Final: Saints 26, Giants 14 (Oct. 5, Superdome)

Context & milestones

First wins for Kellen Moore (HC) and Spencer Rattler (ends 0–10 start).

Rashid Shaheed: 87-yard TD at 22.72 mph — fastest top speed in the NFL this season; ties Saints’ longest play since Brees to Cooks (87) in 2016.

Saints became the first NFL team since 2016 to force turnovers on five straight possessions; first time New Orleans has done it since 1991.

How it flipped

Down 14–3 after two poor defensive series.

87-yard Rattler to Shaheed bomb woke up the Dome.

Late 2Q Terrell Burgess erased a flea-flicker (play-of-game, season-turner vibes).

From there: Demario Davis FF (recovered/returned 27 yds by Jonas Sanker) - halftime lead 16–14.

3Q/early 4Q: Cam Jordan falls on a Jaxson Dart drop; Bryan Bresee punches out Cam Skattebo at the 12; Jordan Howden houses it 86 yards (t-2nd longest FR-TD in team history, first FR-TD since Sept. 2023).

Kool-Aid McKinstry finishes it with the first two INTs of his career, plus a late red-zone denial.

Offense

Rattler: 21/31, 225, 99.5; no INTs that counted. Managed the game and hit the haymaker.

Shaheed: 4/114/1 — true field-tilter.

Run game: Kendre Miller 10–41 provided juice, but run blocking still lags.

Red zone: 0-for-3 — sequencing/execution must improve.

Alvin Kamara: 8–27 rush; 4–28 rec; hits 590 career receptions (RBs all-time #5).

Defense

No points allowed after the first two drives.

Werner (11) and Davis (10 + FF) set the tone.

Bresee: textbook red-zone punch-out.

Howden: 86-yard score; clean day.

Sanker: around the ball again — early DROY buzz is warranted.

Kool-Aid: redemption arc — early PI/TE TD against ? 2 INTs + late RZ clamp.

Special teams

Grupe: made 53, 29, 28, 28; missed 52 and 46 and looked gimpy late. At minimum, bring in tryouts.

Kroeger: mostly quiet; one short punt to clean up.

Numbers

Yards: NO 332 (88 rush / 244 pass), 5.4 YPP

3rd down: NO 7/15 (46.7%); NYG 3/10 (30%)

Sacks allowed (NO): 0 vs a front that got to Herbert twice last week

Takeaways: 5 straight possessions (historic marks above)

Big picture

The defense found a takeaway identity and carried the day; the offense finally hit an explosive.

Rattler is the starter for the foreseeable future barring a meltdown.

To stack wins vs Patriots and Bears, the Saints need fixes in two spots: red-zone offense and kicking.

Full article here: LINK