New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints: Full New York Game Preview
In the wake of what has been a positive week for the New York Giants (4-3), they'll head into a hostile environment to face an average New Orleans Saints (3-4) team.
The recently re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul won't be on the field on Sunday, but the Giants still have a shot to win this game due to the regression of Sean Payton's Saints over the years.
A team with a window that is surely coming to a close, the Saints aren't even the home juggernaut they once were, making the crowd at the Superdome that much less of a real factor.
If Eli Manning can have a bounce-back game after a subpar performance last week, the Giants should be able to compete on the road and make this game interesting.
Viewing Info
Date: Sunday, November 1
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
TV: Fox
Week 7 Results and Recap
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We had all seen this script before, with the Giants blowing a lead in the fourth quarter and eventually going on to lose. This time, however, Dwayne Harris had other ideas about the ending to the story.
Harris, the former Cowboy, torched his old team with a 100-yard kickoff return just seconds after Dallas had tied the game at 20, making for an interesting finish in New Jersey.
Rather than collapsing, the Giants stood tall against a badly injured and ailing division rival. Sure, the Cowboys were without their two best players, but a win is a win at the end of the day, as the Giants would hang on for a 27-20 victory.
It wasn't pretty, however, and the Giants know they'll need to put together a more complete game this weekend to win in New Orleans.
News and Notes
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Jason Pierre-Paul Back at Practice
The optimism was radiating from the Giants' practice facility on Wednesday as injured defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul joined his teammates back on the field.
"He's been working, and we'll see how fast this comes along," Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said, per ESPN's Dan Graziano. "He's excited about being here. He's anxious to get started. We're all rooting for him."
Although JPP won't play this Sunday, the team seemed upbeat about his return. It likely won't make a difference against New Orleans, but the Giants are finally getting some good news regarding injuries for the first time in what seems like years.
Pierre-Paul was injured in a fireworks accident on July 4 and lost his right index finger, but the Giants have enough confidence in his health to have signed him for the rest of the season.
Dwayne Harris Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
It's hard to say this was a surprise after Harris' kickoff return gave the Giants a much-needed victory against the Cowboys on Sunday.
With his run, Harris ensured that the Giants tied the season series with Dallas, which is floundering and anxiously awaiting the returns of stars Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.
The Giants are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC East thanks in large part to Harris' splendid 100-yard dash to pay dirt last weekend.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
| Prince Amukamara | CB | Pectoral |
| Jon Beason | LB | Ankle |
| Victor Cruz | WR | Calf |
| Geoff Schwartz | G | Ankle |
| J.T. Thomas | LB | Ankle |
Another week, another injury report designation for Victor Cruz. The oft-injured wideout has yet to suit up this season, and his playing status is now on a week-to-week, "hold your breath" basis.
The same holds true for linebacker Jon Beason, who carried a lengthy injury history into the meeting when he signed his contract in the middle of last season.
The big surprise here is Prince Amukamara, who didn't practice on Wednesday, according to Giants.com. The Saints aren't the aerial monsters that they were a few years ago, but their young receivers led by Brandin Cooks can stretch the field and beat the Giants deep if Amukamara can't go on Sunday.
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Key Matchups
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Giants Defense vs. Mark Ingram
In an interesting shift of schemes, the Saints are now most dangerous on the ground after years of making teams pay through the air.
Mark Ingram, whose 450 yards rank No. 10 among running backs, is second in the league with five touchdowns on the season.
He's coming off his best game of the season, in which he scampered for 143 yards on just 14 carries. Additionally, the Giants looked awful against Darren McFadden on Sunday, who carved them up for 152 yards after dusting the cobwebs off himself.
If the Giants can stop Ingram and make the Saints one-dimensional, they'll have a much better chance at winning.
Odell Beckham Jr. vs. the Saints secondary
While Beckham had missed practices during the week leading up to the Cowboys game, it wasn't supposed to affect him on Sunday. It did.
The star wideout turned in a performance to forget, totaling season lows in receptions (4) and yards (35). The Saints have given up the seventh-most passing yards per game this season, and if Beckham can manage to get healthy, he's going to have a huge day in New Orleans.
He's going to have to, as Eli Manning proved he relies on his stud wide receiver in order to be effective under center.
As Beckham goes, so goes the Giants offense.
X-Factor
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Giants' X-Factor of the Week: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Though the Saints rank No. 3 in passing yards per game this season, they lack an elite talent at the wide receiver position. In fact, only three of quarterback Drew Brees' eight touchdowns have gone to wide receivers this season.
Still, if Amukamara doesn't suit up on Sunday, the X-factor will be cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The 29-year-old veteran picked off two passes last week and returned one to the house to give the Giants a much-needed boost.
If he can make a difference like that again on Sunday, the Giants should be in great shape. I wouldn't expect two interceptions again, but if he can keep Cooks in check, the Giants should be alright.
Prediction: Giants 24, Saints 22
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The Giants haven't won a road game by fewer than six points since Week 16 of the 2013 season, so why am I predicting a close victory in New Orleans on Sunday?
It's simple. The Saints aren't a good football team.
Under normal circumstances, the Giants should win this game handily, but they have proven on multiple occasions that they play down to the competition.
Factor in a wild, loud crowd for Eli Manning and company to deal with, and the game will be much closer than it should be.
The Saints aren't unbeatable at the Superdome like they once were and the Giants have a better all-around team. Beckham should be back to 100 percent healthy, making him the best playmaker on the field.
Ingram will get his yardage and Brees might be able to exploit a secondary that could be without Amukamara, but I still expect Manning to target Beckham early and often, with the duo proving to be too much for the Saints to handle.
Prediction: Giants 24, Saints 22
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