This past Sunday at the Caesar’s Superdome, the New Orleans Saints were upset in overtime by the New York Giants by a score of 27-21, sending the usually fervent Big Easy fandom home dispirited after their first home game since Hurricane Ida and first full capacity game since their wild-card matchup against the Minnesota Vikings back in 2019. 

Trading punts throughout the first quarter, the contest was off to a slow start until both teams missed a field goal in the beginning of the second quarter. Immediately following a missed wide right 56-yard field goal by Saints kicker — and former Giant — Aldrick Rosas, Big Blue drew first blood when speedster John Ross hauled in a 52-yard touchdown bomb.

The Saints responded with a methodical 13-play drive, topped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Juwan Johnson. This left quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants with just 23 seconds left on the clock, at which point Jones threw a meaningless interception on a hail mary to safety Marcus Williams to end the half.

The Black and Gold started off the second half with a hot hand, led by the running of utility player Taysom Hill, who found the end zone twice on a pair of eight-yard runs. In what seemed like a video game highlight, Hill broke four tackles in his powerful second rushing touchdown. After this offensive flurry, the Saints held a commanding 21-10 lead. 

In between Hill’s two touchdowns, the Giants caught a lucky break. Saints quarterback Jameis Winston hit Kenny Stills for a 46-yard touchdown pass, but it was negated due to a hold by tight end Adam Trautman. The next play, Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry intercepted a pass intended for Deonte Harris. 

Undeterred, the Giants then scored 11 unanswered points to tie the game at 21 and send it into overtime. These points included a one play, 54-yard drive in which running back Saquon Barkley burned three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore off the line of scrimmage for an easy touchdown catch.

After a comical — and profane — coin toss that gave the Giants the ball first, the Saints did not even have an opportunity to get the ball. In just nine plays, New York drove down the field, with the aforementioned Barkley punching the ball in for a six-yard, six-point score, ending the game with the Giants securing their first win of the season.

The brilliant play from Jones, in which he set a record for his career-high passing yards in a game with 402, gave the Giants just enough to elevate themselves over the Saints. 

The Saints will look to bounce back next week in FedEx Field, as they take on the 2-2 Washington Football Team.  Last week, Washington defeated the Atlanta Falcons late in the fourth quarter 34-30.