This Sunday, the New Orleans Saints will be starting a two-game road trip and taking on the New York Giants. A team that's had a struggling offense this season, the Saints' bottom-tier defense has a chance to turn around their season in East Rutherford.
Five weeks through the 2026 season, the New Orleans defense ranks 31st in the league in terms of points allowed per game, with an average of 30.2. While there are several spots to blame, it's been the way they try and stop the run that's been the biggest issue so far. Allowing 148.8 rushing yards per game, opposing teams have taken the Saints down via the run.
Thankfully, the Giants offense hasn't fared that much better than the Saints defense, as they rank 22nd in the NFL with 21.8 points per game. Below average but not broken, their rushing attack, which ranks 16th in the league, can still cause the New Orleans defense some problems. A team that runs the ball more than they pass, the Giants are still a kind of offense that gives the Saints a chance for their first victory since late September.
The Saints' defense could decide the outcome of the game this Sunday
The Giants' rushing attack features one of the more physical halfbacks in the NFL right now in Cam Skattebo. A player that's averaged an explosive run (a 10+ yard rush) a week in the early part of this season, he's truly someone the Saints defense needs to focus on. He attacks their weakest part of their game, and they've already allowed 19 explosive runs so far this season.
However, even if Brandon Staley's unit manages to slow Skattebo down, there's still the threat of Jameis Winston and the Giants passing the game. A part of their offense that's struggled compared to their run game, they've averaged 199.2 passing yards a game (20th in the NFL). But despite the struggles, the New Orleans secondary will still have to be on their A-game due to the threat of Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Fortunately, the Saints' passing defense is above average this year and even sits just outside the top 10, ranking 11th in passing yards per game. Although, a solid ranking doesn't guarantee a good matchup against an elite receiver. Nabers, who has had back-to-back 100+ receiving yard games, poses just as much of a threat as Skattebo.
All in all, the Giants offense is a good test for the Saints defense. If they can hold the line and hamper either Skattebo or Nabers, that would be a passing grade in my book. It would also, at the very least, make the chance of New Orleans second W of the season much higher than it might've been just a few days ago.
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