1.THE RACE CONTINUES
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With the Eagles (3-4) and Redskins (3-4) on their bye weeks, the Giants (4-3) can put more distance between them in the NFC East race when they travel to New Orleans in Week 8 to take on the Saints (3-4). Third in the NFC South, New Orleans won three of its last four games, including beating then-undefeated Atlanta in Week 6. The Giants also have a chance to climb two games over .500 for the first time since the end of 2012 when they finished 9-7.2. POISE IN THE NOISE
The Giants have not won at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome since 1993 when Phil Simms threw two touchdowns and David Meggett returned a punt 75 yards for a score in the 24-14 victory. Since then, the Giants have lost four straight and have been outscored 169-80. However, Big Blue won its most recent meeting with New Orleans, defeating the Saints 52-27 in 2012 at MetLife Stadium.3.BEASON QUESTIONABLE; GIANTS INJURY REPORT Out:CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral), WR Victor Cruz (calf), DE Owa Odighizuwa (hamstring), LB J.T. Thomas III (ankle). Questionable: LB Jon Beason (ankle). Probable: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring), OL Geoff Schwartz (ankle), LB Uani 'Unga (neck).4.SAINTS INJURY REPORT
LB David Hawthorne (hamstring), OT Andrus Peat (knee). Doubtful: LB Dannell Ellerbe (hip). Questionable: CB Keenan Lewis (hip). Probable: OT Terron Armstead (knee), WR Marques Colston (not injury related), G Jahri Evans (not injury related), G Mike McGlynn (not injury related), CB Damian Swann (concussion), DT Kevin Williams (not injury related).
- JPP RETURNED, WON'T TRAVEL TO NOLA
After suffering serious hand injuries in a July 4 fireworks accident, two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul agrees to a contract with the Giants and returned to the team this week. Pierre-Paul was able to do individual drills and even took reps with the scout team. While there was a possibility of traveling without playing, Pierre-Paul will not in fact make the trip to New Orleans.6. SEE BALL, GET BALL
A major reason why the Giants currently lead the division is their plus-10 turnover differential, which is the best mark in the NFL. Including a pick-six last week, the Giants have 16 takeaways to just six giveaways. Conversely, the Saints are even in that
department but have forced eight turnovers in the last three games.7.FOUR-WAY SPLIT?
The Giants found a spark in the running game last week when they handed the ball off to Orleans Darkwa for the first time this season. He turned a team-high eight carries into 48 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown, as the Giants broke the 100-yard rushing barrier for the first time in 2015. We'll see on Sunday how the coaches plan to split the carries this time between Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Shane Vereen, and Darkwa.8. SAINTS VS. NO. 1'S
Eli Manning will be the sixth quarterback drafted No. 1 overall to face the Saints this season. New Orleans is 1-4 against the previous five: lost to Carson Palmer (2003), Jameis Winston (2015), Cam Newton (2011), Sam Bradford (2010) and beat Andrew Luck (2012). Meanwhile, Manning is 2-3 against the Saints with nine touchdowns to five interceptions.9.WINNING THIRD DOWN
Coach Tom Coughlin began his Wednesday press conference with his usual scouting report of the upcoming opponent, and one of the first things he mentioned was third down. The Saints' opponents are converting the money down just 33.7 percent of the time, which is the fourth-best mark in the league. Conversely, the Giants are No. 11 in that department on offense with a third-down conversion percentage of 40.6.**
- **BIENVENUE EN LOUISIANE
The business trip to Louisiana will be a homecoming for many Giants this weekend. Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both grew up in New Orleans and attended Isidore Newman High School. Safety Landon Collins also grew up in New Orleans and attended Dutchtown High School. Wide receiver Rueben Randle was born and raised in Bastrop while punter Brad Wing moved from Melbourne, Australia, to Baton Rouge for his senior year of high school. Beckham, Randle and Wing all attended LSU and were on the same 2011 team. Meanwhile, tight end Larry Donnell played football at Grambling State University, and Darkwa played at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 1PM
RB ORLEANS DARKWA Orleans is not just a nickname Darkwa gave himself when he set the freshman rushing record at Tulane. Rather, it's a common name in Ghana, where his family hails from. Now everyone is learning it as he heads back to New Orleans this week to take on the Saints. After having no touches through the first six games, Darkwa, the fourth running back behind Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen, led the team with eight carries last Sunday in the victory over Dallas. Darkwa sparked the run game with 48 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown which was the offense's lone score of the day. We'll see on Sunday how the team splits the carries this time. "When I went to New Orleans, people didn't believe that was my name until I pulled out my ID," Darkwa said. "That's my real name."
WR RUEBEN RANDLE The LSU product is one of four Giants who will be playing in his home state of Louisiana on Sunday. Born in Bastrop, La., he played at the powerhouse Bastrop High School, starring as the Rams' quarterback and also saw action at wide receiver, in addition to handling punt and kickoff return duties. The team went 15-0 in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Randle recorded just two catches in last week's victory, but they went for 68 yards and sparked a pair of scoring drives. The Giants will need more plays like his 44-yard snag down the sideline on Sunday. "Yeah, we feel it coming," Randle said. "We've just got to stay with it, stay patient, got to let it come to us a little bit. Don't try to rush it and force some things. We know the time will come, big plays are going to come. Just got to continue to do the right thing for us to be prepared for the opportunities."
QB ELI MANNING The New Orleans native was just about to turn 13 years old when the Giants last won at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 1993. In that game, Phil Simms threw two touchdowns in a 24-14 victory over the Saints, the team which Manning's father, Archie, quarterbacked from 1971-1982 and was inducted into the Ring of Honor. But for Eli, this weekend is strictly a business trip. "Just going to play a game," he said. "I'm not seeing family before the game or doing anything. It's the next game, going to New Orleans and trying to get a win."
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. Born in New Orleans, the reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and LSU product is coming off his lowest totals of the season in receptions (four) and yards (35). The Giants got the win, but the offense has scored just two touchdowns in the last two weeks. A trip to the Superdome might do the trick for Beckham, who has 17 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns in three indoor games. "It's definitely going to fun being able to go back home, a place that I always wanted to really play in back in high school, you want to get to the state championship, and had a chance to play in it one time but it didn't pan out the way we wanted it to," Beckham said. "I'm definitely excited to go back."
SAFETY LANDON COLLINS Despite going on to play at the rival University of Alabama, Collins was born in New Orleans and starred at Dutchtown High School in Geismar, La., as an All-America defensive back. The rookie second-round draft pick currently leads the Giants with 32 solo tackles, has three tackles for loss, broke up five passes, and recorded his first career interception two weeks ago.
