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SAINTS SLAY GIANTS 48-27 IN THE DOME | LakeArthurToday.com | Lake Arthur Sun Times | Lake Arthur, La.

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SAINTS SLAY GIANTS 48-27 IN THE DOME

New Orleans offense virtually unstoppable, defense shakes up Manning and New York


By Mike Rizzuto, Sun Times Editor

In a day when Saints played like giants, and Giants played...well not like saints, nor anything like giants, the Black and Gold of New Orleans made a fair claim to supremacy as the best team in the National Football League by walloping the Blue and White of New York by a score of 48-27 in a “statement game” in the New Orleans Superdome Sunday afternoon.

New Orleans pounced early in the NFL’s most highly anticipated matchup of the weekend, as Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees, mixing passes with runs magnificently, led a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 7:41 off the clock and was culminated by a fourth down, two yard leap into Giant pay dirt by running back Mike Bell. John Carney added the PAT kick and the Saints were out in front 7-0.

Moments later, New Orleans had the ball again at their own 20 after stopping New York on downs and just 19 yards.

Brees completed six consecutive passes against the reeling, confused Giant defense for 80 yards to get to the promised land again, as ex-Giant Jeremy Shockey punctuated the drive with a one-yard reception in the right corner of the end zone for the score.

The key completion that preceded the score was a 29-yard toss by Brees to Marcus Colston that was initially ruled a touchdown and overruled by replay. It was then spotted at the one just in time for Shockey’s heroic reception.

New York was able to dent the scoreboard on their next drive, but was limited to just three points on a 49-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal that cut the lead to 14-3.

New Orleans came back with a vengeance in the second period, driving the ball via the rush deep into New York territory. Brees then found receiver Robert Meachem on a 36-yard post route for a score, as Saints’ fans went wild. The PAT kick was blocked but the Saints led 20-3.

Giant quarterback and New Orleans native Eli Manning led his team to their first touchdown on a Ahmad Bradshaw 10-yard scamper moments later to cut the lead to 20-10, but it came fortunate of a penalty for roughing the passer that negated an interception and apparent score by Saints’ safety Darren Sharper.

But Brees would take little time in leading his team on a five play, 61-yard drive that saw receiver Lance Moore hauling in a 12-yard pass for the score. The PAT kick was true, as New Orleans increased their lead to 27-10 with 7:41 left in the half.

Manning countered that with a four play, 37-yard drive which ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham with 5:04 left and, after the PAT kick, cut the margin to 27-17.

New Orleans stormed back in this frenzied track meet, hitting Colston on a pair of passes for 60 yards and a first and goal at the Giant eight. But the Giants held twice from the one, stopping Bell twice, to keep the score at 27-17.

New York did not handle prosperity long on the ensuing drive, as, after a 15-yard penalty on the Saints and one pass completion to the Giant 34, Manning was sacked and fumbled, with New Orleans linebacker Scott Shanlee recovering and running to the Giant seven.

Reggie Bush then delighted the crowd with a seven-yard scamper around left end on second down for a New Orleans’ touchdown, as the Saints took a commanding 34-17 lead with the PAT tacked on with 10 seconds left in the half.

New Orleans racked up 315 total yards of offense in that wild first half, while the Giants tallied just 115.

Things would get worse for the visitors in the third period, as the Saints drove 71 yards in nine plays for another touchdown as Brees found Colston again on a short slant for the score with 9:21 left. Carney kicked the PAT and New Orleans led 41-17. It was the only score of the period for either team.

In the fourth and final stanza, the Giants added a 37-yard field goal from Tynes and a 37-yard David Carr to Hakeen Nicks scoring toss, but the Saints would counter with a two-yard blast by fullback Heath Evans with 7:04 left to ultimately give New Orleans the huge 48-27 victory.

Brees connected on 23 of 30 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns for the Saints without tossing a single interception on the evening.

Colston led the Saints in receiving, catching eight passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, while teammates Lance Moore and Robert Meachem added six and two catches for 78 and 70 yards respectively.
Pierre Thomas was the leading rusher for New Orleans with 78 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown.

The Saints had 502 yards of total offense on this day against what was judged to be one of the best defenses the NFL had to offer.

Manning was held to just 14 of 31 for 178 yards (one interception, one fumble) by the brilliant New Orleans defensive unit of coach Gregg Williams, which should finally get some notice from the national press covering the widely-watched contest.

With the loss, the previously unbeaten Giants fell to 5-1 on the season, while the Saints remained unbeaten with an impressive 5-0 mark, proving to many across the nation that they may be the very best team in the league, which is pure music to the ears of everyone supporting “Who Dat Nation” in the Crescent City these days.

SAINTS SLAY GIANTS 48-27 IN THE DOME | LakeArthurToday.com | Lake Arthur Sun Times | Lake Arthur, La.

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