The New Orleans Saints did a lot of things well in their 34-27 over the Giants in Week 6 — they also did some things not so well.
In the same game they rushed for a season high 175 yards and scored 34 consecutive points to fully take control at MetLife Stadium, they also had a near epic collapse with JJ McCarthy throwing for 243 yards in the 4th quarter in relief of Jameis Winston, including a shot from the xx-yard line in the final seconds after a furious rally to trim a 24-point deficit to 7.
“You have to know how to close out games,” said the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert in his postgame rant. "You don’t want it to be like — you’ve got to be freaking kidding me, what’s happening? We’re letting the Giants back into this game. Well, the game was well in hand. Not too many times you’ll watch an NFL game and it shouldn’t have been this close.”
Hear Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above.
Things developed oddly in the game, with the Saints at one point pulling several starters with the game well in hand, but a CJ Donaldson fumble and a quick Giants scoring drive changed that plan.
Still, a win is a win for a Saints team in dire need of one after three straight home losses that prompted serious questions about the current state of affairs with the team. The Saints have now won eight games with Moore as head coach, with five of them coming on the road in open air stadiums. Tyler Shough only threw for 144 yards but accounted for four touchdowns (three passing) and didn't turn the ball over.
“We’ve been road warriors. The bottom line, Kellen Moore is undefeated against the Giants. … He’s played them two times and he is 2-0.”
The run game coming to life was easily the biggest positive from this game. The Saitns trailed 10-0 before a field goal and forced fumble flipped the script and the game was tied at halftime. New Orleans took control in the third quarter, led by Kendre Miller’s 20 carries for 70 yards and some vintage moments for Alvin Kamara, who became just the 6th running back in NFL history to have 5,000 yards rushing and receiving.
“I said this before the game in the pregame, if we can’t run against the freaking Giants, we ain’t going to be able to run against nobody, and the quarterback runs do count,” Hebert said, "but the Giants were giving up 5.2 yards per carry coming into the game. Well, we end up getting 4.6.”
The result might draw some criticism. There are issues to correct, but the team now gets to bring some positivity with them on a long flight out to Paris for a showdown with Pittsburgh. The Steelers are fresh off an ugly win of their own, being held to three points through the first three quarters against the Bucs before a furious rally and overtime win.
“We shouldn’t have had to sweat it at the end of the game, but we won. … They would’ve been miserable if they had gave this game away, but that did not happen, the Saints come away with a big win and we’re right there in the NFC South,” Hebert continued. “ ... but listen, flip a coin again, we can beat the Steelers or we can lose to them, but, you know, it’s always going to make a great trip to go to Paris, even if they’re protesting, I think the NFL will get that handled, but to make it a truly special trip, you’ve got to win the game.”
