Saints seek to stop Giants play-makers
The New Orleans Saints will get a taste of their own medicine when they face the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Opponents have a difficult challenge trying to slow down one of the most accurate passers in the NFL in Drew Brees, one of the most prolific wide receivers in Michael Thomas and one of the most versatile running backs in Alvin Kamara.
The Giants and quarterback Eli Manning present a similar challenge with the addition of rookie running back Saquon Barkey and the return of healthy receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
“Both of these players are outstanding after the ball’s in their hands,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said of Barkley and Beckham. “They’re very good run-after-the-catch players.”
New Orleans’ pass defense (336.7 yards per game) has been its biggest weakness during the first three weeks even though the Saints are 2-1 after winning their last two.
“I think we’re getting there,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. “I think obviously our pass defense isn’t where we want it to be. But watching the tape those are all fixable things. It’s not something where we’re sitting here pulling our hair out or screaming about.
“It’s something we know we’ve got to get fixed, but it’s something we know we can get fixed. I think we’re taking steps in the right direction. We’re obviously playing pretty good run defense right now. We have to continue to do that and we’ll get that stuff on the back end and our whole pass defense corrected and we’ll be able to play defense the way we want to play defense.”
New Orleans held Atlanta to 48 yards on 22 rushes in a 43-37 overtime win last week.
Barkley is seventh in the NFL with an average of 72.0 rushing yards per game and he’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He’s tied for ninth with 21 catches for 137 yards.
“He’s special,” Rankins said. “He’s 6-foot almost 240 (pounds), a 4.4, 4.3 guy. His contact balance is some of the best I’ve ever seen, hands out of the backfield, his ability to make guys miss in tight spaces, his ability to always be going forward seven when he’s going sideways. It’s weird.
“Talent wise he’s definitely one of the best I’ve ever seen. He’s going to be a great back in this league. We just can’t allow him to be great on Sunday.”
Beckham, who missed most of last season because of a broken ankle, has bounced back well enough to be tied for fifth with 24 catches for 271 yards.
“I like where we’re headed,” safety Kurt Coleman said, “but we’ve got to eliminate the big plays that we’ve been giving up these last few weeks.”
SERIES HISTORY: 30th regular-season meeting. Giants lead series, 16-13. Giants have a 12-4 edge at home. The Giants won the last meeting 16-13 two years ago at MetLife Stadium. The Saints last victory was a 52-49 shootout three years ago in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
