After over 600 days, the New Orleans Saints had a home game with a packed crowd. The Saints couldn’t couldn’t take advantage of the dome and lose the first real home game of the season to the New York Giants 27-21 in overtime.
How It Happened:
The Giants received the ball to start the game, but neither team in the first quarter could get their offenses going. Three punts to start, the Saints tried to go for it on fourth down in New York territory as Alvin Kamara was tackled just short of the first down line.
The two following possessions were missed field goals. Giants’ kicker Graham Gano missed a 35 yard chip shot. Saints kicker Aldrick Rosas’ miss was from 58 yards out.
New York’s next play was a deep shot from Daniel Jones to former Bengals wide receiver John Ross for a 51 yard catch. Ross fumbled the ball at the one yard line, but recovered his fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Giants struck first with under nine minutes to go in the half.
The Saints responded with a touchdown pass from Jameis Winston to tight end, Juwan Johnson from 15 yards out. New Orleans took 13 plays to tie the game up and milked over eight minutes off the clock. Jones’ heave to the end zone on the final play was intercepted by safety Marcus Williams.
New Orleans came out of the half swinging as Winston on the opening play of the second half completed a 58 yard laser to Marquez Callaway. That completion is the longest pass and offensive play for the Saints so far this season. The drive would be capped off two plays later, by an eight yard Taysom Hill touchdown run. Hill broke five tackles on his way to giving the Saints the lead.
The G men’s next possession took 10 plays and under five minutes off the clock, which resulted in a 23 yard field goal by Gano and made it a four point deficit, Saints lead 14-10 with less than nine minutes still in the third quarter.
New Orleans felt good at this point and had Winston uncork another deep shot, this time for a 46 yard touchdown to Kenny Stills. The play was nullified by a holding penalty on tight end Adam Trautman. That didn’t stop coach Sean Payton’s mindset as he dialed up another house call, this time Hill in at quarterback. Hill’s pass to Deonte Harris was under thrown and intercepted by cornerback James Bradberry.
New York couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and punted it back to New Orleans. Hill, 11 plays later, scored his second rushing touchdown of the day from 8 yards out.
After punts were exchanged, the Giants had their second one play touchdown of the game. The Jones connected with running back Saquon Barkley down the left sideline for the score. Jones ran it in himself for the two-point conversion. The Saints only lead 21-18 with a little under seven minutes to go in regulation.
The New York defense forced a third and long that resulted in another New Orleans punt.
Jones and the Giants offense methodically moved the ball down the field for 11 plays that took 2 and a half minutes off the clock. Gano redeemed himself and tied the game at 21 apiece with a 48 yard field goal with just 30 seconds left in regulation.
The game headed to overtime and the Giants elected to receive the ball after Jabrill Peppers called the coin toss correctly. Jones picked on the rookie corner Paulsen Adebo much of the second half, that bled into overtime as receivers made catch after catch on his side. The game’s final play came from Barkley, who broke the plane of the goal line to score the game winning touchdown.
BIG NUMBER: 17
The Saints gave up 17 straight point in the fourth quarter and overtime in a 27-21 loss to the New York Giants. This gave the Giants their first win of the season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Saquon Barkley
Barkley had over 120 scrimmage and on 18 touches and scored the last two Giants touchdown to complete the comeback on Sunday.
NEXT UP: Sunday @ Washington; Kickoff at 12:00