The upcoming clash between the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium is a matchup that may not have playoff implications, but it promises to be intriguing nonetheless. With both teams struggling this season, the focus turns to pride and possibly securing a better draft position. In their last encounter, the Saints triumphed over the Giants with a score of 24-6, successfully covering the 6.5-point spread on December 17th.
David Carr Aims for a .500 Record as Starter
After a promising start with two early victories, the New Orleans Saints faced a tough stretch, losing seven consecutive games. This series of defeats culminated in the dismissal of head coach Dennis Allen. However, since the coaching change, the Saints have rebounded slightly, winning two of their last three contests, although they recently fell 21-14 to the Los Angeles Rams.
This season, the Saints have a record of 5-7 against the spread, with seven of their twelve games exceeding the total points line. Their performance on the road has been particularly challenging, as they hold only one victory in five attempts. The frigid weather in New York could pose additional challenges for the Saints as they pursue a much-needed win.
Offensively, the Saints rank 14th in the NFL with an average of 23 points per game and 5.7 yards per play. Defensively, they sit at 19th, allowing 23.4 points per game. Alarmingly, they rank last in the league, yielding 6.3 yards per play and 30th in total yards allowed per game at 385.1.
In the recent game against the Rams, Derek Carr’s record as a starter dropped to 4-5 this season. He has thrown for 1,926 yards, with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions, while completing 68.1% of his passes. Despite facing criticism, Carr maintains a commendable QBR of 65.1, placing him sixth in the league.
The Giants: Are They Still in the Hunt?
For the New York Giants, change appears imminent as they grapple with a disappointing 2-8 overall record. This performance has not only been frustrating for fans but also for sports bettors, with a 2-7-1 mark against the spread and a 4-6 record on over/under bets.
The Giants experienced their seventh consecutive loss on Thanksgiving, unable to cover the spread in a 27-20 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Drew Lock took the reins for his first start of the season, and despite Tommy DeVito’s return to practice, Lock has been named the starter for the game against the Saints.
In his Thanksgiving debut, Lock completed 21 of 32 passes for 178 yards, accompanied by one touchdown and one interception. However, the Giants may be without their top target, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who leads the team with 740 receiving yards but missed practice due to a hip injury. His absence would be a significant setback for a struggling Giants offense that ranks last in the league in scoring and near the bottom in passing and total yards.
Defensively, the Giants have shown some improvement, ranking 18th in points allowed per game (23.2) and 19th in total yards allowed. However, they remain vulnerable, sitting 26th in yards per play allowed.
Best Bets for New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants
