Giants finally win one on last play
N.Y. beat odds with win in Saints’ home debut
The NFL has produced surprises on a weekly basis and none might have been as big as the New York Giants rallying and beating the New Orleans Saints in overtime.
Forget that the 27-21 decision gave the Giants their first win in four games. It was how they did it and the circumstances surrounding the game.
Joe Judge’s team was coming off two straight last-play losses against Washington and Atlanta. It was playing with two of its top receivers sidelined with injuries and a new left guard.
The biggest obstacle might have been New York was in New Orleans for the Saints’ first home game this season. Hurricane Ida had displaced the team for weeks.
Wrong. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley rallied the Giants from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Graham Gano, who earlier saw his streak of 37 straight made field goals snapped, kicked a game-tying 48-yard field goal and Barkley won it in overtime with a 6-yard run.
“We have a special group,” Barkley said. “I say it every week and it’s not really easy to believe me after a loss. But I think that locker room is starting to believe in each other and see what we have.”
Still, the Giants need to take the next step. They have to follow up their unexpected win with another one in a game few expect them to win. They are heading to Dallas next weekend to face the NFC East-leading Cowboys, who have won three in a row after losing their opener to the Super Bowl champion Bucs.
It’s not going to be easy. Dak Prescott has returned from the broken right ankle he sustained against the Giants around this time last season and is playing well. Of greater note, Dallas’ defense seems vastly improved.
What’s working
Jones and Barkley. The thirdyear quarterback had a careerbest 402 yards passing and two touchdowns. The net passing yards is the ninth-highest total in franchise history. Barkley had his most successful game since tearing his ACL in the second game of last season. He had 13 carries for 52 yards and a gamewinning 6-yard TD run in overtime. He also caught five passes for 74 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown.