An offensive giants, ready to break, Wilts against the saints

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Given that the opponent was the Saints of New Orleans and that the match was at home, on a crystal clear autumn night, you can forgive the l & # 39; Giant enthusiastic optimists think that it could be Sunday to end what looks more and more like the most unlikely series of the NFL.

For more than two years, the Giants have been bitterly watching teams like the Saints publish stunning offensive statistics every week, consistently exceeding – if not average – a threshold that had been out of their range since the 3rd. January 2016: 30 points.

But the Saints' defense averaged 34.3 points in their first three games, so the potential for another shootout back seemed reasonable on Sunday. With only 6 minutes and 47 seconds left in a lifeless MetLife stadium, the Giants had barely reached double digits and had two points.

Despite some late efforts that reduced New Orleans' lead to 8 points within four minutes of the end, the Giants lost their third loss of the season, 33-18, in a humble way , while Saints fans chanted "Who dat?" the teams played the last moments.

It was a dark end for a week that started with the Giants motivated by the simple fact that they were no longer winless.

"The water has a sweeter taste, the air breathes more pure," said coach Pat Shurmur this week.

At least they had ensured that the story did not repeat itself, having been led from 0 to 5 to start last season. What they could not avoid were the reminders of the offensive futility of former coach Ben McAdoo, who, like Shurmur, arrived as a promising offensive coordinator.

And Shurmur, like McAdoo, might have trouble identifying exactly what holds the team. There are flashes of its irresistible potential. The Giants scored a touchdown in their first game and another impressive mark at the end of the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to 26-18.

But the third and eighth of the 36 Saints, 2:30 of the end, an interfering call on the pass, the corner corner of the Giants, Donte Deayon, offered New Orleans (3-1) a first place in decline. Three games later, Alvin Kamara made a 49-yard pass, his third touchdown of the day, to seal the game.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 255 yards and no interception, Saquon Barkley rushed for a touchdown and Sterling Shepard picked up the 10 assists. But Odell Beckham Jr. (seven catches for 60 yards) was remarkably quiet for most of the game and even left the field shortly before half-time to receive fluids intravenously, the team said.

It had been a strange first half, based on two or three referees, both directed against the Giants.

In the first, Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins was scored with a penalty kick for the Kamara collars, although replays seemed to show that Jenkins' grip was on the shoulder, not on the back of the neck. . The call, however, cost the Giants 15 yards.

Later in the second quarter, Giants receiver Russell Shepard lost a pitfall that was recovered and the Saints Marshon Lattimore returned to the red zone. This game has also been reviewed, confirming the fumble. The only reason Lattimore's 37-yard comeback was not optimized was because of Manning's extraordinary crush, which is not known for his wheels, which pushed Lattimore off the field at 11. .

The Saints did not convert any of these pieces into a touchdown. In fact, the Giants limited the league's fourth offensive to four goals in their first four trips to the red zone and a single conversion in their first eight round of 32 finals.

Nevertheless, they entered the half-flight, 12-7, having scored only for their first possession.

On this road, Manning participated in six of his first seven passes. Barkley did what he usually does: make people miss. Rhett Ellison, replacing injured Evan Engram, found holes in the middle of the defense.

The 75-yard run ended with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard, and the offense seemed about to come to a breakthrough, as arbitrary as it may seem. The 30-point threshold should not matter as long as the Giants win a win, which they did in their 27-22 win over Houston the week before.

This time, however, 30 points loomed on the ceiling like an unbreakable ceiling.