The New Orleans Saints are down a man at the safety position, after Justin Reid suffered a concussion early in the first quarter of their 26-14 victory over the New York Giants. His status for this weeks game against the New England Patriots remains uncertain, as he remains in concussion protocol, but Jordan Howden filled in admirably for Reid.
If Reed is unable to go this week, the defense has proven that they can hold down the fort, as they had a fantastic performance in their last outing, forcing the Giants to turn the ball over on the first five possessions in the 2nd half.
The Saints had several standout performances on the defensive side in that game and one that particularly stood out was Howden. He stepped in for the injured Reed and ensured the secondary didn’t miss a beat.
Howden’s game changing play sparks downhill collapse for Giants
Howden played a key role in one of the games biggest moments. With Saints clinging to a 19-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Giants were gaining momentum, matching into the redzone on an 11 play 56 yard drive. Just as it seemed like the Giants would take the lead, Howden came up with crucial play that changed the entire momentum.
Howden scooped up a fumble and returned it for an 86 yard touchdown putting the Saints up by double digits. His key play was the first of four turnovers in the 4th quarter with three more following afterward, completely shutting down any hopes of a late comeback.
Howden's timely scoop and score not only swung the momentum but energized the team and crowd, setting the tone for a dominant defensive fourth quarter. He capped off a solid outing with a grade of 68.8.
Although Reid is a key starter on defense, the Saints shouldn’t have any worries as Howden and the rest of the crew showed that they can confidently hold down the fort. With a performance like this, the momentum can carry over into the week and fuel continued success.