4 NY Giants who blew it in loss to Saints that killed postseason hopes
Following three consecutive victories against the Commanders, Patriots, and Packers, many NY Giants fans were excited to see what the team could do against the Saints, who had lost three out of their lost four. Instead, these fans were met with extreme disappointment, as New York lost 24-6.
Not only was this game awful to watch, but it also killed their playoff chances. While the Giants aren't technically eliminated just yet, the odds of them making the postseason are ridiculously slim. New York likely wasn't going to make the postseason regardless, but the hope was nice while it lasted.
The Giants and their fans have these four players, amongst others, to blame for this depressing loss. Had they performed better, things could have been different and who knows, maybe New York could have won four in a row going into their huge divisional game against the Eagles. However, these four playmakers simply didn't answer the call in New Orleans:
4. EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux
In recent weeks, Kayvon Thibodeaux has been on an absolute tear, racking up four sacks and 13 pressures in the Giants' last three games. With that in mind, we were hoping to see Thibodeaux continue his high level of play and be a game-changing guy vs. the Saints. Instead, Thibodeaux was a complete non-factor to the point where we forgot he was on the field.
Through the entire game, Thibodeaux racked up just one tackle, no sacks, no QB hits, nothing. Perhaps PFF will give him a pressure or two when they release their numbers for the game, but regardless, it wasn't enough to help the Giants out at all on defense.
The entire pass-rush for the Giants in general was a massive dud, as the group left Derek Carr all the time in the world to throw the ball. However, Thibodeaux is expected to do a bit more than most, and he didn't show up.
We aren't too worried about Thibodeaux of course, as he's still having a Pro Bowl-level season and has been one of the best players on the Giants in 2023. Despite that, this game left much to be desired and has us disappointed in the former No. 5 overall pick.