Spencer Rattler threw an 87-yard touchdown pass, Kool-Aid McKinstry recorded two interceptions, Jordan Howden returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown, and the host New Orleans Saints gave rookie head coach Kellen Moore his first victory, 26-14, against the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Rattler completed 20 of 30 passes for 225 yards, and the Saints (1-4) won for the first time in his 11 starts over his two-year career.
Rookie Jaxson Dart completed 26 of 40 for 202 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Giants (1-4), who turned the ball over five times and did not force any turnovers.
The Giants crossed midfield on the first possession of the third quarter, but Dart dropped the ball while scrambling and Cameron Jordan recovered for the Saints at the New Orleans 46.
That led to Blake Grupe’s fourth field goal, a 28-yarder that increased the Saints’ lead to 19-14, and it stayed that way through the end of the third quarter.
New York moved into position to regain the lead, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, Cam Skattebo fumbled and Howden picked up the ball and sprinted to the end zone to increase the lead to 26-14.
For the second consecutive game, Dart drove the Giants to a touchdown on their first possession. He completed all five of his passes on a 59-yard drive, the last being a 1-yard touchdown to Theo Johnson for a 7-0 lead.
Grupe’s 28-yard field goal trimmed the lead to 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
New York’s second drive ended the same way as its first – with Dart throwing a touchdown pass to Johnson, this one covering 15 yards and producing a 14-3 lead.
Grupe made a 53-yard field goal to trim the lead to 14-6 midway through the second quarter, and Rattler connected with Rashid Shaheed, who finished with 114 receiving yards, for the 87-yard touchdown which pulled New Orleans within 14-13. Grupe’s 29-yard field goal gave the Saints a 16-14 halftime lead.
