Giants, Saints meet with focus on quarterbacks

NEW ORLEANS — The dichotomy between the quarterback situations of the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints is as stark as it is unusual.

New York is going gaga over undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito, whose opportunistic play and inclination to lean in to his Italian heritage have transformed him from a relative unknown into a charismatic and galvanizing force on a Giants squad that has surprisingly won three straight.

“I appreciate the support from everybody,” DeVito said. “I’m just trying to continue to be me. I’m going to let my personality show. That’s it.”

The Superdome, meanwhile, has sounded like boo-bird central when $150 million free-agent acquisition Derek Carr has taken the field with the Saints' oftsputtering offense recently.

“That’s the way they can show their frustration," Carr said, adding that he understood the fans' sentiments. "All of our expectations were so high, and our expectations still should be high.”

When New Orleans (6-7) hosts the Giants (5-8) on Sunday, the young QB affectionately known as “Tommy Cutlets” will try to add another chapter to his storybook rise in the Big Apple. Carr, by contrast, will look to change the narrative surrounding his frustrating first season in the Big Easy.

“Everything is still in front of us," said Carr, who was part of a 2021 Raiders team that rallied to make the playoffs at 10-7 after starting 6-7. “I keep staying this: This is the time to do it. This is the time to get hot, right now.”

Neither team has had a good season. Yet either could realistically wind up in the postseason.

The Saints are in a threeway tie for first place in the anemic NFC South. And the fact that 6-7 Green Bay entered Week 15 tenuously holding the final NFC wildcard spot means both New York and New Orleans remain in contention for that as well.

But neither team has much margin for error, giving their matchup a highstakes vibe.

“Every game is amplified just because we are on that fringe and we have the potential to be in the hunt,” Giants linebacker Micah McFadden said.

“From here on out, because we have earned this situation, every week is a playoff game,” Carr said. “I know both sides are feeling that."

Digging DeVito

As much as the Saints would rather not see DeVito maintain his mojo this week, they appreciate the stir the New Jersey native's early success has caused in New York.

“He's done a really good job operating their offense and creating a spark,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said. “They're obviously rallying around him. It's a good story for them in terms of a hometown kid who's come in as an undrafted free agent . ... He's stepped up and taken advantage of his opportunity and is playing well.”

TE Waller activated

New York activated tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve and waived veteran safety Bobby McCain. Waller practiced this week for the first time since injuring a hamstring and missing five games. His 36 receptions still rank second on the Giants.