New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Betting Picks and Predictions
Bayou Battle: Big Blue Seeks Rhythm in the Big Easy
Big Blue is heading down to the Big Easy, and this one’s shaping up to be a classic "something’s gotta give" game. Both the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints are desperate for a win to stack some positive momentum, and a trip to the Superdome is never a simple affair.
The Giants' offense, at 1-3, has been looking to find its rhythm—it's been a little start-and-stop, with flashes of brilliance mixed with frustrating inconsistency. A road trip against a tough NFC defense could be just what the doctor ordered, or it could be a continuation of their struggles. The key for the G-Men is giving Daniel Jones time.
If he can get some clean pockets and avoid the rush, he’s got some playmakers who can make things happen after the catch. They need their running back to be an effective safety valve and open up the middle of the field. The play-calling needs to be aggressive yet protective, putting Jones in manageable situations.
On the other side of the ball, the G-Men will be looking to their defense to come up big time themselves and make some important turnovers. They must harass the QB into making errors, as spot-passing alone will be struggled with as they face the Saints' star-studded team.
The Saints, on the other hand, are looking to pile up some victories and establish that they're still in the race. At 0-4, they're at the bottom of the NFC South standings. Nothing has worked this season, yet the division will always be that crazy long shot, and a home victory here will keep their postseason hopes alive.
Derek Carr is still settling into his new mansion, studying the offense nuances, the chemistry building up with his wideouts. He has the talent to get points on the board, however. Chris Olave is an excellent route runner, a true deep threat, and Rashid Shaheed is a blur who has the speed to take the hook off the defense and make a short throw a long gainer. Saints' offense is capable of registering massive numbers when they're a clicking machine.
The foundation of the Saints is always their defense. Their defense is usually salty at home, thriving off the energy of the dome crowd. They’ll be looking to make life miserable for New York, specifically by confusing Daniel Jones with different coverage looks and generating a relentless pass rush.
It's very difficult as a sound within the Caesars Superdome to communicate as an opposing offense, so the Saints attempted to do that to their advantage. However, they're 3-8 in their own house since the start of the 2024 season, so they haven't performed too well. Nevertheless, they will do their best to make Jones throw risky passes or make him scramble out of the pocket, where breakdowns occur most.
This game might be a chess battle, as both head coaches would want to attack the best matchups they see and be ahead of the curve. The Giants will want to dictate the clock proceedings and rely on their defense, while the Saints will want to speed up the tempo and use their home-field advantage.
I've got to follow my gut and go with the Saints here. They may not be better offensively, but the Giants are 0-3 since last season after a win. Give New Orleans a little credit to use their home field advantage.