Saints Squander Lead, Lose 27-21 in Overtime to the Giants

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

It took a while, but the New Orleans Saints were finally back in the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, taking on the winless New York Giants. The Saints were looking to avoid a letdown in their first home game with a crowd since the end of the 2019 season, due to that global pandemic you may have heard of.

FIRST HALF

The Saints’ offense continued its underwhelming performance early in the game, with New Orleans crossing midfield twice in the first quarter and coming away with no points in a scoreless first quarter. The Giants would gain in confidence, drive deep into Saints territory early in the second quarter, only to miss a 35-yard field goal as the game remained scoreless early in the second quarter. New Orleans would return the favor in the following possession, wildly attempting a 58-yard field goal which Aldrick Rosas missed wide right. The Giants would get even more confident and on the next play, Daniel Jones would find John Ross for a 52-yard pass that Ross fumbled into the end zone but recovered for a touchdown, giving the Giants a 7-0 lead.

New Orleans would respond however, taking their fourth drive of the half into Giants territory and driving all the way into the end zone with a Jameis Winston’s touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson to tie the game at 7 as the half drew to a close.

The Giants would take the ball with 23 seconds left and try a Hail Mary that Saints’ safety Marcus Williams would haul in for his second interception of the season. Both teams went into halftime tied at 7.

SECOND HALF

The Saints started the half with the ball and started it with a bang, with Jameis Winston finding Marquez Callaway deep for a 58-yard pass play, the longest for the Saints so far this season. Two plays later, Taysom Hill would bulldoze his way into the end zone for a touchdown to give the Saints a 14-7 lead.

After the Giants scored a field goal to narrow New Orleaans’ lead to 14-10, the Saints would eventually gain some relative separation with another Tayson Hill rushing touchdown early in the second quarter to make the score 21-10.

New Orleans would then see its first three-and-out of the game at the most inopportune time, punting from deep in their own territory. The Giants would say thank you and respond with a 54-yard touchdown pass to running back Saquon Barkley. After a successful two-point conversion, the game was 21-18 Saints late in the fourth quarter.

After another Saints punt, the Giants would drive to tie the game and kick a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at 21 with 31 seconds left in regulation. The Saints would run the clock out and the game headed to overtime.

In overtime, the Giants would pick up right where they left off, slicing off the Saints’ defense at will, and eventually scoring a touchdown with Saquon Barkley to win the game.

New Orleans enjoys a bitter return to a full Superdome and falls to 2-2 on the season. The strange year of missed opportunities for the Saints continues, a great win over Green Bay, and a blow out loss to the Panthers, Then a great win at New England followed by this underwhelming defensive performance against New York. The Saints travel to Washington next, the Football Team just traveled to Atlanta and beat the Falcons 34-30. As is always the case, there are no gimmes in the NFL.

Here is a live quarter-by-quarter description of how the game unfolded:

FIRST HALF

First Quarter

Saints win the toss and defer to the second half. The Giants promptly go three-and-out. Deonte Harris returns the punt 10 yards.

Saints start at their own 47-yard line and get into Giants’ territory on their first play of the game, a run by Alvin Kamara. Saints eventually quickly face a 3rd-and-13 and stall. Saints are forced to punt.

Giants start from their 5-yard line, but gain a first down on a pass to Kenny Golladay.

Saints begin from their 31-yard line and gain a first down on three running plays. Saints get into Giants’ territory. Saints eventually stall at the Giants’ 29-yard line and go for 4th-and-3. Saints fail to convert on a toss to Alvin Kamara.

Giants take over at their 27-yard line. A penalty sets the Giants back, but New York converts a 3rd-and-18 to keep their drive alive. New York is near midfield as the quarter ends, scoreless.

Second Quarter

Jones finds Golladay on the first play of the quarter for 23 yards to the Saints’ 25-yard line. Giants stall and Graham Gano misses a 35-yard field goal. as the game remains scoreless.

Saints take over at their 25-yard line. A screen play to Deonte Harris gets the Saints into Giants territory. Saints stall on a 3rd-and-5 and attempt a 58-yard field goal that Aldrick Rosas misses wide right.

On the very next play, Daniel Jones finds John Ross for a 52-yard touchdown pass. Ross actually fumbled the ball into the end zone, but recovered his own fumble.

NO: 0 – NYG: 7

Saints start at their 25-yard line. Saints get into Giants territory and keep their drive alive on a third down pass to Juwan Johnson. Winston throws a beautiful pass to Ty Montgomery to get New Orleans into the Giants’ red zone as the two-minute warning hits. Saints mix the run and the pass as their get closer to the goal line. Jameis Winston finds Juwan Johnson for a touchdown on 3rd-and-6 from the Giants’ 15-yard line with 23 seconds left in the half. Rosas converts the extra point.

NO: 7 – NYG: 7

Giants take over at their 25-yard line and drive to New Orleans’ 48-yard line with three seconds left in the half. Jones heaves a pass into the end zone, which is intercepted by Saints’ safety Marcus Williams as the half ends.

SECOND HALF

Third Quarter

Saints start from their 25-yard line, and on the first play, Jameis Winston finds Marquez Callaway for a 58-yard pass into the Giants’ red zone. The play was the Saints’ longest of the season.

On 2nd-and-1 from the Giants’ 8-yard line, Taysom Hill bulldozes his way into the end zone for a touchdown.

NO: 14 – NYG: 7

Giants start at their 25-yard line. New York quickly gets to midfield. Daniel Jones finds Golladay twice to get deep into Saints’ territory, as the Giants have found their rhythm offensively. Jones finds Kyle Rudolph deep in the red zone. Giants face a 3rd-and-goal. Marshon Lattimore breaks up a pass from Jones to Rudolph and Giants settle for a field goal.

NO: 14 – NYG: 10

Saints start at their 25-yard line and gain 8 yards on two running plays. On 3rd down, Winston finds Ty Montgomery for a huge first down just into Saints’ territory. Saints throw a touchdown to Kenny Stills that is called back for a holding penalty on Adam Trautman. On the very next play, Taysom Hill throw an interception trying to connect deep with Deonte Harris.

Giants take over at their 12-yard line. New York get to their 30-yard line and stall and is forced to punt.

Saints take over at their 37-yard line. New Orleans gets into Giants territory on a 15-yard catch-and-run by Taysom Hill. Saints gain another first down. Alvin Kamara then runs for nine yards to the Giants’ 29-yard line. Alvin Kamara runs to the 18-yard line as the quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

Saints start the quarter with a false start penalty. New Orleans gets a first down and drives near the Giants’ 8-yard line and Tayson Hill rinses and repeats for his second touchdown of the game.

NO: 21 – NYG: 10

Giants take over at their 25-yard line and get past midfield in two pass plays, with Jones finding his wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Giants eventually stall near midfield and punt to the Saints at their 17-yard line.

Saints begin with two running plays with Alvin Kamara. On 3rd-and-2, Taysom Hill fails to gain a first down and New Orleans goes three-and-out, their first of the game at an inopportune time. Saints punt and Giants return the ball to their 47-yard line.

On the first play, Daniel Jones finds Saquon Barkley behind the defense for a 54-yard touchdown, as Jones caught Marshon Lattimore peeking into the backfield. Giants convert for two-point to make it a game with 6 minutes remaining.

NO: 21 – NYG: 18

Saints start at their 13-yard line after an ill-advised return by Deonte Harris. New Orleans would eat some of the clock, going down from 6 to 3 minutes. After a delay of game penalty, the Saints are faced with a 3rd-and-14, forcing them to settle for a short gain and punt.

Giants take over at their 11-yard line. New York gains a first down at the two-minute warning. Jones finds Tony for a first down. Jones finds Kenny Golladay for a big gain and missed tackles by the Saints get the Giants in Saints’ territory. Giants run the ball on third-and-10 to gain a few more yards to attempt a 48-yard field goal.

NO: 21 – NYG: 21

Saints take over at their 23-yard line with 23 seconds and run the clock out as the game goes to overtime.

Overtime

The Giants win the toss and take the ball at their 25-yard line. Jones finds John Ross for a 16-yard gain as the Saints’ defensive line cannot apply any pressure on Daniel Jones. Jones finds Ross again on a slant into Saints’ territory. Saints miss ore tackles as the Giants get inside the Saints’ 30-yard line. Giants face a 3rd-and-5 from the Saints’ 29-yard line. Jones finds Kenny Golladay at the Saints’ 6-yard line. On the next play, Saquon Barkley plunges into the end zone for a touchdown and a win for the Giants.

NO: 21 – NYG: 27

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