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Sunday, Sep 18, 2016 01:49 PM

Giants sneak by Saints in low-scoring affair

  1. Victor Cruz has made a huge impact on both Giants wins to start the season. The veteran wideout came down with a 50/50 ball from Eli Manning with less than two minutes to play, a 34-yard gain that set up the game-winning field goal by Josh Brown as time expired. Cruz is more than just a feel-good story -- he remains a weapon in this offense. Consider him an early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year.
  1. The Giants were humiliated by Drew Brees and the Saints' offense in a 52-49 loss last season. Big Blue got even here. The Saints were held to 288 yards of total offense and Brees managed just one touchdown pass after throwing seven against New York in their 2015 shootout. The Giants invested a ton of money in their defense in the offseason and early returns are very promising. Beating the Saints on a day when your offense commits three turnovers and doesn't score a touchdown is quite a feat.
  1. Sterling Shepard is another playmaker in the Giants' loaded wide receiver group. The rookie second-round pick was targeted eight times and finished with eight receptions for 117 yards, both game-highs. Teaming Sheppard with a healthy Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. means bad news for NFC East secondaries.
  1. The Saints want Coby Fleener involved in their offense, it just hasn't happened yet. The tight end was targeted eight times by Drew Brees but finished with just two catches for 27 yards. Fleener was open on a couple plays, but his chemistry with Brees isn't there yet.
  1. Saints cornerback P.J. Williams was carted off the field at MetLife Stadium and taken to the hospital after suffering a head injury in the second quarter. The cornerback's agent told ESPN that Williams is alert and has feeling in his extremities. Williams started as New Orleans' No. 1 cornerback after the Saints lost Delvin Breaux to a leg injury in Week 1.
  1. The Giants lost this game about eight times last season.