The New Orleans Saints took two big steps against the New York Giants on Sunday. One, made by defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, helped secure the win, while the other, made by quarterback Derek Carr, may have hurt their slim chances of winning the NFC South.
The most important thing for the Saints (5-8) was that they managed to hold on and beat the Giants 14-11, keeping their playoff hopes alive. The Giants (2-11) have been out of the playoff race for weeks and lost for the eighth straight game, just one shy of tying the team record for consecutive losses.
Carr’s injury was a big concern for New Orleans. He hurt his left, non-throwing hand when he tried to get a first down and fell hard to the ground with just under four minutes left. The Saints were able to secure the win thanks to Bresee, who blocked a potential game-tying 35-yard field goal attempt by Graham Gano with 11 seconds left.
With four games remaining, the Saints are two games behind first-place Tampa Bay (7-6) and one behind Atlanta.
“It keeps us in the mix,” said Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi, who has won three of four games since taking over for Dennis Allen. “We’re down to the end of the year. It’s the middle of December and when you’re playing games that matter, that still count and have a chance to affect the final outcome, that’s a big deal.”
Carr finished 20 of 31 for 219 yards but was injured when he dived for a first down near the Saints’ 40-yard line and landed hard. He was replaced by Jake Haener.
Rizzi mentioned that Carr would undergo tests on his left hand and that it wasn’t clear whether he would enter concussion protocol or be available for next weekend’s game.
Carr did not comment after the game.
“He’s just trying to win, and in a game like that, a first down or two and you put them away,” said Saints tight end Juwan Johnson, who caught an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter. “He tried to do it for us.”
The Giants got the ball at their own 27-yard line with 1:21 left in the game and drove down to the Saints’ 12. Drew Lock scrambled for 25 yards on fourth down and then found Malik Nabers for 23 yards. The Giants had two chances to throw for a winning touchdown before sending out Gano for a potential tying field goal. However, Gano’s kick was a little low, and Bresee was able to jump and block the ball.
“I really didn’t think I got enough of it at first,” Bresee said. “I looked back and saw that it missed. I was super excited.”
Gano, who made a 43-yard field goal in the first half and had a 48-yarder in the fourth quarter nullified by a personal foul, said he kicked the last ball solidly but Bresee got a finger on it.
“I think it’s frustrating for our team, especially working so hard to come back like that,” Gano said. “So many guys had big plays and we worked really hard at coming back and it’s tough to have a game end that way.”
Tyrone Tracy scored from 1 yard out with 4:11 left in the fourth quarter, and Lock hit Nabers on a 2-point conversion to make it a three-point game, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Giants from losing at home for the seventh time this season.
The Giants lost nine straight games in 2019, which led to the firing of coach Pat Shurmur. Now, coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are under pressure in their third season with the team.
Fan frustration is growing. A small plane circled MetLife Stadium about 90 minutes before the game, carrying a banner calling the Giants a “dumpster fire” and asking co-owner John Mara to overhaul the team. The Giants have only made the playoffs twice since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012.
Daboll did not comment on the flyover. “I’m disappointed we have two wins,” he said.
