Giants vs. New Orleans Saints Week 5 takeaways
Demario Davis of the New Orleans Saints strips the ball from Darius Slayton of the Giants during the second quarter in the game at Caesars Superdome on Sunday in New Orleans. Credit: Getty Images/Sean Gardner
NEW ORLEANS — Sunday’s 26-14 loss to the Saints means the Giants haven’t won consecutive games since Tommy DeVito led them on a three-game winning streak in 2023.
On a day when the Giants had five turnovers, here are three more takeaways from a disastrous performance at Caesars Superdome.
1. Darius Slayton had a rough day
The offense was sloppy with five turnovers. But in staking a claim as the team’s new No. 1 receiver with Malik Nabers sidelined, Slayton dropped the ball.
He didn’t just have a fumble. He dropped a deep pass that would have been the longest completion of Jaxson Dart’s career. Another pass off a flea-flicker was underthrown and knocked away, but Slayton took responsibility, saying he should have fought for it more.
“Pretty frustrated, mostly with myself,” said Slayton, who left the game with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. “I probably left a play or two out there. Definitely would’ve helped us put ourselves in a better position to get more of a lead in the game.”
Slayton had three catches for 31 yards, a poor showing by a team captain who has a high standard for himself.
He has to be better, and he told Dart as much.
“I haven’t made it seven years in this league by not making plays, you know?” Slayton said. “I’m going to make a lot more than I don’t. Unfortunately, today I didn’t.”
2. About that pass rush
A 14-3 lead was a golden opportunity for the Giants’ defensive front to tee off on a young quarterback in Spencer Rattler. Instead, they shanked their shot.
The Giants had no sacks and generated one quarterback hit on Rattler. The Saints averaged only 2.9 rushing yards on 30 carries, but it didn’t matter because Rattler was 6-for-9 on third down, including three passes that went for first downs.
“I don’t think we did not dominate. I wouldn’t say we didn’t dominate,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said.
Brian Burns, who went without a sack for the first time this season after recording an NFL-best five through the first month, had a different story. The linebacker said the defense couldn’t find a groove and the momentum changed after Rattler’s 87-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed.
This was a situation in which the Giants’ defense had to capitalize. With a double- digit lead, they needed to put the pressure on Rattler and make him uncomfortable. If last week against the Chargers hinted at the defensive line’s potential greatness, this week was a reminder that they must be more consistent.
3. And now they have a short week
The Giants don’t have much time to think about this loss. They will host the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Thursday night.
Philadelphia (4-1) allowed 18 fourth-quarter points to Denver in a 21-17 loss on Sunday.
Maybe the Giants can get running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. back for the game, but there are bigger issues with this team. The offense under Dart has promise but hasn’t been much better through two games.
The defense held the Saints’ offense to one touchdown but is giving up too many big plays. It doesn’t bode well against an Eagles team coming off its first loss, but the Giants must come out fighting before the season spirals out of control.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
