Saints respond on the field to owner Gayle Benson's ultimatum

The New Orleans Saints entered Week 6 with a clear message from their ownership: Win or changes could come. 

After losing three home games in a row, Saints owner Gayle Benson wasn't happy and wasn't afraid to say so. At a meeting of the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, a local football support group, Benson put second-year head coach Kellen Moore on notice, saying she wouldn't accept the team's 1-4 start as their standard.

Moore's team clearly got the message and responded with a 34-27 road win against the New York Giants. They trailed 10-0 through most of the first half, but a fumble recovery on a kickoff sparked a 34-point scoring streak before the Giants got back on the board in the 4th quarter.

It looked like the Saints were on the precipice of a dominant win and a strong effort after being called out by ownership. But then they nearly found themselves on the bad end of an embarrassing collapse, as the Giants came within 12 seconds of tying the game. 

Still, the Saints held on for the win, which should appease ownership heading into a Week 7 game in Paris, France, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Saints find recipes for success on both sides of the ball

At halftime, the Saints were tied 10-10, but hardly moving the ball. At the start of the second half, New Orleans used an extra lineman more often and ran the rock against a Giants defense that allowed an average of 127.6 rushing yards per game — the ninth most in the league.

That decision paid off, as the Saints rushed for 175 yards on 38 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Running back Alvin Kamara also came alive, rushing for 34 yards and catching two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. While not an eye-popping stat line, it put him in an exclusive club, as Kamara is now one of six players with 5,000 career rushing and receiving yards.

Quarterback Tyler Shough also needed to step up in the wake of a turnover-filled start to his second year. On Sunday, he was efficient enough, completing 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.