The Giants hope to avoid any weirdness like last week and play a normal football game. Of course, with Jameis Winston under center, that’s a lot easier said than done. However, for the first time in years, the Giants are in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. Last week was strange, with all the drama in the final two minutes of overtime, but they extended their unbeaten streak to three games and their division lead by half a game.
This week they will look to get the better of the Saints, who are coming off an embarrassing performance against the Vikings. But during the offseason, this was one of the season’s most anticipated matchups. It was going to be a battle between the two best quarterbacks from the 2025 draft: Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough. While that storyline is gone, it should still be an entertaining game. Here are three things to watch for.
What Will The Run Game Look Like?
One of the biggest storylines this past week was Cam Skattebo’s play. After he only rushed for 59 yards and almost fumbled the game away, many have questioned if he should remain the unquestioned running back one.
Is he still good enough to lead the Giants’ backfield, or should they give more snaps to other running backs like Najee Harris or Tyrone Tracy? The Giants will have to answer that question soon, since they want to be a run-first team.
This week is the perfect time to experiment and try some things. The Saints have been terrible against the run this season, allowing 148.8 yards per game, the third-worst mark in the league. They are also allowing over five yards per carry. This is the week for the Giants to try a few things.
They can try to get Skattebo going or give Harris and Tracy more of a role. They could also activate Devin Singletary and see what he has left. They also could give JJ McCarthy a set of plays and try to get rushing yards that way.
Can the Giants Stop the Saints’ Run Game?
But the Giants aren’t the only team with questions at running back going into this game. The Saints also have a ton of question marks at running back. With Travis Etienne out, they have turned to Kendre Miller to pick up the slack. Alvin Kamara is also part of the offense, but his role has shrunk as he’s gotten older. Like the Giants, the Saints hope a weak Giants run defense will get their running backs going. The Giants allow 127.6 rushing yards per game, the 8th most in the league.
It is a battle between the stoppable force and the movable object. It’s time for the Giants to step up and show that their offseason moves fixed their run defense. One of the main offseason goals was to improve the Giants’ run defense, which has been a big problem for years. That’s why the team brought in guys like DJ Reader and Shelby Harris. If the Giants want to win this game, they will need these two to step up and make the Saints have another bad day on the ground.
The Depth of the Team Will Be Tested
If Thursday’s injury report is any indication, the Giants will be without many key pieces on Sunday. Guys like Abdul Carter, Jermaine Eluemunor, Colton Hood, Tyler Nubin, and Andrew Thomas have not practiced in the past two days. Sure, Nubin and Hood aren’t full-time starters, but Carter, Eluemunor, and Thomas are major pieces of the team. They could be without both their starting tackles and their star pass rusher. A recipe for disaster on paper.
If these guys can’t go, it will be the biggest test of the Giants’ depth all season. They will need guys like Marcus Mbow and JC Davis to step up and give Jameis Winston time to throw. They will also need Kayvon Thibodeaux to find consistency and start playing like a top-ten pick. Jihad Ward also needs to step up and play the role Carter did this season. It is also possible that Arvell Reese sees some time at the EDGE, but that seems unlikely with the Giants wanting him to learn the inside linebacker position.
