Week 16 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 30, New York Giants 7

What you need to know

New Orleans Saints

RB Reggie Bush started the game for the Saints and saw an unusually heavy dose of carries through the first three quarters. He ran with tremendous burst and elusiveness, but also flashed the ability to lower his shoulders and power forward. RB Deuce McAllister also got his share of carries, but ten of those touches came well after Bush had already done the majority of damage to the Giants. The Saints were content to let Bush rest on the sidelines while McAllister was pounded into the line burning up the clock with a 23 point lead.

WR Marcus Colston was easily the first look for QB Drew Brees while the Saints were still throwing the ball. Colston showed no adverse effects from his previous ankle injury. All nine of Colston’s targets came in the first half before New Orleans turned the game into a 23 point blowout.

QB Drew Brees threw the ball well in the first half, but suffered multiple drops by his receivers. He could have easily thrown three touchdowns in the game if WR Devery Henderson hadn’t dropped a deep ball early and WR Terrance Copper wasn’t knocked out at the two yard line after a 40 yard completion. The Saints opted to utilize their running game in the second half of this game resulting in a 23 point blowout. Brees only attempted five passes in the second half.

New York Giants

QB Eli Manning struggled with his accuracy and didn’t look comfortable in the pocket. Down by only six points at halftime Manning was only able to complete one pass in the entire second half. New Orleans dominated time off possession in the game by more than a 2:1 ratio using their running game to control the clock. The Giants offense managed only six first downs.

RB Tiki Barber ran well when he got his carries, but the game situation and lack of help from the Giant passing game limited his touches. He looked quick and hit the hole with authority each play. After the game Barber showed little to no emotion when asked about this being his final home game in New York. He appears to be quite content to move on after the season and be done with football.

WR Plaxico Burress responded with a huge catch and great run to start the game and give New York an early lead, but he disappeared through the rest of the game not making another reception. Similarly TE Jeremy Shockey was a non-factor even though he led Giant receivers with seven targets.

What you ought to know

QB Drew Brees, Pass: 13 - 32 - 132 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - -1 - 0

Brees didn’t get the chance to post monster numbers in this game because the Giants had such a hard time stopping the run. Brees had a chance to move the ball with this arm during the first quarter, but as soon as the Saints coaching staff realized they didn’t have to throw Brees was relegated to handing off. Brees did miss out on a big play because of a terrible drop by WR Devery Henderson. Brees hit Henderson streaking down the center of the field with a beautiful pass that could have easily been a long touchdown, but Henderson had the ball bounce off his hands. Brees only attempted five passes during the second half, but did complete a 40 yard ball to WR Terrance Copper on a rollout to the right side. Copper got open behind the defense on a blown coverage and nearly scored getting pushed out at the two yard line. His touchdown pass to WR Marcus Colston in the second quarter on fourth down from the two yard line was a perfect throw on Colston’s back shoulder where only he could make a play on the ball.

RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 27 - 108 - 1, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

McAllister did not start the game, but replaced rookie RB Reggie Bush on the second New Orleans series after they got the ball back due to a muffed punt in the red zone. McAllister got two touches out of three plays, but the Saints were unable to capitalize on the turnover and had to settle for a Carney field goal. At the end of the Colston touchdown drive McAllister got two short carries at the goal line. He split carries with Bush though the third quarter and powered in for a nine yard touchdown that turned the game into a blowout. McAllister got all the touches on the final three New Orleans possessions as the Saints tried to wind down the clock with the run.

RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 20 - 126 - 1, Rec: 2 - 23 - 0 (7 targets)

Bush started the game in the backfield on the first play, but split out wide to the left leaving an empty backfield. Bush also got the first carry on a pitch to the left, but tried to cut it back to the right when bottled up for a one yard loss. The Saints continued to use Bush more effectively as a receiver. At the end of the first quarter Bush pulled in a deep pass down the left sideline, but it was overturned as an incompletion after review. He was bobbling the ball in his hands before stepping out of bounds. Midway through the second quarter Bush started to flash the speed and power that made him the number two pick in the draft. He ripped off runs of 17, 7, 7, 10, and 10 yards during the drive that was capped by the Colston touchdown. When the Saints neared the goal line Bush was pulled for RB Deuce McAllister (two short carries). Bush split time through the third quarter with McAllister and scored on a four yard end around midway through the third quarter, but sat for most of the fourth quarter while New Orleans opted to grind away at the clock with McAllister.

WR Marques Colston, Rec: 4 - 37 - 1 (9 targets)

Colston pulled in a quick eight yard out in the right flat on the first play from scrimmage for the Saints. His 23 yard deep cross set up a Carney field goal. Just before halftime the Saints had the ball on the goal line with a first down. After two unsuccessful runs by RB Deuce McAllister Colston was targeted on a quick slant, but the pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage. They went right back to him by lobbing a pass into the left flat. Colston went up high to snatch the ball at its highest point twisting his body and landing in the end zone for the touchdown. His only other reception was a short four yard grab just before halftime. He wasn’t targeted at all in the second half because the game had turned into a blowout.

WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 2 - 46 - 0 (5 targets)

Copper saw three targets in the first quarter. The third one converted a fourth and two on the last play of the quarter. He sat down in the middle of zone waiting for QB Drew Brees to scramble away from the pass rush before making the big play. Copper was targeted deep down the center of the field midway through the second quarter, but he got his feet tangled up with the defensive back and fell before the pass arrived. Copper caught the only pass by a New Orleans receiver in the second half. It was a pass down the right sideline on a blown coverage. Copper got behind the defense alone. Brees rolled out to his side and hit him for the 40 yard completion down to the two yard line.

WR Devery Henderson (2 targets)

Henderson’s first target was near the end of the first quarter. He was wide open down the middle of the field behind the defense. QB Drew Brees put the ball on him for what should have been a long touchdown, but had the ball bounce off his hands and to the ground. He saw one other target midway through the third quarter, but the game turned into a blowout. The Saints opted to run out the clock from that point on.

WR Joe Horn

Horn was inactive for this game due to injury.

TE Mark Campbell, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Campbell was a game time decision heading into the game. His first target came near the end of the first quarter on a short out route. The ball hit Campbell square in the body, but he dropped the pass. He was slow to get up and getting attention from trainers on the sidelines immediately after the play. Campbell did catch the final completion of the game by QB Drew Brees that converted a third and three leading to the touchdown by RB Deuce McAllister.

TE Billy Miller (2 targets)

Miller dropped what should have been a first down at the conclusion of the first New Orleans drive on a quick dump going up the center of the field. He was fortunate that the Giants gave the ball right back off of a muffed punt by return specialist Chad Morton.

PK John Carney 3 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 12 points

Carney missed out on a chance to kick a 51 yard attempt. The Saints brought in kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff to attempt the longer kick during the first quarter.

NO Rush Defense

RB Tiki Barber managed 71 yards rushing in the game, but it was only because of the game situation. Had the Giants not abandoned the run and been hampered by an anemic passing attack Barber might have posted great numbers. He consistently posted solid gains on first and second down, but QB Eli Manning wasn’t able to convert the manageable third downs. The New Orleans front seven looked very vulnerable

NO Pass Defense

It is tough to credit the Saints’ defense for the New York ineptitude. QB Eli Manning was terrible after a quick start. He missed open receivers and didn’t look poised in the pocket. The New Orleans pass rush did sack Manning twice during the second half and intercepted a pass, but the Giants shot themselves in the foot in multiple ways with penalties, dropped passes, and general poor play.

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 9 - 25 - 74 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0

Manning was the beneficiary of an early trip by CB Fred Thomas at the start of the game. When Thomas fell to the ground at the line of scrimmage it allowed WR Plaxico Burress to sprint alone down the left sideline. Manning put the ball on him with a quick dart and Burress did the rest with a great run to get into the end zone. After completing his first six passes it was all down hill. Manning looked uncomfortable in the pocket throwing errant passes all over the place, even when he had time to stand tall and survey the field. He completed only one pass in the entire second half. His late interception was a wobbling overthrown floater behind TE Jeremy Shockey.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 16 - 71 - 0, Rec: 3 - 12 - 0 (4 targets)

Barber ran well throughout the game averaging more than four yards per carry. He showed his normal burst and ability to make tacklers miss, but didn’t get much of a chance to get into the flow. The Saints controlled the clock with their running game keeping the New York offense on the sidelines. Making matters worse QB Eli Manning was unable to convert third downs and move the Giant offense with his arm. Following the game at his press conference Barber was asked about his feelings with regard to this being his last game in New York. He showed little to no emotion calmly saying that it had no special significance to him and that he didn’t think it was a big deal.

RB Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs was listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but was still active at the start of the game. He never saw the field

WR Tim Carter, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (3 targets)

Carter converted a third and ten on his first target pulling in a short pass on a crossing route. However, the refs gave him an incredible spot on the play. New Orleans challenged the spot and won forcing the Giants into a fourth down punt. Carter saw two other targets in the game, but couldn’t connect with QB Eli Manning.

WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 1 - 55 - 1 (3 targets)

Burress got semi-lucky when CB Fred Thomas fell down near the line of scrimmage at the end of the first Giants possession. Burress was able to streak down the left sideline alone. After pulling in the pass from QB Eli Manning Burress did a good job of picking up extra yards and getting into the end zone with a solid stiff-arm and dive at the end of the play. This was his only reception in the game. His only other two other targets came at the start of the third quarter when the Giants went three and out.

WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 1 - 0 - 0 (3 targets)

Moss saw his first target near the end of the first quarter. The Giants tried to set up a quick wide receiver screen for him in the right flat to let him use his moves in the open field, but the Saints sniffed it out quickly and it went for no gain.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 2 - -3 - 0 (7 targets)

Shockey saw his first target on the first play of the second Giants series. They set up a tight end screen for him, but he was caught deep in the backfield for a seven yard loss. QB Eli Manning looked to Shockey more than any other receiver in the game, but they couldn’t connect as Manning was off target on most of his throws. However, just before halftime Shockey had a ball hit him square in the hands on a fourth and two play, but dropped the pass in the right flat killing the drive. Shockey was the target of Manning’s interception at the end of the game. He was open for a moment running a deep out on the left sideline, but the pass from Manning was late, overthrown, and behind him.

PK Jay Feely 0 - 0 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 1 points

There was nothing of significance to report from the New York kicking game.

NYG Rush Defense

New York allowed both RB Reggie Bush and RB Deuce McAllister to crack the 100 yard mark. New Orleans was able to control the clock (40:34 in time of possession) keeping the Giant offense on the sidelines. The Saints dominated at the point of attack opening big holes for both Bush and McAllister, but even when holes didn’t automatically present themselves the Giants weren’t able to keep Saint running backs from plowing ahead for positive yardage.

NYG Pass Defense

The Giants’ pass rush was unable put consistent pressure on QB Drew Brees. DE Osi Umenyiora recorded the only sack for New York. Their inability to stop the run put them on their heels making it difficult to attack Brees when he did drop back to pass. The Saints attempted 32 passes while the running back duo of Bush and McAllister toted the ball for a total of 47 carries.