| The Saints couldn't overcome four turnovers in their 52-27 loss to the Giants on Sunday. (US Presswire) |
Coming of their first top-notch defensive performance of the year, the Saints started fast against the Giants when CB Elbert Mack returned an Eli Manning pass for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. It was all downhill from there.
Giants rookie David Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and the Saints never led again thanks to another rash of turnovers (four) and an epic failure on kickoff coverage. Close for three quarters, the defense finally quit on Wilson’s 52-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Giants humiliated New Orleans 52-27 in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, dealing a major blow to the Saints’ flickering playoff hopes.
Offense: D
It’s nearly impossible to win when you commit four turnovers. Those costly mistakes killed the Saints, who otherwise had good balance and moved up and down the field on the Giants for the better part of three quarters. New Orleans rolled up 487 yards, averaging 5.9 yards on 24 carries and getting 354 yards passing from Drew Brees on a cold, rainy night. But Marques Colston and Jed Collins fumbled after receptions on consecutive first-quarter possessions --the first lost fumbles on the road for the Saints all year -- leading to an early deficit, and Brees threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter. One hit tight end Jimmy Graham in the hands in traffic. On the other one, Graham appeared to be open down the middle, but he never saw safety Stevie Brown cut in front of him and did not make a play on the ball. The 11 turnovers in the past three games sank the Saints’ season, but one other play against the Giants deserves mention. With New Orleans threatening to go ahead 17-14 in the second quarter and facing a third-and-1 at the New York 6, LT Jermon Bushrod blocked no one as the lead blocker on a pitch to Darren Sproles, who was stuffed for a loss. The Saints settled for a field goal and never came close to leading again. Last week’s grade: B
Defense: D
Put in an impossible situation by the Giants’ repeated long kickoff returns and the turnovers -- New York started seven possessions in New Orleans territory, including four from the 35 or closer -- the defense controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the first half before giving up a pivotal touchdown in a two-minute drill. Nothing worked in the second half, as the Giants continued to work with a short field. New York scored touchdowns on all of its possessions in the red zone, and that had been one of the few areas in which New Orleans excelled. Despite the high point total, this probably would have been a “C” grade if the defense had not quit on the Giants’ final touchdown, giving Wilson more than half of his 100 rushing yards on an absurdly easy 52-yard score. Before then, the Giants were averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry. Mack’s pick-6 was a nice read of an in route, and Isa Abdul-Quddus had a second interception of Eli Manning in the second half. LB Curtis Lofton and backup CB Johnny Patrick were beaten badly for scores. Last week’s grade: D-
Special Teams: F
The inexplicable collapse on kickoff coverage was unprecedented, as both teams set franchise records for return yards and return yards allowed. Wilson ran the opening kickoff back 58 yards, the second kickoff back for a touchdown and the third kickoff back 52 yards. Then, after Thomas Morstead started pooching kicks, Jerrel Jernigan returned one 60 yards after the Saints closed to within 35-27 in the third quarter. And these weren’t spectacular individual efforts. Almost all of them were right up the middle with Saints players unable to get off blocks like a high school mismatch. Before Sunday, New Orleans had not given up a kickoff return of longer than 38 yards. Morstead, a touchback machine normally, struggled in the nasty conditions, getting only one touchback. Nothing else on special teams mattered. Can we give an F-minus? Last week’s grade: B+
Coaching: F
Give interim coach Joe Vitt credit for ripping the Saints after the game and correctly diagnosing a lack of confidence instead of coming up with a bunch of platitudes. For whatever reason, the players weren’t mentally there enough in a game that could have saved the season. The kick coverage was mind-boggling, and though Vitt denied it Monday, it was a sign of a lack of effort or least a lack of focus. Usually when a team outgains its opponent by 93 yards, it doesn’t lose by 25 points. Physically, the Saints competed well, but from the first-quarter fumbles to the fourth-quarter interceptions, they didn’t have their heads in the game. That’s on the coaches. Last week’s grade: C-
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.