Here’s a look at the Giants’ matchup this Sunday against the Saints in New Orleans:
Key Matchup
Giants’ defensive line vs. Saints’ offensive line
There are definitely ways for the Saints to focus their draft strategy.
Their offensive line features four first-round selections and one second-round pick, though right guard Cesar Lewis (first round, 2020) is dealing with a severe ankle sprain.
On the flip side, the Giants boast four former first-round picks: Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, and Brian Burns from the Panthers.
This group really disrupted Justin Herbert last week, applying pressure 20 times. Carter is emerging as a standout rookie.
Four Insights
Motivation: Jaxson Dart, overlooked by the Saints in the draft, feels he has something to prove after being selected 25th when the Giants moved up.
“He’s a really impressive player,” said Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore about Dart. “His college career was exceptional at Ole Miss. We really focused on him during the evaluation process. He’s a great kid and is on track to be a solid quarterback in this league. He won his first game and showcased his mobility—he’s very talented. I expect he’ll perform even better this week.”
Defensive Development: Deonte Banks hasn’t been heavily featured defensively yet, playing only 29 of 63 snaps last week (while Cor’Dale Flott took on 44). However, he has been named a kickoff returner.
The 2023 first-round pick averaged 27 yards on his first two returns of his NFL career, which is interesting since he had only one return in 30 games back at Maryland. Why the change now?
“He’s clearly an exceptional athlete,” stated Michael Gobriel, special teams coordinator. “His speed is elite, and he has the right build for the job. He’s shown us he has solid ball skills and is eager to return kicks.”
Run Defense Concerns: In three of their first four games, the Giants’ run defense has allowed at least one significant play: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (42 yards), Javonte Williams (30-yard touchdown), and O’Mallion Hampton (54-yard touchdown).
“When you see those big plays, it usually signals multiple culprits,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen noted. “You can deal with 10 and 12 yards, but those big ones are tough to recover from.” Currently, the Saints’ longest run this season is just two 18-yard gains by Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller.
Commentary: Has Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler motivated the Giants, or is he just being honest when describing the defense he’s about to encounter?
“They’re a really strong unit, maybe one of the best in the league,” Rattler commented. “On the back end, they may not disguise things like some other teams, but they have their tricks and do what they excel at, creating chaos for quarterbacks.”
As the fifth pick in the 2024 draft, Rattler is 0-10 as a starting NFL quarterback.
Prediction
Unless Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary come through—though they haven’t yet—it’s hard to envision the Giants scoring easily. Can they replicate the defensive improvement seen last week?
Will the Giants manage to simplify their game? Probably not. It’ll be interesting to see what Jaxson Dart delivers next.
Giants 17, Saints 13
