After three straight games at home, all losses, the 1-4 New Orleans Saints return to the road to play the 3-1-1 New York Giants in Week 6. Coming off a tie at Washington, the surprising Giants have won all three of their games at home under new head coach John Harbaugh. The Saints played well on the road during the first two weeks in an overtime loss at Detroit and a Week 2 win at Baltimore.

Most of the success that the Saints have had on either side of the ball has been with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and their passing game. However, that aspect struggled against an aggressive Vikings defense last Sunday. New Orleans faces that same type of aggression in the Giants now. We examine that part of the Week 6 matchup in this segment.

New York Giants pass defense

• 199.4 yards per game (7th)

• 65.2% completion percentage

• 9 touchdowns (22nd)

• 6 interceptions (2nd)

• 8 sacks

• 21 QB hits

Of the Giants first five opponents, only the Rams (318) had over 185 net yards through the air. New York coverage has allowed only two players to have as many as 70 yards receiving. Veteran safety Jevon Holland leads a resurgent secondary with a league-best 3 interceptions, more than any Giant player had all of last season. Holland is joined on the back end by Tyler Nubin, a talented third-year safety with 4 pass breakups. However, Nubin will not play against the Saints because of a neck injury. His place in the lineup will be taken by Ar'Darius Washington, an undersized but dangerous ball hawk.

At cornerback, Deonte Banks and Greg Newsome II have a collective 12 passes broken up and 2 interceptions, with Banks returning his for an NFL-best 98-yard score. Dru Phillips and impressive rookie Colton Hood round out a talented foursome at corner, making up for former Saint Paulson Adebo on injured reserve. Linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and rookie first round choice Arvell Reese have greatly upgraded New York's coverage ability at that position. Either are athletic enough to lock onto opposing tight ends or backs. Both also add to an aggressive pass rush as inside blitzers. The two have a combined 3 sacks and 5 QB hits, with Phillips adding 2 sacks of his own from timely blitzes.

Brian Burns is on injured reserve, shorting the Giants one of the league's more disruptive edge rushers. His absence has allowed another chance for Kayvon Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thibodeaux is maddeningly inconsistent, a reason why New York aggressively shopped him in trade talks this offseason. He's also a capable pass rusher who in 2023 recorded 11.5 sacks. On the other edge is Abdul Carter, the third overall choice in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter had just 4 sacks as a rookie but already 2 takedowns this year with a team-best 6 QB hits. Carter (calf) may be hampered on Sunday after being a limited practice participant all week.

Up front, the Giants can also apply pressure and disrupt quarterbacks with a solid defensive line rotation. Shelby Harris and Jihad Ward are two accomplished veterans that can play anywhere along the defensive front. CJ Okoye is the only down lineman to have a sack for New York so far. However, D.J. Reader and 2025 third round choice Darius Alexander are also capable rushers.

New Orleans Saints passing attack

• 240.2 yards per game (11th)

• 66.8% completion percentage

• 9 touchdowns (11th)

• 5 interceptions (24th)

• 13 sacks (25th)

Without the threat of a running game at all, the Saints have been overly reliant on second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and his receivers. Unfortunately, the unbalanced attack has allowed defenses to blitz Shough heavily. He's been sacked 13 times, but hit more than any quarterback this season so far. A line incapable of providing solid protection, let alone against extra rushers, has been just as responsible as opposing defenses for Shough's punishment.

Right tackle Taliese Fuaga doesn't look even remotely close to what he was in 2024 as a first round choice. Fuaga's regression is a huge concern, especially playing next to human turnstile Cesar Ruiz at right guard. Center Erik McCoy no longer slides quickly enough to pick up double teams or inside blitzes, and left guard David Edwards, a high-priced free agent addition, has yet to look the part. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. remains out with an ankle injury, with replacement Asim Richards often overwhelmed.

Coach Kellen Moore has done nothing to alter blocking schemes or even add more designed screens to combat the blitz. As a result, backs Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller have been nearly useless as pass catchers. Kamara, once the best receiving back in the NFL, has 13 catches but for a ridiculously low 41 yards, a 3.2 average. Moore could also consider using extra tight ends on quick releasing routes after they chip on the edge. Both Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp are capable of threatening defenses. Fant has been some help with 9 catches, 73 yards, and 3 scores, but Delp has only 1 target for 8 yards.

Shough has withstood the weekly defensive onslaught and has played well, with the exception of the Minnesota loss and the first half against Detroit. Predictably though, a nonstop rush has contributed heavily to his 5 interceptions and 3 lost fumbles. Still, Shough has shown remarkable poise and a terrific chemistry with his top weapons.

Wideouts Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and tight end Juwan Johnson are trusted targets for Shough and have often come through big. Olave had at least 8 receptions and averaged 105 yards through the first four weeks. He has 39 catches for 537 yards so far, with only an illness against Minnesota and into this week's practice slowing him down. Vele and Juwan Johnson have proven nearly as important to their quarterback. Each has 25 receptions, with Vele going for 252 yards and Johnson 248 yards. All three have made big plays in crucial moments, with Shough showing no hesitation in going to them in any situation. An effort has been made to get rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance involved, but he has yet to have a breakout performance. He might be a weapons to watch against a deeper New York secondary.

Even with the Giants success against the pass, it's easy to envision Shough, Olave, Vele, and Johnson rebounding with a good performance. That's if, a big if, the Saints can keep their quarterback upright. The Giants have just 8 sacks, but have several capable rushers in their lineup. Carter and Thibodeaux will be a challenge to the struggling Fuaga and Richards on the edge. An equally large concern has to be the Giants defensive line and interior blitzes from linebackers Reese and Edmunds. Protection and balance are the two biggest failures for the Saints offensively. If they can even out just one of those, Shough and his pass catchers have proven capable to pull out a much-needed win.