The Recap- Saints Vs Giants

Jamie UK • December 17, 2023

The Recap- Saints Vs Giants


Well... it's certainly fun to watch the Saints win. Does this change my opinion of them as a team? A win against this Giants team does not. However, in a season where we (Saints fans) have been doused in negativity, I'll take any component performance and frankly, I'm going to enjoy it.


Team Stats 


(Saints/Giants)


Final Score: 24-6

First downs: 20-12

3rd down efficiency: 6/12- 2/16

Total yards: 296-193

RedZone Efficiency:2 of 2 - 0 of 0

Penalties:  6 for 58 yards- 5 for 32 yards

Turnovers- 0-0

Time of possession- 33:27 - 26:33


Takeaways 


Offense


If this wasn't Car’s best game as a Saint it’s pretty close. Carr finished 23-28 218 Yards and 3 Touchdowns. The stats aren't crazy but they didn't need to be today, down his top 2 WRs Carr was incredibly efficient and took what the defense gave him. His pocket movement was the best I've seen from Carr this year, he regularly stepped up to avoid pressure and completed passes. Crucially avoiding the negative plays, something we haven’t seen Carr do well as a Saint.


His O-line did step up and not allow a huge amount of pressure which certainly helps, as we’ve clearly seen Carr hasn't been able to handle pressure well and his game takes a distinctly negative turn when he faces it regularly. The line was also solid in the run game, although we did see some frustrating holding penalties, we can’t have it all I guess.


I thought this was a really well-called game by Pete Carmicheal, we saw plenty of play-action, which I and many other Saints fans have called for all season. He mixed in the run and pass well, we even saw a well-executed screen pass. I’ve never questioned if Pete could call a a good game. We’ve even seen him do it this year. He, like Carr, has struggled to perform well consistently.


Other offensive notes:


  • Jimmy Graham is up to 6 catches on the year, 4 have gone for touchdowns and the other 2 have been first-down conversions. The fact he was a healthy scratch for multiple weeks was absolute coaching malpractice.


  • A.T. Perry is starting to make plays every week, he had an excellent contested catch today to convert a 3rd and 16. He caught the ball about 3 yards short of the stick and bullied his way forward for a first down.



Defense


The Saints defense close out their second straight game without conceding a Touchdown. This game was different though than the game against the Panthers. If Bryce Young had better accuracy the score in that game would have been a lot closer.


Today the Saints defense was dominant finishing with 7 sacks, 9 TFLs and 8 QB hits (Per ESPN).  Crucially they also held the Giants RBs to 2 YPC. The last two weeks the Saints have supplemented their poor pass rush with a killer blitz and stunt game. 


Surprise surprise Zack Baun has been really good when rushing off the edge, he was very good again today. Baun is finally being used as he always should have been a mix of LB and Edge, unfortunately, he is a FA in the off-season just as Kaden Elliss was after this emergence in a similar role last season.


Alongside Baun, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Bryan Bresee had really solid days rushing the passer. Bresee had a season-high 7 pressures (Per PFF) but no sacks this week he converted with 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 2 QB hits. Kpassagnon finished with 3 sacks, 3 TFLs and 4 QB hits, before last season when writing for a different site I predicated a Tanoh breakout season (I believe I predicted 7.5 sacks), but that prediction was based on the Saints using Tanoh inside more, they didn't. This year they have and he has been a far more disruptive player for this defense.


The secondary was really strong again Yiadom gave up one big catch early to Waller but otherwise was really good again as a relief starter, Yiadom entered this season as a core special teams player and has emerged as a more than solid starter at outside CB. The Saints would be wise to try and Yiadom around long-term to keep this strong depth in their secondary. Jordan Howden is proving to be a 5th-round steal at Safety and has emerged as a solid Blitzer, I think his play makes Marcus Maye expendable this off-season.


Demario Davis continues to defy Father Time he was dominant today. Finishing with a team-leading 10 total tackles (8 solo) 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 2 TFLs. His sack puts him at 6.5 on the season which ties his career best, with 3 games left you have to think he betters that. 



Saints Stock Exchange (Sponsored By… Nobody)


Just a quick hit section each week to highlight which Saints players/staff have their stock value increasing and decreasing after each game, 3 up and 3 down:


Stock Up


  • Derek Carr
  • Bryan Bresee
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon


Carr deserves to be on this list after one of his better games as a Saint. IF Carr can play this way consistently down the stretch I think the Saints win 2 of their next 3 maybe all 3.


  Bresee and Kpassagnon deserve to come together here they were dominant on the inside of the Saints pass rush today, again some consistency here from these two down the stretch would go a long way to helping the struggling Saints pass rush (struggling before today).



Stock Down


  • Andrus Peat


I nearly had nobody on the down list, I thought I'd ride the positivity train for this week but… then I remembered that Peat was called for 2 holding penalties at some quite inopportune times. Granted it didn't impact this game but not ideal for an offense that is craving consistency. So a little harsh to have him here alone but i'm going with it.



.


Conclusion 


Should this game change anyone's mind about the Saints coaching staff or QB…. no it shouldn't the Giants are not a good football team, the Saints should have beat them and they did but. Credit where credit is due that was the most complete performance we’ve seen from all three phases in the 2023 season and if they continue that level of play the next 3 weeks, will I be bought all the way back in for a home playoff game? You’re goddamn right I will be.



Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.


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Saints Pregame Guide: Lions

By Kaden Arkeder • September 11, 2026
It is week one folks, we made it to the 2026 season! This is the first season in a while where personally I feel optimistic going into the season thanks to Tyler Shough and what the Saints were able to show at the end of the 2025 season. Coupled with what the Saints did in the offseason in free agency and the draft the Saints and Saints fans should feel like the team has a real shot at winning the division and making the playoffs. Their first obstacle they will have to overcome on their path to accomplishing the goal is the Detroit Lions. The Lions will prove to be a good litmus test for the Saints in week one. The Lions have been a championship contender the last few years under the stewardship of Dan Campbell and will look to continue their fortune by taking care of business at home against the Saints. The Saints however are not facing the Lions at their peak as they finished last season with a 9-8 win loss record after being a double digit win team the two prior seasons. The Lions will also not have at least two key players in their secondary as both Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are on injured reserve while two of their corners are on the injury report albeit listed as full participants as I am writing this. So the Saints will look to capitalize through the passing game with those key players out for this matchup. I expect Chris Olave to be targeted early and often in this game and for the role players around him to come up big on some key plays throughout the game. Speaking of role players I am curious to see if either or both of the rookie receivers in Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have any big moments in the game after having a great offseason and preseason. Outside of the rookie receivers I am curious to see if Juwan Johnson will be able to build on the productive season he had last year. With the absence of Jordyn Tyson to begin the season there should be plenty of opportunity for targets in the passing game outside of Chris Olave’s share. In regards to the running game I expect the Saints to give Etienne a heavy workload against the Lions if Kamara is not active for the game but there is optimism Kamara is ahead of schedule and could play against the Lions. I will be very interested to see how Etienne does in his debut with the team and how he will be utilized in the offense. There was talk during training camp the Saints have a package with both Etienne and Kamara on the field so if both are active I will be keeping an eye out for that personnel package. The Saints will look to start off the season strong on the ground after being one of the least effective teams running the ball last season. Hopefully the addition of David Edwards and Etienne combined with Kellen Moore along with most of the players being in year two of Kellen Moore’s system will aid them in running the ball better this season. Adin Hutchinson will look to be the main challenge the offensive line will face against the Lions defensive line as he had a standout 2025 campaign with 14.5 sacks along with an interception. If the Saints young tackles in Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga are able to hold up well against Hutchinson they should be able to hold up well against the best edge rushers for the rest of the season. On the defensive side of the ball this will be very much a good challenge for them as the Lions have some marquee players on offense the defense will be tasked with slowing down. Amon Ra St. Brown and Jhamyr Gibbs are the two skill position players to key in on for the Saints in this game but role players like Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams can absolutely be a difference maker for the Lions on any given Sunday. I think my two favorite matchups on this side of the ball will be watching Chase Young against Penei Sewell and the Saints young secondary against Amon Ra St. Brown. Chase Young had ten sacks in twelve games last season and will look to continue this success against one of the league’s best tackles in Penei Sewell. Unfortunately his running mate in Cameron Jordan will be unavailable in this game so look for a steady rotation at edge opposite of Chase Young throughout the game. Amon Ra St. Brown is the type of receiver Jared Goff looks for early and often throughout the game and can be moved around their offensive formations even though he plays primarily in the slot. How the Saints plan to contain or slow down Amon Ra will be fascinating to watch. Overall, I expect this to be a close game between the Saints and Lions where both teams should have ample opportunities to put up points against each other. There are so many little story lines to follow as the Saints start the regular season and in this game I can’t wait to follow. Week one usually has a fair amount of chaos to the games so you can never discount a crazy outcome here or elsewhere throughout the league. There should be plenty to discuss coming out of week one. Alright enough from me, talk to you all on the other side and geaux Saints! Injury Designations Lions DB - Christian Izien - Questionable Saints TE - Oscar Delp - OUT Edge - Cameron Jordan - OUT RB - Audric Estime - OUT RB - Alvin Kamara - Questionable

Personal game for Vincent's Warhawks

By Dusty Thibodeaux • September 11, 2026
ULM enters the Saturday afternoon game +9.5 to UAB
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