius Toney need to juice an offense that likely won’t be very efficient.

Final Score Prediction: Saints 23 – Giants 17

New Orleans’ defense is the real deal, so don’t expect New York’s offensive breakout to happen this week. While the Saints’ offense isn’t what it was, head coach Sean Payton should scheme them into the early twenties. That will be enough to edge out a tepid Giants attack missing two of their top three receivers. Big Blue is staring 0-4 in the face.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.