Breaking Down The Saints Vs Giants

Breaking Down The Saints vs Giants.

Each passing week seems to bring a new set of challenges for our New York Giants. This week we hope they could increase the lead in the NFC East or at least hold onto it. With the New Orleans Saints game on the horizon we asked Tee Word from Canal Street Chronicles to help us break down this weeks matchup.

For the Saints

The Saints defense has improved.
The Saints defense was in big trouble just a few weeks ago due to injury and a reliance on very young defensive starters. Naturally, the unit experienced growing pains including penalties and the inability to execute the scheme that was in place. As the rookies have had time to learn their assignments and gather in-game experience, they’ve learned to (mostly) clean up their mistakes and make plays when needed. Since facing the Dallas Cowboys, the defense has shown the improvement that is necessary to create pressure and cover the opposition’s primary threat. While far from perfect, the young pups and vets have found a way to generate pressure and force turnovers to help the offense get extra possessions and more opportunities to operate on schedule. The Giants have been squeaking by teams with suspect offensive units by keeping them out of the end-zone. Against the Saints, they’ll have to contribute substantially on offense to win, something that hasn’t been required in a few weeks for the Giants. This unit is hungry and talented, combine that with the light finally coming on and it spells trouble Eli Manning.

The Saints offensive line has come together as a unit.
Center Max Unger was brought in to provide relief to an ailing interior line in New Orleans. In camp and pre-season, Unger received rave reviews (to an extent), then the season started and the offensive line as a whole performed poorly. The main source of concern was Zach Strief and the rapidly aging Jahri Evans. The first three weeks of Saints football in 2015 was rough to say the least. Then the Cowboys came to town and the O-Line was able to provide protection to Drew Brees and open holes for the running-backs. After an 0-3 start, the Saints are 3-1 over the last four games, based in large part on solid line play by Unger, left tackle Terron Armstead, and left guard Tim Lelito. Reserve left tackle Tony Hills performed admirably in relief duty when Armstead couldn’t suit up and his replacement, 1st Round pick Andrus Peat, went down with an injury. In the face of adversity, the pieces have rallied to lead the way for an offense that seems to be finding its groove. The O-Line will play well enough to hold off the Giants rush and allow Brees enough time to carve up the secondary.

Drew Brees is still good at football!
The Giants defense hasn’t seen a high-caliber quarterback since week 2 when they faced Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. Since then, they’ve faced Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Colin Kaepernick, Sam Bradford, and Matt Cassel, not exactly world beaters.

Cousins threw for 316 yards, Taylor – 274, Kaepernick – 262, and Bradford – 280. Even Cassel put up 200+ on Sunday. This leads me to believe that Brees will have a good game, even if he avoids Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie completely. Reasons two and three give me even more confidence in reason number one because I believe that a strong defensive effort against Eli and solid blocking by the Saints O-Line will give Brees the opportunities and vehicle to shred the Giants defense. I’d go as far as speculating that Brees will pass for 300+ and 2 TDs in a close Saints victory. Based on the Saints team who showed to Indianapolis on Sunday, Sean Payton seems to be hitting his stride as well and the combination of Payton and Brees can be deadly when they’re on! I truly believe these reasons will lead to the demise of the New York Giants in the Mercedes-Benz SuperDome.

For The Giants

Control the crowd.
I was there in person last time the Giants flew down to the Super Bowl to face the New Orleans saints I can tell you firsthand that the crowd is deafening. I was able to get awesome last-minute tickets we were in the second row by the end zone and I couldn’t hear what anybody was saying directly next to me. Expect the G-Men to take the crowd out of the game. They are going to try to score early and maintain a strong lead to keep that place quiet. I could see them trying to hit Odell Beckham Jr. up for a couple long patterns in hopes for a quick score.

Bend but do not break.
Linebacker the Devon Kennard returned from his injury last week and played against the Dallas Cowboys well. He played almost half of the Giants defense of snaps and his presence on the field definitely showed some impact. We think that he will be able to play a complete game and see some more snaps this week against the Saints. While initially the Giants run defense was top two in the league it has fallen back somewhat. The defense has been able to force some turnovers between strips and interceptions helping the Giants to 4-3 record. It will be interesting to see how they fare against Drew Brees this week considering they haven’t played a top-level quarterback since week two against Matt Ryan of the Falcons.

OLine still holds strong.
Marshall Newhouse returns to form and rebounds from his past poor play against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers also proved his value last week against the Dallas Cowboys holding Greg Hardy to only one sack, w minimal pressure. The Saints defense this year with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is improved, but definitely inconsistent at best. I think the Giants offense will be able to get the best of Rob Ryan and the Saints. In prior years I always have a feared The Giants going down to New Orleans for a tough matchup. That is not the case this year.

I think we’re going to see motivated Odell Beckham Jr in his professional debut in Louisiana. You can ask any Saints or LSU fan they know that Odell is a game breaker. I think the Giants get the win and go to 5/3, with a bunch of Eli and bunch of Odell.

Please feel free to share and leave a comment below!