Saints Dominate Undefeated Giants
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10/4/09:The undefeated Saints looked like Super Bowl contenders by bressing past
the New York Giants, 48-27, on Sunday before 70,011 at the Superdome.
"This is a big win," said Saints coach Sean Payton in his postgame discussion. "We did
a great job of pass protection against a significant pass rush. There were a lot of big
individual performances today, but his was really a team win against a previously
unbeaten Giants team."
Saints quarterback Drew Brees was locked in from the start (23-for-30, 369 yards, 4
touchdowns) especially tohis top receiver, Marques Colston (8 catches, 166 yards, 1
TD) and former Giants Jeremy Shockey (4 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD). Brees found
every hole in a Giants defense that entered this game of the unbeaten No. 1 in the
NFL. Payton's game plan created mismatches all over the field.
If the Saints make it to the NFC championship game, they'll be favored because they'll
have a big advantage in one crucial area: coaching.
"We wanted to dictate the tempo of the game the whole way through,: said Brees,
"Seven different guys scored touchdowns. That's big. That's the type of rhythm that,
when you get in, you feel like you can call anything and it's going to work.
"This game was a testament to the preparation we put in during the week leading into
the game. The focus from the entire team was outstanding. The game plans the
coaches put together were terrific and the team was pumped up to to play a game like
this, a measuring stick type of game."
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The Saints defense held the Giants' power running to only 84 yards and allowed New
Orleans native Eli Manning just 178 yards on 14-of-31 passing for a passer rating of
61 in the Giants' first loss of the season. The Saints hold wins over all three New York
teams: Bills, Jets and Giants.
"Our defense was great," said Brees. "They were flying around all day. And, it was a
great job by our fans. They made it tough on the Giants. My hat's off to our fans."
Manning said he was a Saints fan growing up in the Garden District and was in that
number, booing the opponents in the Superdome.
This game wasn't what Manning envisioned as a player in his first game ever in the
Superdome. He committed a costly fumble on a sack that Reggie Bush converted into
a 7-yard touchdown run just before halftime. The Saints' blitzers harassed him into an
uncharacteristic loss of poise.. Eli was observed chewing out Ahmad Bradshaw and
slapping his shoulder pad after the running back continually missed blocking
assignments, including one that led to a drive-ending interception in the third quarter.
"This game isn't what I imagined during the week," said Manning. "But you're going to
encounter all sorts of games and situations. I look at is as a loss. We need to get back
and work on some things, try to improve."
"Of course it's embarrassing," said Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora. "The Saints
are a good team, but they're not THAT good. It's a humbling experience. It's better it
happens now than later."
Does Payton he has a Super Bowl contender?
"I don't think you can talk about the big picture after five games," said Payton. "We're
going to have more big games and we've just go to continue to improve each week. It
was a good win and I'm happy with that, but there's a lot of things we can do better.
We've got a lot of football ahead of us, but we like starting off fast."
The Who Dat Nation believe the victory made their team Super Bowl favorites as if you
can make that designation with 11 weeks remaining in the regular season.
As far as the standings go, the Saints gained little, although if the Saints (5-0) and he
Giants (5-1) finish with the same record,, the Saints get the home field advantage for
the playoffs -- assuming, of course, they both make it.
Next up for the Saints is a 3:15 game on Sunday against the Dolphins.at Miami.
The Saints wear a T-shirt under their uniforms that reads: Super Bowl 44. You can
laugh if you want, but the Saints ain't the AINTS any more.
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