IN A GLANCE
In a crucial game for the NFC standings, the New York Giants’ three-game winning run came to an end as they lost 24-6 on the road to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints advanced to 7-7 on the season, while the Giants, who were one place out of a postseason position going into Sunday, fell to 5-9.
Next up
On Christmas Day (Monday), the Giants will take a bus down to Philadelphia, where they haven’t won since 2013. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. After returning from their Monday night flight from their game against the Seahawks (6-7) in Seattle, the Eagles (10-3)—who have already lost their last two games for the first time this season—will have one less day.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CRIME
tense conclusion Darren Waller returned to action after being recalled off injured reserve. Waller had missed games since Week 8 due to a hamstring ailment. For thirty yards, he grabbed two catches, 29 of which came on a catch-and-run play that resulted in a second-quarter third-and-long.
Evan Neal, a right tackle, missed his sixth straight game due to an ankle injury. Though his status on the final injury report was categorized as uncertain, he made a limited comeback to practice this week.
On Friday, Justin Pugh, a left guard, had his calf added to the list of injuries. Though he was marked as doubtful, he suit up for the offensive line on Sunday, which now has the same five players starting for five straight games: Tyre Phillips, Andrew Thomas, Justin Pugh, John Michael Schmitz Jr., and Ben Bredeson.
The Giants’ sixth straight game started by quarterback Tommy DeVito, the current NFC Offensive Player of the Week. 52 seconds into the first half, after a hit by Isaac Yiadom, he briefly departed the field with his head hitting the ground. Before Tyrod Taylor entered the game, the Giants had a 7-6 lead going into the locker room. Jamie Gillan, their punter, completed the drive with a 40-yard field goal (more on that later). But DeVito came back to open the second half.
Only two quarterback hits and no sacks were allowed a week before, and the Saints took DeVito down four times in the first half alone (seven overall). After Eli Manning, the first rookie quarterback to accomplish it in 2014, DeVito became the first quarterback for the Giants to have 20+ attempts in three straight games with a 100+ passer rating. He completed 20 of 34 throws for 177 yards and a 72.8 passing rating. The Saints have given up the lowest opponent passer rating (74.7) in the NFL as of Week 15.
Thirty of the Giants’ forty-six running yards came on four rushes by DeVito. Prior to the locker room, Saquon Barkley had just eight yards on six runs; throughout the game, he had nine yards on nine carries.
In the first half, the Giants converted only one of nine third downs (two of 15 total).
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