The New Orleans Saints pulled off a dramatic road win against the New York Giants on Sunday, but let’s be real: that ending was way too close for comfort after they led by three touchdowns earlier in the game. Some serious standout performances got them ahead, but then some questionable coaching calls let the Giants right back into it, turning a potential blowout into a nail-biter.
Kamara’s Still Got It, Emerson Came Out of Nowhere
On the bright side, Alvin Kamara looked like his 2018 self out there, absolutely everywhere. He was making plays as a receiver, including a sweet 31-yard touchdown reception. He ran with power, and even chipped in as a blocker. This guy was doing everything possible to keep his team in the game. He aggravated a back injury he’s been battling for two weeks after diving for an overthrown ball, but he popped right back into action like it was nothing. That touchdown catch put him at 90 career scores and punched his ticket into the exclusive club of players with 5,000-plus yards both rushing and receiving. What a legend.
Then there’s Martin Emerson Jr., who had the game of his life. He snagged interceptions off both Giants quarterbacks and only gave up four receptions for 38 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. The craziest part? He wouldn’t have even started if Kool-Aid McKinstry hadn’t suffered migraines before the game. Emerson was targeted ten times in coverage, yet he only allowed a single first down conversion. Talk about making the most of an opportunity.
The Coaching Calls That Almost Blew It All
Now, for the head-scratchers. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley seriously overthought this game. He repeatedly dropped some of his best pass rushers into coverage, leading to crazy mismatches like Cameron Jordan trying to cover Giants superstar wideout Malik Nabers. His game calls got real bad once J.J. McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston at quarterback for New York. Staley’s defense allowed the Giants to score two quick touchdowns in the fourth quarter, forcing his offensive starters back onto the field after they’d initially been pulled. We’ve cut Staley some slack before for having to deal with rough personnel and key injuries, but this was his work at its absolute worst.
But wait, there’s more. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore also deserves a share of the blame. Pulling starters like Tyler Shough, Erik McCoy, and fill-in left tackle Asim Richards after going up 34-10 wasn’t the problem itself. The problem was doing it with more than ten minutes left in regulation! Moore should’ve given them more time to bleed the clock and ensure the Giants didn’t have enough time for a comeback. Instead, a rookie running back fumbled at midfield, leading to a quick Giants touchdown. Then, when the starters had to rush back out there, they went three-and-out in just over a minute. New York then took even less time to fly downfield and score a second touchdown. Moore did not manage this game well at all. It’s clear he’s not used to working with a lead, and you’ve gotta hope this was a huge learning experience for him. Also, how many games does he need to watch Richards get absolutely owned one-on-one before he gives the guy some help? Richards isn’t Kelvin Banks Jr., and Moore needs to stop treating him like he is, expecting him to contain top-five draft picks like Abdul Carter on an island. What’s the point of dressing out four tight ends if you’re not gonna park one next to Richards to consistently help him out? Richards was flagged for back-to-back holding fouls early on because this isn’t a job he can execute alone. Whether it’s stubbornness or ignorance, Moore is sabotaging his player by putting him in that impossible position.
So, yeah, the Saints got the W, but it came with a side of serious coaching questions. You gotta wonder what lessons were really learned after nearly throwing away a game they had locked up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply