Saints take Giants win and revived running game into Paris preparations
New Orleans ended a three-game skid against the Giants and arrived in Paris with a stronger rushing performance to build on before facing Pittsburgh.
The New Orleans Saints arrived in Paris on Monday, October 19, after a 34-27 win over the New York Giants in New Jersey ended their three-game losing streak. The Associated Press reported that the victory lifted the Saints to 2-4 as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in France on Sunday, October 25.
Safety Justin Reid said he struggled to sleep on the overnight flight from New York but was still enjoying the win. ‘We're giving ourselves an opportunity here and able to ride on some good vibes,’ Reid said, according to AP. The Saints are spending the week in Paris ahead of the game.
How the Saints beat the Giants
New Orleans fell behind 10-0 before scoring 34 consecutive points. The Giants then mounted a comeback, but the Saints stopped a fourth-down pass to the end zone to preserve the win. Reid emphasized the result over the margin: ‘This league is measured in wins and losses; it's not measured in scores,’ he said, according to AP.
The Saints rushed for a season-high 175 yards. Kendre Miller led them with 70 yards on 20 carries, while Alvin Kamara, CJ Donaldson and quarterback Tyler Shough each gained more than 30 yards on the ground. Coach Kellen Moore credited the blocking across the offense, including receivers helping against Giants safeties, and said the team needed to build on that effort.
The defense had a mixed afternoon. New York gained 395 yards passing, while defensive back Martin Emerson made his first two interceptions as a Saint. The result also improved New Orleans' road record to 2-1; AP reported that its only road loss had come by one point in overtime.
Saints face Steelers at Stade de France
The Saints will be the designated home team against Pittsburgh at the Stade de France on October 25. The club's schedule announcement described the fixture as the NFL's first regular-season game in France. Sunday's stronger rushing performance gives Moore something specific to carry into that matchup, after the Saints' running game had struggled in recent weeks.
The Paris trip follows a difficult stretch for New Orleans. AP reported that owner Gayle Benson had expressed dissatisfaction the previous week as the losses mounted. Reid said the Giants result had given the team a chance to move forward, while Moore said the rushing effort was one the Saints had to continue.
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Sources and context
- Saints look to take skid-ending performance at Giants into success overseasAssociated Press, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Saints to play Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL's first Paris game on Oct. 25New Orleans Saints
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
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