NEW ORLEANS — It was nice for the Giants while it lasted.
Their temporary respite from their dismal season and the three-game lift and nice distraction provided by Tommy DeVito all came crashing down on Sunday, as the undrafted rookie quarterback was a marked man— and at times mocked by the opposition — in a desultory 24-6 loss to the Saints inside the Caesars Superdome.
DeVito was knocked around in the first half, with Saints defensive linemen delighting in sacking DeVito four times and then mimicking his Italian hand gesture celebration that became all the rage during the Giants’ three-game winning streak.
The Giants were able to hang around, trailing 7-6 at halftime, but were thoroughly dominated in the second half, with DeVito unable to produce anything and defensive breakdowns allowing Derek Carr (three touchdown passes) and the Saints to rejuvenate what had been a popgun attack.
This should realistically end the faint playoff chances the Giants carried into mid-December, which was quite a feat, considering they were 2-8 after 10 games and flirting with a top-two pick in the draft. At 5-9, they are now out of contention and the loss allowed the Saints (7-7) to stay in front of them, with a pathway into the postseason only possible from a mathematical perspective.
DeVito, who finished 20-for-34 for 177 yards, is now 3-2 as a starting quarterback and he and his team next face the Eagles on Christmas Day in Philadelphia, the first of two meetings with the Eagles in the final three games. Gulp.
This was a massive breakdown on offense, leaving DeVito looking uncertain, unable to rise above the issues cropping up all around him. The offensive line reverted to past form, as DeVito was sacked seven times and Saquon Barkley was unable to dent the Saints’ front wall on the ground. On defense, the coverage on the back end by the Giants was too-often dismal.
The best thing DeVito did on the opening series was to avoid a third-down sack, instead squeezing out a 2-yard pickup. Those were important yards, as on the next play Randy Bullock’s 56-yard field goal went over the crossbar with little room to spare for a 3-0 Giants lead.
Bullock, though, hurt his hamstring on the ensuing kickoff and was lost for the remainder of the game.
Carr and the Saints’ offense heard some jeers after a three-and-out to start the game but the cheers were soon to follow. Carr was not pressured on an 11–play, 68-yard drive, enjoying all the time he needed to locate Keith Kirkwood for an 18-yard scoring hookup to put the Saints ahead 7-3.
After their first series on offense, the Giants had no opportunity to add points because DeVito kept taking sacks. There were four of them in the first half, for 34 yards in losses. DeVito had no chance on two of them and needed to get rid of the ball on two of them. He did get out of a third-and-18 hole with a 29-yard competition over the middle to tight end Darren Waller, making his return after missing five games with a strained hamstring. DeVito then ran 14 yards to the New Orleans 35-yard line but a third down sack by Bryan Bresee ended the drive.
The Giants got closer thanks to a bizarre drive, converting on fourth down with a Barkley run. DeVito was called for intentional grounding to set up a third-and-22 and his pass to tight end Daniel Bellinger was for only a short gain. Cornerback Alontae Taylor put a big hit on Bellinger — apparently too big, as he was flagged for unnecessary roughness to gift-wrap the Giants a first down.
DeVito slid a bit late on a 6-yard gain and was hit by Isaac Yiadom, a former Giants cornerback, DeVito’s head hitting the turf. No penalty was called and as DeVito was laid out his teammates started a ruckus on the field with the Saints players. DeVito had to come out to get checked out and Tyrod Taylor took over at quarterback. He completed two passes for 13 yards and punter Jamie Gillan was called on to attempt a 40-yard field goal — is second field goal try in his NFL career. Normally, Gillan is the holder in the field goal operation. With Gunner Olszewski serving as the emergency holder, the strong-legged Gillan drilled the kick at halftime buzzer and the Giants were within 7-6.
The Giants managed to pick up only 99 yards of offense in the first half, with Barkley completely held in check, with six carries for 8 yards.
DeVito was able to return for the second half but his fortunes never got any better.
The Saints got the ball to open up the third quarter and Carr had no trouble carving up some shoddy Giants defensive coverage, completing an easy 10-play drive by hitting wide-open tight end Juwan Johnson, who glided past Cor’Dale Flott past the line of scrimmage, for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 14-6. Carr’s 18-yard pass to A.T. Perry was the big blow as the Saints added a 50-yard field goal by rookie Blake Grupe to extend their lead to 17-6 late in the third quarter. Carr hit a wide-open Jimmy Graham on a 1-yard scoring flip early in the fourth quarter and that was that. The Giants didn’t force a turnover after forcing 12 in the three-game win streak.
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