The boos inside the Caesars Superdome have followed the New Orleans Saints through three straight home losses. Now they get a break from the dome with a trip to the Meadowlands to face John Harbaugh’s 3-1-1 New York Giants.
After a 23-13 loss to Minnesota, oddsmakers still have New Orleans as a 1.5-point favorite on the road. Here are three truths and one lie about the Saints before Sunday.
Truth: Chris Olave is playing like one of the NFL’s best receivers
Olave has 39 catches for 537 yards through five games, second in the NFL in receiving yards behind Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That’s 107.4 yards per game for a receiver whose career high is 1,163 yards, set last season.
He has done it with 54 targets on a team that has turned the ball over 11 times.
His 90.0 overall grade through Week 4 was the highest on the Saints’ offense, according to PFF, and he played through a foot scare last week. The Giants have intercepted six passes, three by safety Jevon Holland, so the throws to Olave have to be clean ones.
Truth: The defense isn’t taking the ball away
USA TODAY Network
New Orleans has five takeaways in five games and one interception, by Julian Blackmon. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown eight touchdown passes against it, and Week 5 brought a rare swing when Jonas Sanker returned a fumble 87 yards for a touchdown against Minnesota.
Opponents are also converting 48.3% of their third downs, 29 of 60. Sanker has been targeted 18 times and allowed 16 catches through Week 4, according to PFF. Atlanta ran through New Orleans for 205 rushing yards in Week 4 without a turnover.
The Giants have committed seven turnovers. The Saints need to force at least one to swing a game the betting market expects to be close.
Truth: The Saints keep handing opponents a short field
Saints opponents start their drives at their own 36.3-yard line on average, according to Pro Football Reference. New Orleans starts at its own 27.8, a difference of 8.5 yards per possession.
Opponents have scored on 49.1% of their drives. The 11 turnovers explain a lot of it, and special teams have added to the problem. Against Minnesota, a Jayden Price fumble on a kickoff return set up a Justin Jefferson touchdown catch.
The Giants are on the other end of that math. Their offense starts at its own 31.7, and their opponents start at their own 27.4.
Lie: The Saints can’t finish drives
New Orleans has scored touchdowns on 13 of 16 red zone trips, an 81.3% rate. It has also converted 33 of 72 third downs and 9 of 12 fourth downs.
The trouble is getting there. The Saints managed 142 total yards and nine first downs against Minnesota as Kellen Moore’s offense went ice cold, and the running game is averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
The Giants allow touchdowns on 69.2% of opponents’ red zone trips. New Orleans has to string together enough first downs to put that red zone offense to work.
The Saints and Giants kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at MetLife Stadium on FOX. Watch the New Orleans ground game: the Giants have allowed 638 rushing yards on 123 carries, 5.2 yards per attempt.
More on the New Orleans Saints
- Where Do the Saints Pick in the 2027 NFL Draft After Another Home Loss to the Vikings?
- NFL Draft Analyst Calls Saints’ Rookie Class Lackluster as Jordyn Tyson Remains Sidelined
- Saints Snap Counts Show Noah Fant’s Return Cutting Into Bryce Lance’s Role
- Kellen Moore’s Offense Went Ice Cold Again as the Saints Sank to 1-4
