New York Giants: What Went Wrong In Loss To Saints?

Throughout the second quarter, the Giants’ defense struggled to stop Spencer Rattler and Alvin Kamara. The Saints scored two unanswered field goals and a touchdown to take a 16-14 lead.

The Giants’ dominant defensive front was nonexistent. They allowed Rattler to throw 21/31 for 225 yards and a score. They also allowed the Saints to break out in the run game, rushing for 88 total yards. Those numbers might not be crazy to look at, but New York gave up 18 first downs to one of the league’s worst offenses.

New York’s defense is loaded with talent, especially in the trenches. The onus lies with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. His playcalling has been suspect dating back to last season, and it’s no different now. The Saints knew they could take advantage of a weak secondary. Even Rattler said they don’t show disguises.

There’s no true reason Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter can’t generate pressure, at least not from a talent standpoint. They showed it in their Week 4 win over the Chargers. The playcalling needs to change, and Bowen needs to put his stars in position to succeed.

The Nabers Aren’t Here Anymore

The Giants’ offense struggled mightily without star receiver Malik Nabers. After tearing his ACL and meniscus in Week 4, the LSU product is out for the season. When he goes away, so does the deep ball threat.

Dart’s leading receivers in this game were tight ends Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson, and running back Cam Skattebo. Jalin Hyatt finally saw some opportunities and made no impact, while rookie Beaux Collins had one reception for seven yards. 

The Giants need to elevate Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He established chemistry with Dart in the preseason, and could carry that over here.

It would also be wise for New York to go shopping. Odell Beckham Jr. is still available and seemingly wants to return. They could also trade for someone. Jakobi Meyers has expressed frustrations in Vegas, and could be a viable target. 

The Giants can also look to D.J. Moore and Romeo Doubs, who are in loaded receiver rooms on their respective teams. What’s the worst that can happen from a phone call?

A Lack Of Discipline

This is the first time in head coach Brian Daboll’s tenure that I’m questioning if he’s the right man for the job. The Giants seem to be having fun at practices and training camp. The vibes are too high for a one-win team.

New York turned the ball over five times in this game. Dart threw two deep, desperation shots for interceptions and inexplicably fumbled the ball. Skattebo and Darius Slayton also lost fumbles in this game. Dart and Skattebo are still extremely new, so they’re afforded a bit of grace.

The Giants had eight penalties for a loss of 95 yards. The ball security was weak, and the offensive playcalling was even worse. The offense converted 3/10 on third down and won the time of possession, 33:50-28:10.

Daboll is coaching for his job. The Giants are on a short week ahead of a Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ball security and a playcalling overhaul should be key points in practice this week.

Expectations Moving Forward

The Giants are about to face a gauntlet in the upcoming stretch of the season. They face the Eagles twice, the Denver Broncos, and the San Francisco 49ers. They follow that up with a run at the NFC North, facing the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions.

It’s entirely possible New York doesn’t win another game until December. The 2025 season was never about stacking W’s, but more about the development of a rookie QB. If Dart can play well and prove he has the right stuff to work with, Daboll might be safe.

Winning, of course, cures everything. The Giants cannot end this season with a 1-17 record. They’ll need to steal a few upsets and win games against less-than-stellar teams. A five or six-win season might be considered a success at this stage of Daboll’s tenure.

End Of My Giants Rant

The Giants have been a dumpster fire for the better part of the last decade. General manager Joe Schoen has made questionable decisions, like letting Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney walk in free agency. He’s also had strong drafts, 2025 arguably being the best.

It’s time for a culture shift in New York, and it’s not too late for Daboll to do it. This game in New Orleans was a must-win, and it put the team in a deep hole with no momentum. The Eagles are on the back foot after a loss to the Denver Broncos, and Big Blue can realistically put up a fight here if they’re properly prepped.