Giants look small against surging Saints
(AP)Updated: 2006-12-25 08:44
If you want to know how quickly things change in the NFL, take a look at the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants. A year after enduring a "homeless season" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the reborn Saints are a game away from a first-round playoff bye after beating the Giants 30-7 on Sunday.
 New York Giants fans dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus watch the Giants play the New Orleans Saints during their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2006. |
"That would be a tremendous accomplishment considering everything that happened last year with these guys, what they went through," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said of the potential bye a year after New Orleans posted a 3-13 record.
"With all the new turnover, a new coach, new assistants, a lot of new faces, including myself; when you have a good group of people and you come together for one kind of purpose it's amazing what you can accomplish."
The Saints (10-5) got contributions from everyone in handing the Giants (7-8) their sixth loss in seven games.
Rookie sensation Reggie Bush ran for a career-best 126 yards and a touchdown, Deuce McAllister had 108 yards rushing and a TD and the defense limited New York to six first downs and 142 yards in a rout that turned Giants Stadium into a ghost town in the fourth quarter.
The Saints can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC if Dallas loses either of its final two games (Philadelphia on Monday and Detroit next weekend) or New Orleans wins at home against Carolina.
"It would be huge getting a bye," said receiver Marques Colston, who caught a go-ahead 2-yard touchdown pass late in the first half on one of three successful fourth-down gambles by Payton. "We have a couple of guys who are hurting and it would give us a week to rest. We could use it."
Unbelievably, the Giants (7-8), who did not have a snap in Saints' territory
all game, remain in the playoff hunt.
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