Saints Beat Giants 34-27 as McCarthy Rally Falls Short After Winston Is Benched

The New Orleans Saints beat the New York Giants 34-27 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, scoring 34 straight points to lead 34-10 and then holding on as a backup quarterback nearly pulled off the comeback of the day.

J.J. McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter and threw for 243 yards in about 12 minutes. His last drive reached the Saints 14-yard line, but his fourth down throw to Isaiah Likely in the end zone fell incomplete with 12 seconds left.

The game flips in 78 seconds

The Giants led 10-0 and looked in control. Tyrone Tracy Jr. opened the scoring on a 17-yard catch and run in the first quarter, and Dominic Zvada added a field goal in the second.

Then the game turned at the end of the half. Daniel Carlson kicked a 58-yard field goal for New Orleans. Charlie Jones fumbled the kickoff that followed, the Saints recovered at the Giants 28, and Tyler Shough scrambled for 25 yards before throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Lance on fourth and goal as the half ended. Instead of 10-0, it was 10-10.

New Orleans kept going. Shough found Alvin Kamara on a 31-yard catch and run early in the second half for a 17-10 lead. The Saints ran for 175 yards on the day. Shough added a short rushing touchdown, Carlson kicked another field goal, and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave early in the fourth quarter made it 34-10. Winston threw two interceptions in the second half, and both led to Saints points.

McCarthy changes the game, too late

McCarthy entered with 11:25 left and the Giants down 24 points. His first drive ended in an interception, the Giants' fourth turnover of the day. After that, he moved fast.

Tracy scored on a 5-yard run and Likely caught the two-point pass to make it 34-18. A 49-yard completion to Charlie Jones set up a 24-yard touchdown pass to Likely, and the Giants were within 34-24. Zvada's 41-yard field goal with 2:04 left cut it to 34-27.

New Orleans punted again, and McCarthy ran 28 yards into Saints territory on the final drive. Completions to Likely and Malik Nabers, who finished with 12 catches for 165 yards, took the Giants to the 14. On fourth and one, McCarthy's pass for Likely in the back of the end zone fell incomplete. Shough took a knee to end it.

McCarthy finished 11 of 21 for 243 yards, a touchdown and an interception, all in the fourth quarter. NBC Sports noted his 243 fourth quarter passing yards are the third most in a fourth quarter since 2020. Shough threw three touchdown passes for New Orleans.

The Saints are 2-4 and end a three-game losing run. They head to Paris on Sunday night to prepare for a game against Pittsburgh. The Giants fall to 3-2-1 but stay top of the NFC East, and they travel to Houston next. Their first question this week is obvious: who starts at quarterback.