Category: Latest Saints News

Saints vs. Giants recap: Everything we know about 27-21 loss

New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants recap: Everything we know about 27-21 loss

That’s painful. The New Orleans Saints lost their first game back in the packed Caesars Superdome in more than 600 days by playing not to lose instead of going for a win in the fourth quarter, allowing the winless New York Giants to walk into their building and outcoach and outplay Sean Payton’s team. Here’s everything we know about Week 4’s disappointing game:

Saints vs. Giants: How to watch, listen, stream and wager on the Week 4 game

Saints vs. Giants: How to watch, listen, stream and wager on the Week 4 game

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Finally. We’re finally back — tens of thousands of New Orleans Saints fans are headed for the Caesars Superdome to pack the house for the first time in what feels like ten years, with a winless New York Giants team reluctantly stepping up to challenge them. Here’s everything you need to know so you can catch the game.

New York Giants (0-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-1)

When: Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET/Noon CT

Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Referee: Brad Rogers

The game will be broadcast regionally on FOX affiliates, with Jonathan Vilma and Kenny Albert in the booth and Sara Walsh reporting from the sideline. If you live in one of these blue areas, you’ll get the game:

Other options for keeping up with the game:

Betting lines are from Tipico Sports via Sportsbook Wire

  • Money line: Giants +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Saints -380 (bet $380 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Giants +7.5 (-115) | Saints -7.5 (-107)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 41.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Can the Giants snap the Saints’ 15-game October win streak?

Saints vs. Giants: Will Sean Payton’s 15-game October win streak end?

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No, probably not. October has been better for the New Orleans Saints than any other month since Sean Payton took over in 2006; his teams have gone 41-13 in the second month of the NFL regular season, winning 15 consecutive games. They haven’t lost in October since 2016’s road game with the Kansas City Chiefs, and they haven’t lost at home in October since the Cleveland Browns upset them way back in 2010.

So why are Payton’s teams so successful here? Maybe he’s just a big fan of the month and all it brings: pumpkin spice lattes, bonfires, wool socks and sweaters, apple picking, and of course Halloween. Could all those seasonal festivities energize him?

Again, probably not. The more realistic explanation comes from what this month represents on the NFL calendar. Teams typically stumble out of the gate in September, taking a few weeks to find their bearings and sort out the playbook, and for coaches to find what their players really do well. You can only learn so much from training camp competition between your own players and a handful of snaps in preseason games when neither side is truly trying to win.

And this is when Payton shines. After getting three or four games of tape behind him, he’s got a good idea of what works and what doesn’t, and that’s reflected in his team’s winning percentage. They’ve improved from a 27-27 tally in September (precisely .500) to a 41-13 record in October (clocking in at .759).

Sure, things tend to settle down later in the season. Opponents catch up to what Payton has changed and how his team is working. The level of competition increases as the schedule moves into November and December. The stakes climb higher with playoff seeding on the line. Sometimes Payton’s teams rise to the occasion. Sometimes they’ve faltered.

We’ll see where they go in 2021, but it’s a good bet that this 0-3 Giants team won’t find their first win of the season in New Orleans.

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10 burning questions for Saints vs. Giants in Week 4

We teamed up with Giants Wire to explore 10 burning questions for this week’s Saints game:

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The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants are preparing for what looks like a lopsided matchup, but the G-Men could make it exciting if they take advantage of some Saints vulnerabilities. To get the best analysis, I went behind enemy lines to swap questions and answers with Giants Wire’s Dan Benton. Here’s what we learned:

Saints choose their most-common uniform combo for Week 4 vs. Giants

Saints choose their most-common uniform combo for Week 4 vs. Giants:

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Here’s your Sunday dress code: the New Orleans Saints announced Friday that they will be pairing their black home jerseys with matching black pants in their upcoming matchup with the New York Giants. It’s the first time we’ve gotten a look at this specific uniform combination this season, but it’s the most popular combo the Saints have used in the Sean Payton era (76 games, including the playoffs).

However, it’s also been worn for their most losses (30) dating back to 2006. The good news is that the Saints have lost just five games in black-on-black since 2019, so they’ve got some good luck attached.

For the curious, here is how each uniform combo ranks by winning percentage since Payton was hired in ’06:

  1. White jerseys, white pants: 7-2 (.778)
  2. “Color Rush” alternates: 8-3 (.727)
  3. “Black and Gold” throwbacks: 2-1 (.667)
  4. Black jerseys, gold pants: 23-14 (.622)
  5. White jerseys, black pants: 41-25 (.621)
  6. Black jerseys, black pants: 46-30 (.605)
  7. White jerseys, gold pants: 33-24 (.578)

NFL Pickwatch: 99% of experts like Saints to win Week 4

NFL Pickwatch: 99% of experts like Saints to win Week 4

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How’s that for a vote of confidence? Only 1% of the football experts and analysts polled by NFL Pickwatch are being contrarians and picking the New York Giants to upset the New Orleans Saints in Week 4. Let’s thank them for avoiding the dreaded unanimous-picks curse that just might jinx an easy win.

Still, the Saints shouldn’t sleep on the Giants. Even though they’re 0-3. Even though their coaching staff is engaging in self-sabotage by playing against their roster’s strengths. The NFL is a league where any team can win on any given Sunday, and we’ve seen the Saints botch situations like this before (I’ll be mad about that 2019 Falcons loss after the bye week forever).

Funnily enough, the Saints have only won games they’ve been picked against this year. Two-thirds of the NFL experts liked the Patriots to win last week. An overwhelming 91% majority picked the Packers in the season opener. The only Saints loss this year has come in Week 2, when 87% of experts picked against the Panthers. Let’s hope the Saints break that trend.

Demario Davis missed Saints practice for the birth of his daughter

Demario Davis missed Saints practice for the birth of his daughter

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Good news, everyone: Amie Just of the Times-Picayune | Advocate reported Thursday afternoon that Demario Davis had a very good reason for missing the day’s New Orleans Saints practice session — joining his wife Tamela for the birth of their daughter, Stormie-Love. She is the couple’s fifth child.

It’s great to see Davis and his family are doing well, and it’s a safe bet that the All-Pro linebacker will be looking to dedicate his performance in the Saints’ upcoming home game with the New York Giants to their new addition. Good for them.

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Reports outline Gayle Benson’s Saints ownership succession plan

Reports outline Gayle Benson’s Saints ownership succession plan

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The Times-Picayune | Advocate and WVUE-TV reported the first installment in a three-chapter series on the future of the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, the details of which were confirmed by ESPN’s Mike Triplett.

Here’s the gist of it: Benson, 74, has no heirs and intends for the Saints to be sold upon her passing to a buyer who is contractually-bound to keep the team in New Orleans, and for the proceeds to be donated to charities throughout the city. Saints president Dennis Lauscha will serve as the executor of her estate (and, if he is no longer around, for team executives Mickey Loomis and Greg Bensel to see to it).

That would create an influx of potentially several billions of dollars — the latest estimates value the team at more than $2.5 billion — to the New Orleans community, distributed over the years and committed to serving those who need it. Additionally, the Superdome recently inked a long-term naming-rights deal with Caesars Entertainment, which includes options to extend the arrangement another ten to twenty years, further raising the Saints’ valuation. There are still many details to be worked out, but it’s good to know that money would be put to good use.

The future of the Saints has been a topic of curiosity and anxiety ever since longtime owner Tom Benson died in 2018; now, we know there’s a plan in place to keep the team where it belongs and directly benefit the fans and community that have made it so special.

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Pro Football Focus: Saints’ Marshon Lattimore is NFL’s No. 1 cornerback

Pro Football Focus: Saints’ Marshon Lattimore is NFL’s No. 1 cornerback

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Marshon Lattimore isn’t resting on his laurels, or the record-setting contract extension he signed going into the season opener. The New Orleans Saints cornerback is the highest-graded player at his position from Pro Football Focus, earning an 88.0 overall defensive grade.

His grades for run defense (78.3) and tackling (84.2) are each ranked tenth-best among the league’s corners, while his coverage grade (87.1) ties Dallas Cowboys sensation Trevon Diggs for the No. 1 spot. Lattimore is also tied with a few others for the fourth-most passes broken up (3) and sixth for incompletions forced by tight coverage (3).

That’s impressive even before you consider Lattimore missed Week 2’s game with the Carolina Panthers while recovering from thumb surgery, and that he played against the New England Patriots a week later with a cast covering his hand — which didn’t keep him from icing the game with an interception in its final seconds.

Lattimore’s biggest problem in the NFL has been consistency. He’d bring incredible intensity to a matchup with Mike Evans before getting dusted by Allen Lazard the next game. But now it looks like he’s flipped a switch and is completely dialed in on shutting down every opponent who lines up against him, not just those that have the skills to challenge him. He’s grown up and hit his stride at the perfect time.

And the Saints are reaping the benefits. New Orleans’ pass defense is tied for the fifth-fewest touchdown passes allowed (3) while matching Dallas for the league lead in interceptions (6) and ceding 1.8 fewer net yards per pass attempt than the Cowboys. Lattimore’s secondary is dominating their opponents.

This couldn’t be happening at a better time. Having Lattimore under contract through 2026 in the prime of his career (he just turned 25 in May) as the tip of the spear for a defense ushering in the post-Drew Brees era will do so much to sustain success for the Saints. Whether Jameis Winston is the answer or not at quarterback doesn’t matter too much right now in September. So long as the defense keeps playing well, the Saints have time to continue evaluating Winston and all their other options.

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NFL Week 4 broadcast maps: Jonathan Vilma calling Saints-Giants game

Jonathan Vilma to call Saints-Giants game; will your market carry the broadcast?

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Good news, Saints fans: Jonathan Vilma has been assigned to cover Week 4’s game between the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants for FOX Sports, putting a fan-favorite former player on the call from the booth. Kenny Albert will join Vilma in the booth with Sara Walsh reporting from the field at the Caesars Superdome.

Vilma’s done this before. Last year, he offered commentary with Albert’s play-by-play calls in the Saints’ road game with the Detroit Lions. He later lent his voice to narrate a hype video for New Orleans’ playoff push, and remains tight to the team. He should have some solid analysis to add to the broadcast.

Now the bad news. Only a couple of television markets across the country will be tuning in to the noon kickoff, as shown in blue on this map from 506sports.com:

As for the other games being shown on FOX:

  • Red: Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys (early)
  • Orange: Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons (early)
  • Cyan: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (early)
  • Green: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (late)
  • Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (late)

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