Welcome everyone to the latest edition of #4Downs where we break down every Saints game! In this week’s edition, we look at the Saints loss to the New York Giants.
1st Down: Offense Underperforms
The Saints really couldn’t get anything going on Sunday afternoon with another lackluster running game. Ingram looked okay, but the overall performance was poor with only 41 yards on the ground. That forced the Saints to try and get things done through the air and the Giants defense wasn’t having it, getting pressure on Drew Brees throughout the game and getting after the wideouts. But that wasn’t the only reason as Coby Fleener has become another free agency swing and miss as he had several balls thrown to him, but only caught two passes. If the Saints want to get wins, they need to shake things up in the tight end position.
2nd Down: Three Turnovers, Zero Points
The Saints defense, even without PJ Williams after he took a big hit early in the game, had a solid performance. Did they shut down Eli Manning and his primary targets? No, but they did get three turnovers. The Saints could’ve been able to take a sizable lead with the amount of turnovers they took from the Giants on Sunday, but the underperforming offense, combined with a blocked field goal taken to the house by New York they couldn’t get out of their own way. It was a lot like some of the Saints games from last season where they got turnovers, but had nothing to show for it. Nine times out of ten, you’re not getting wins like that.
3rd Down: Payton’s Maniacal Clock Management
It was another game where the Saints were burning through timeouts in the second half which gave the Giants enough time to march down the field and get the game-winning field goal. Last season it was the New York Giants who were blowing games in the fourth quarter, but for the second straight week the Saints are getting burnt due to poor clock management.
4th Down: Looking Forward
The Saints have an extra day to prepare for a big Monday night game against their division rival the Atlanta Falcons and it should help them out considering how much emotion there will be heading into this game. Almost ten years to the day of the Saints returning to the Superdome, expect the Saints to be playing with some pride and it will be a loud game in the Crescent City. But the Saints have to capitalize on any opportunity they get offensively.
-Clint Domingue