Saints Crush Giants 48-27: In what was billed by many as the battle between two of the NFC’s very best teams, the New Orleans Saints made a clear-cut statement that they are the vastly superior team by crushing the New York Giants 48-27 at the Louisiana Superdome earlier today.
The Giants’ #1 ranked defense was shellacked as the Saints scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half possessions, and then added two more touchdowns in the second half. Seven touchdowns in all!
The Giants’ offense did manage to score 17 first-half points, but it could not keep pace with the red-hot Saints. Plus, a late first-half fumble by QB Eli Manning gave the Saints the ball at the Giants 7-yard line with 18 seconds left on the clock before intermission. The Saints scored two plays later.
At the half, the Saints led 34-17 (DT Fred Robbins blocked one extra point).
The Saints also outscored the Giants 14-10 in the second half in a game that was not very competitive for the most part.
The Saints out-gained the Giants in first downs (28-17), total offensive plays (70 to 57), total net yards (493 to 325), net yards rushing (133 to 84), net yards passing (360 to 241), and time of possession (36:07 to 23:53).
The Giants were also flagged nine times for 110 penalty yards.
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were HB Danny Ware (elbow), WR Ramses Barden, OT Guy Whimper, OC Adam Koets, DT Chris Canty (calf), LB Michael Boley (knee), LB Clint Sintim, and CB and Aaron Ross (hamstring).
Offensively, QB Eli Manning finished the game 14-of-31 for 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. QB David Carr was 4-of-5 for 72 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. HB Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 48 yards and 1 touchdown on 10 carries; HB Brandon Jacobs rushed for 33 yards on seven carries. The leading receivers were WR Hakeem Nicks (5 catches for 114 yards and 1 touchdown), WR Mario Manningham (4 catches for 50 yards and 1 touchdown), and WR Steve Smith (4 catches for 44 yards).
Defensively, the Giants were a joke.
On special teams, WR Domenik Hixon returned seven kickoffs for 230 yards and two punts for 51 yards. PK Lawrence Tynes was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, including a 49 yarder.