Saints vs. Giants: The key elements New Orleans must execute to end its skid in Week 6

With Tyler Shough taking frequent hits and New Orleans trying to stop a three-game losing streak, the Saints’ path at MetLife hinges on pass protection, staying out of trouble, and disrupting Jameis Winston and the Giants’ rushing attack.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The central question for the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 is what they need to do to win at MetLife against the New York Giants. According to the Saints, the answer starts with making sure quarterback Tyler Shough does not take another beating, because New Orleans needs a cleaner week in passing situations while it looks to reverse a three-game skid.

New Orleans is focused on pass protection as its first priority. The team points to the challenge posed by the Giants’ blitzing tendencies, noting New York has blitzed at a 56.6 percent rate on opponents’ dropbacks over the last two games. The Saints’ stated countermeasures include avoiding unfavorable down-and-distance through fewer penalties, getting the run game going, and using screens or swing throws to slow pressure.

The Saints also believe their offensive line is the foundation for both the passing game and the run game. The team’s plan includes help from tight ends and running backs in the passing game, but it frames run production as something that “mainly starts and ends with the offensive line.” New Orleans also highlights Kendre Miller as a spark option and suggests a potential throwback look featuring Alvin Kamara in the right matchup window.

On defense, New Orleans’ emphasis is getting Giants quarterback Jameis Winston out of rhythm. The Saints note Winston has produced back-to-back games with three touchdown passes since taking over as the starter, while also describing him as not primarily a running threat. The Saints’ pass-rush focus centers on Chase Young and Carl Granderson, and it also points to the significance of Cameron Jordan needing one sack to pass Lawrence Taylor for the franchise’s all-time sacks mark.

Finally, the Saints are emphasizing workload discipline against the Giants’ run game, particularly against Cam Skattebo. New Orleans’ message is that the defense cannot be fooled by rushing averages, and that it needs to attack consistently, “populate to the ball,” and swarm to limit Skattebo’s impact. On special teams, the Saints stress reliability from Daniel Carlson and the punting-and-coverage matchup, while they hope for more productive return chances from Barion Brown.

Why It Matters

This game carries immediate season value for New Orleans, which is trying to halt a three-game losing streak while playing a team that has already shown strong defensive pressure and offensive quick-strike production.
If the Saints protect Shough and avoid getting stuck in negative down-and-distance situations, they improve their ability to control tempo through the run game and neutralize blitz volume.
Stopping Jameis Winston from settling into the passing rhythm is central to keeping New Orleans’ defense from being forced into one-dimensional schemes.
Containing the Giants’ ability to run, especially through Cam Skattebo, is described as a prerequisite to limiting explosive plays and sustained drives.
The Cameron Jordan milestone adds a personal edge to the Saints’ pass-rush focus, but the bigger point is turning pressure into disruptions before the Giants build momentum.

Sources

Key Facts

The Saints enter the Week 6 matchup at 1-4 and are trying to end a three-game losing streak against a 3-1-1 Giants team at MetLife Stadium.
New Orleans’ first priority is pass protection for Tyler Shough, with the team citing the Giants’ 56.6 percent blitz rate on opponents’ dropbacks over the last two games.
The Saints say avoiding penalties and run-game production are key to steering clear of unfavorable down-and-distance, and they plan to use screens or swing passes to counter pressure.
Defensively, New Orleans wants to disrupt Jameis Winston’s rhythm, with the team noting Winston has back-to-back games with three touchdown passes while also describing him as not a strong running threat.
New Orleans’ pass rush is led by Chase Young and Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan is one sack away from passing Lawrence Taylor on the franchise all-time sacks list.
The Saints describe Cam Skattebo as a punishing runner whose impact needs to be limited through relentless defensive attacking and swarming to the ball.
Special teams are framed as an area of importance, with the Saints stressing field-goal and point-after reliability from Daniel Carlson, punting and coverage work from Ryan Wrighthas, and return production from Barion Brown.