Giants vs. Saints Week 5 grades: Lots of failing marks all around
Giants head coach Brian Daboll reacts on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints in the game at Caesars Superdome on Sunday in New Orleans. Credit: Getty Images/Sean Gardner
OFFENSE: F
As great as the Giants looked when they opened the game with two straight touchdowns – their first time doing so since 2020 – having turnovers on five straight possessions can lead only to failure. No NFL team had done that since 2016! The passing game to the tight ends was on point early but then the Giants went away from it. The team needed Darius Slayton to step up with Malik Nabers out but the captain shrunk badly with drops and a costly fumble.
DEFENSE: F
Meanwhile the Giants couldn’t record a sack or a takeaway and were gashed badly on an 87-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that lifted the Saints back into the game. They were flagged for pass interference three times for a total of 60 yards, including one against Deonte Banks that negated an interception by Jevon Holland. The Saints converted seven of 15 third downs.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
The kickoffs by Jamie Gillan were actually part of the early recipe for the lead as he had the Saints pinned deep on their first few possessions. Too bad the Giants never kicked off in the final 43 minutes of the game. Gillan also put two punts inside the 20, including one that was tipped. Deonte Banks had one decent kickoff return for the Giants but was tackled by the kicker.
COACHING: F
The call for the flea flicker on third-and-1 at the 49 late in the second quarter was a good, aggressive one (even though the execution didn’t back it up) but the Giants should have tried to convert the fourth down after it rather than punt. It wound up being their last possession that didn’t end in a turnover or on downs. The Giants didn’t add an active receiver and were caught shorthanded at the position late after Slayton left with a hamstring injury; they had to rely on Jalin Hyatt and Beaux Collins who showed very little when called upon.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
