WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
The Giants scored touchdowns on their first two drives, punted twice, and then turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions with three fumbles (one returned 86 yards for a touchdown) and two interceptions.
In his first NFL road start, Jaxson Dart completed 26 of 40 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran seven times for 55 yards and lost a fumble.
After Dart became the first rookie quarterback to beat a team 3-0 or better in his first career start since Phil Simms in 1979, the news of the past week shifted to Malik Nabers. The wide receiver suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the second quarter of the Week 4 victory over the Chargers. In four games this season, Nabers had totaled 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2024 after breaking the franchise’s single-season reception record. The Giants were forced to move forward without Nabers, whose 10.8 targets per game led the league since the start of 2024.
The Giants scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the second consecutive game. After tight end Daniel Bellinger hauled in a 14-yard catch on the left sideline (which was upheld following a Saints challenge), Dart threw a one-yard touchdown to tight end Theo Johnson, who caught the rookie’s first career passing touchdown a week ago.
The Giants scored touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time since 2020. Dart once again connected with Johnson, who has three touchdowns in his past two games after having one in his first 15 career outings.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season, missed his second consecutive game due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 3 against the Chiefs.
The Giants turned the ball over for the first time since Week 3 when Demario Davis punched ball away from Darius Slayton after a nine-yard gain with just over a minute left in the second quarter. Jonas Sanker recovered the fumble for the Saints, who went on to kick a field goal as time expired in the first half to give New Orleans its first lead since Week 1.
On their next possession coming out of halftime, Dart lost a fumble as he was beginning to scramble near midfield. The Saints tacked on a field goal on the ensuing drive, extending their lead to 19-14 with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
The Giants fumbled on three straight drives, and the third was a backbreaker. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee stripped rookie Cam Skattebo in a pile of defenders at the Saints 12, and safety Jordan Howden scooped up the ball at the 14 and returned it 86 yards the other way for a touchdown. The Saints took a 26-14 lead with 14:47 left in the fourth quarter.
The Giants made it five turnovers in a row with two interceptions from Dart.
The Giants were last in the NFL in red zone scoring before Sunday, converting just 26.7 percent of their attempts into touchdowns. They converted their first two in New Orleans before Skattebo’s fumble.