SmashMouth

It wasn't the prettiest performance by the Saints but once again they found a way to win. At this point of the season, the Saints are far from dominant but there's something to be said about a team that continues find ways to win. Last week they won a shootout. This week they won with defense and a powerful rushing attack. At 3-1, they now find themselves alone in first place in the NFC South and still haven't come close to playing their best football yet. All things considered, this team has to like where it's at after starting the season with that ugly loss to Tampa Bay.



Defense dominates after shaky start
It was an ominous start for the Saints defense. The Giants marched 75 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown on their opening drive and made it look easy in doing it. Eli Manning completed 6 of 7 passes for 42 yards in the series, capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard. From there, the Saints defense dug in and kept the Giants out of the end zone for the rest of the game. The Giants managed to gain just four first downs and 42 total yards in their next five series as the Saints seized control of the game. Linebacker Demario Davis led the effort with game highs of 11 tackles and two sacks.

Alvin Kamara enjoys career day
The second-year running back had a remarkable second half, rushing for 102 of his career-high 134 yards and scoring all three of the Saints' touchdowns. The Saints needed Kamara to come up big as they held off the Giants and iced the game with a dominant rushing effort. The 173-yard rushing effort marked a season high and something to build on as Mark Ingram returns from suspension next week.

Wil Lutz enjoyed a perfect afternoon
Wil Lutz was the Saints’ best player in the first half. The third-year place kicker drilled field goals of 42, 34, 37 and 22 yards in the first half to account for all 12 of the Saints' points before intermission.
Lutz was actually 6 for 6 because he was forced to re-kick a couple of field goals after one of his attempts was nullified by a holding penalty and another was ruled to have been booted after the play clocked expired in the first quarter.
Lutz has quietly put together a strong start to the season. The Saints' kicking game has never been better .

read more on NOLA

Attached Thumbnails