The 0-3 Giants getting their first win of the 2021 NFL season isn’t going to be easy as they go on the road to New Orleans in Week 4. The 2-1 Saints got back in the win column last Sunday, going to New England and beating the Patriots 28-13, and are -8.5 favorites in the meeting with New York.
Giants Look Really Bad
New York is bringing up the rear in the NFC East and are just one of four winless teams left in the NFL. The Giants let Atlanta get their first victory of the year in a 17-14 win last weekend, even though New York was a -3 point home favorite.
NYG defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has his work cut out for him against the Saints. This game will also likely be the home opener for New Orleans at the Caesar’s Superdome after their season opener against Green Bay was moved to Jacksonville due to Hurricane Ida. It’s going to be loud as the first full-capacity home game since 2019, and that does no favors for the Giants on either side of the ball.
Matt Ryan hit 27 of 36 passes against the Giants on Sunday, Taylor Heinicke threw for 336 for the WFT in Week 2, and Teddy Bridgewater completed 28 of 36 in the season opener, showing that this secondary has some issues.
The problem with that is New York’s offense cannot get into shootouts – they couldn’t even beat Atlanta when holding the Falcons to 17 points. Daniel Jones has only 2 TD passes in three games and is the leading rusher (161) even though Saquon Barkley’s (134) yards is back from injury.
Saints Need Consistency
Through three games, we’ve seen two great performances from the Saints but also one dud. The positives were a 38-3 drubbing of the Packers in the season opener and last Sunday’s 28-13 win at New England as +3 point underdogs. There’s also a 26-7 loss at Carolina in Week 2, but coach Sean Payton wants to prove that one was an anomaly with another big win in Week 4.
Jameis Winston threw 5 TD passes against Green Bay in his first game as New Orleans QB starter. He also only threw for 148 yards in that game – which is a season-high – so these are not your Drew Brees air attack Saints by any means.
Payton got Taysom Hill more involved in the offense last week with six carries for 32 yards and a TD, which does give the Giants defense more to game plan against, especially as Alvin Kamara ran for 89 yards vs. New England.
It’s easy to forget the Saints were a top 5 defense last season, and they are playing their way into that success again in 2021. New Orleans held Aaron Rodgers to just 133 yards with 0 TD and 2 INT in the season opener and picked off Patriots rookie Mac Jones three times last Sunday.
Sam Darnold had a 300+ yard game in Week 2, which is something Giants QB Daniel Jones hopes to build off of.
Giants at Saints Pick
There’s going to be an electric atmosphere in the (likely) return to the Superdome, which is going to wreak havoc on Jones and the Giants offense.
Darnold proved in Week 2 that you have to be able to pass effectively to beat the Saints, who have the league’s #3 run defense (60.5 yards/game), and that’s a tough order.
Saints 27 – Giants 17
Saints -8.5
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