THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN…

Kool-Aid McKinstry intercepted Dart on back-to-back drives following the Saints’ 86-yard fumble return touchdown by Jordan Howden to start the fourth quarter. The interceptions came on passes intended for Jalin Hyatt and undrafted rookie Beaux Collins, two wide receivers who were looking to step up after Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.

The Giants jumped out to a 14-3 lead after their first two drives ended in Dart touchdown passes to tight Theo Johnson. It was the second consecutive game the Giants scored a touchdown on their opening drive. It was also the first time they recorded touchdowns on their first two possessions of a game since 2020. Both came in the red zone, where the Giants were converting just 26.7 percent of trips into touchdowns (lowest in the league entering Week 5).

It was downhill from there. The Giants’ next eight possessions to end the game were: punt, punt, Darius Slayton fumble, Dart fumble, Cam Skattebo fumble (returned 86 yards for a touchdown), interception, interception, turnover on downs.

“It is not good, have got to cut it out,” Dart said. “It starts with me being a leader. Obviously some of those came from me, and I have to be a better example and leader. In those situations can talk to the guys in the huddle and remind them about ball security. As a quarterback, I put those on myself.”

The five turnovers are the most by the Giants in a game since Week 11 of 2014 against the 49ers. According to NFL Research, they are also the the first team to commit a turnover on five consecutive possessions in a game since the Jets in Week 3 of 2016 against the Chiefs.

The Giants had a chance to quell the Saints’ comeback with 2:50 left in the second quarter. With a 14-13 lead at the time, the Giants dialed up a flea flicker on third-and-two from near midfield. Dart handed the ball off to Skattebo, who pitched it back to the quarterback. However, Dart was unable to hook up with Slayton for a potential touchdown on a pass that they both would like back.

“I just wish I would’ve tried to get back to it in some type, shape or form,” Slayton said. “End of the day, the quarterback can’t be perfect, put it near us, it’s our job to go up and fight for the ball. I wish would’ve went about it differently.”

The Giants had no sacks and just one quarterback hit on Spencer Rattler, who was previously 0-10 as a starter. A week ago, they had two sacks and 12 quarterback hits on the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.

“Kid, that’s the NFL. Every play matters, and he knows that. He’s as hard on himself as anybody. There’s a lot to learn from this, and that’s what we will do. There will be ups, there will be downs, and I thought he started out really well. Collectively, we have to do a better job. We have to make the play down the field when we have the opportunity to make the play. We have to hold on to the ball when we are scrambling. Those are things that we will build off of with him, make sure he’s prepared and ready to go. Again, it’s a broken record but it’s hard to win with five turnovers.” — Daboll on message to Dart after his first loss