The Recap- Saints Vs Giants

Jamie UK • December 17, 2023

The Recap- Saints Vs Giants


Well... it's certainly fun to watch the Saints win. Does this change my opinion of them as a team? A win against this Giants team does not. However, in a season where we (Saints fans) have been doused in negativity, I'll take any component performance and frankly, I'm going to enjoy it.


Team Stats 


(Saints/Giants)


Final Score: 24-6

First downs: 20-12

3rd down efficiency: 6/12- 2/16

Total yards: 296-193

RedZone Efficiency:2 of 2 - 0 of 0

Penalties:  6 for 58 yards- 5 for 32 yards

Turnovers- 0-0

Time of possession- 33:27 - 26:33


Takeaways 


Offense


If this wasn't Car’s best game as a Saint it’s pretty close. Carr finished 23-28 218 Yards and 3 Touchdowns. The stats aren't crazy but they didn't need to be today, down his top 2 WRs Carr was incredibly efficient and took what the defense gave him. His pocket movement was the best I've seen from Carr this year, he regularly stepped up to avoid pressure and completed passes. Crucially avoiding the negative plays, something we haven’t seen Carr do well as a Saint.


His O-line did step up and not allow a huge amount of pressure which certainly helps, as we’ve clearly seen Carr hasn't been able to handle pressure well and his game takes a distinctly negative turn when he faces it regularly. The line was also solid in the run game, although we did see some frustrating holding penalties, we can’t have it all I guess.


I thought this was a really well-called game by Pete Carmicheal, we saw plenty of play-action, which I and many other Saints fans have called for all season. He mixed in the run and pass well, we even saw a well-executed screen pass. I’ve never questioned if Pete could call a a good game. We’ve even seen him do it this year. He, like Carr, has struggled to perform well consistently.


Other offensive notes:


  • Jimmy Graham is up to 6 catches on the year, 4 have gone for touchdowns and the other 2 have been first-down conversions. The fact he was a healthy scratch for multiple weeks was absolute coaching malpractice.


  • A.T. Perry is starting to make plays every week, he had an excellent contested catch today to convert a 3rd and 16. He caught the ball about 3 yards short of the stick and bullied his way forward for a first down.



Defense


The Saints defense close out their second straight game without conceding a Touchdown. This game was different though than the game against the Panthers. If Bryce Young had better accuracy the score in that game would have been a lot closer.


Today the Saints defense was dominant finishing with 7 sacks, 9 TFLs and 8 QB hits (Per ESPN).  Crucially they also held the Giants RBs to 2 YPC. The last two weeks the Saints have supplemented their poor pass rush with a killer blitz and stunt game. 


Surprise surprise Zack Baun has been really good when rushing off the edge, he was very good again today. Baun is finally being used as he always should have been a mix of LB and Edge, unfortunately, he is a FA in the off-season just as Kaden Elliss was after this emergence in a similar role last season.


Alongside Baun, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Bryan Bresee had really solid days rushing the passer. Bresee had a season-high 7 pressures (Per PFF) but no sacks this week he converted with 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 2 QB hits. Kpassagnon finished with 3 sacks, 3 TFLs and 4 QB hits, before last season when writing for a different site I predicated a Tanoh breakout season (I believe I predicted 7.5 sacks), but that prediction was based on the Saints using Tanoh inside more, they didn't. This year they have and he has been a far more disruptive player for this defense.


The secondary was really strong again Yiadom gave up one big catch early to Waller but otherwise was really good again as a relief starter, Yiadom entered this season as a core special teams player and has emerged as a more than solid starter at outside CB. The Saints would be wise to try and Yiadom around long-term to keep this strong depth in their secondary. Jordan Howden is proving to be a 5th-round steal at Safety and has emerged as a solid Blitzer, I think his play makes Marcus Maye expendable this off-season.


Demario Davis continues to defy Father Time he was dominant today. Finishing with a team-leading 10 total tackles (8 solo) 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 2 TFLs. His sack puts him at 6.5 on the season which ties his career best, with 3 games left you have to think he betters that. 



Saints Stock Exchange (Sponsored By… Nobody)


Just a quick hit section each week to highlight which Saints players/staff have their stock value increasing and decreasing after each game, 3 up and 3 down:


Stock Up


  • Derek Carr
  • Bryan Bresee
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon


Carr deserves to be on this list after one of his better games as a Saint. IF Carr can play this way consistently down the stretch I think the Saints win 2 of their next 3 maybe all 3.


  Bresee and Kpassagnon deserve to come together here they were dominant on the inside of the Saints pass rush today, again some consistency here from these two down the stretch would go a long way to helping the struggling Saints pass rush (struggling before today).



Stock Down


  • Andrus Peat


I nearly had nobody on the down list, I thought I'd ride the positivity train for this week but… then I remembered that Peat was called for 2 holding penalties at some quite inopportune times. Granted it didn't impact this game but not ideal for an offense that is craving consistency. So a little harsh to have him here alone but i'm going with it.



.


Conclusion 


Should this game change anyone's mind about the Saints coaching staff or QB…. no it shouldn't the Giants are not a good football team, the Saints should have beat them and they did but. Credit where credit is due that was the most complete performance we’ve seen from all three phases in the 2023 season and if they continue that level of play the next 3 weeks, will I be bought all the way back in for a home playoff game? You’re goddamn right I will be.



Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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