Giants seeking to repeat the ‘key distinction’ that helped them to first win

NEW ORLEANS — In contrast with what went down final season and early this season, what the Giants achieved final week in a single specific space on protection represented a stark enchancment.

They intercepted two of Justin Herbert’s passes in a 21-18 victory over the Chargers.

With out these pressured turnovers, it’s extremely possible the Giants can be 0-4 as an alternative of 1-3 heading into Sunday’s sport at New Orleans.

The 2 picks — the primary by nostril deal with Dexter Lawrence, the second by cornerback Dru Phillips — each put the offense on the Chargers’ 3-yard line, straight resulting in 10 factors for the Giants.

“Yeah, completely I feel that was actually a key distinction, final week in comparison with the primary couple weeks,’’ cornerback Paulson Adebo mentioned. “The place we had alternatives to possibly make a few of these performs, and people varieties of game-changing performs positively have an effect on the end result of the sport, so the extra we now have these turnovers, it’ll assist us.’’

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) returns an interception as Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) and Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman (75) defend during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. — Dexter Lawrence intercepts a go in opposition to the Chargers. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Photographs

Adebo spent the primary 4 years of his NFL profession with the Saints, coming away with 10 interceptions in 52 video games, with seven of the picks coming in 2023 and 2024.

This will likely be his first sport in opposition to the staff that chosen him within the third spherical of the 2021 draft.

Final season, Adebo noticed how rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler arrived as a fifth-round choose and ended up beginning six video games, going 0-6.

This season, Rattler and the Saints are winless, however a minimum of he’s not throwing the ball up for grabs at an alarming fee. He has 5 landing passes and just one interception.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) scrambles against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. — Spencer Rattler has but to win a begin for the Saints. AP

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“I feel going into his second 12 months, he seems slightly bit extra snug,’’ Adebo mentioned. “So, they’re performing some good issues with him, and I additionally acquired to see him on daily basis in observe, so very acquainted.’’

The Giants have three interceptions this season, placing them tied with eight different groups for the eighth-most within the league. Final season, the Giants completed with 5 interceptions — solely the Browns, with 4, had fewer. The Giants additionally went an NFL-record 11 consecutive video games with out an interception.

Jaxson Dart in his first NFL begin handed for one landing and ran for an additional. If he does that once more in his second NFL begin, he would turn out to be the sixth quarterback since 1950 to document each a landing go and landing run in his first two begins.

It’s fairly an eclectic record: Eric Hipple (1981), Jake Delhomme (1999), Tim Tebow (2010), Cam Newton (2011) and Sam Howell (2022-23).

Brian Burns leads the Giants with 5 sacks, tying him with Byron Younger of the Rams for the league lead. It’s the most sacks by a Giants participant within the first 4 video games of a season since Osi Umenyiora had six within the first 4 video games in 2007. Probably the most sacks in franchise historical past within the first 4 video games of a season is eight, by Lawrence Taylor in 1984.