NEW ORLEANS - Notes and statistics from the Giants' 52-49 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Mercedes Benz Super Bowl:
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*The defeat left the Giants with a 4-4 record at midseason. That is their best record at the season's midpoint since 2012, when they were 6-2. The Giants were 2-6 in 2013 and 3-5 through eight games last season.
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*The teams combined for 101 points, making this the second-highest scoring game in Giants history and tied for the third-highest ever in the NFL:
113 – Redskins (72) vs. Giants (41), Nov. 27, 1966
106 – Bengals (58) vs. Browns, (48), Nov. 28, 2004
101 – Raiders (52) vs. Oilers (49), Dec. 22, 1963
101 – Saints (52) vs. Giants (49), Nov. 1, 2015
*The 49 points are the most the Giants have scored in a loss in their 91-year history.
*The Giants' seven touchdowns tied for the second-highest total in franchise history, achieved nine times previously, most recently in a victory the last time they faced New Orleans, on Dec, 9, 2012. The franchise record is eight touchdowns in a game, which the Giants have done three times.
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*The Giants trailed at halftime, 28-21. The 49 combined first-half points were the highest total in a Giants game since Oct. 18, 2009, when the same two teams scored 51 points in the same stadium (Saints 34, Giants 17).
*The 21 points were the most the Giants had scored in a first half since they had 23 at Tennessee in a victory last Dec. 7.
*The teams combined to throw an NFL-record 13 touchdown passes (seven by Drew Brees, six by Eli Manning). The previous record of 12 was set on Nov. 2, 1969, when New Orleans' Billy Kilmer and the St. Louis Cardinals' Charley Johnson each threw six. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the only other game in which both quarterbacks tossed at least six touchdowns.
*The previous record for touchdown passes in a Giants game was 11, on Oct. 28, 1962, when Y.A, Tittle threw seven, and Washington's Norm Snead had four.
*Brees' seven touchdown passes tied both the NFL record for most scoring passes in a game, and the most ever against the Giants. On Nov. 14, 1943, Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears threw seven touchdown passes in a 56-7 triumph over the Giants.
Brees became the eighth player in history to throw for seven touchdowns in a game, joining Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda, Tittle, Joe Kapp, Peyton Manning and Nick Foles.
*Kai Forbath scored the game-winning points on a 50-yard field goal as time expired. A Giants opponent had last scored the deciding points with no time remaining on Nov. 24, 2013, when Dallas' Dan Bailey kicked a 35-yard field as time expired to defeat the Giants, 24-21. The last time an opponent kicked a game-winning field goal of at least 50 yards with no time remaining was on Dec. 29, 2008, when a 50-yarder by Minnesota's Ryan Longwell sent the Giants to a 20-19 loss.
*The Giants total yards (416), net passing yards (329) and first downs (28) were all their second-highest totals of the season. In a victory over San Francisco on Oct. 11, the Giants gained 525 yards, 441 passing yards, and had 30 first downs.
*The Giants rushed for 87 yards, the seventh time in eight games they finished with less than 100 yards on the ground.
*The Giants converted only one of eight third-down opportunities (but they were two-for-two on fourth down attempts). It's the first time they had just one successful third-down conversion since they were one-for-six in their victory in St. Louis on Dec.21, 2014. They last had just one third-down conversion in a loss on Dec. 15, 2013 against Seattle.
*New Orleans gained 614 yards, the second-highest total ever by a Giants opponent. Chicago gained 682 yards on Nov. 14, 1943, in the game in which Luckman threw seven touchdown passes. Previously, the second-highest yardage total given up the Giants was 577 – which occurred on their previous visit to New Orleans, on Nov. 28, 2011.
*New Orleans' 36 first downs were the second-highest total ever for a Giants' opponent. The Los Angeles Rams had 38 first downs in a 55-14 victory on Nov. 13, 1966.
*The Saints' 511 net passing yards were a record for a Giants opponent. The previous mark of 488 was set by the Bears on Nov. 14, 1943.
*Bress' 511 yards were the most by a quarterback against the Giants in history. The previous record of 444 yards was set by San Diego's Dan Fouts on Oct. 19, 1980.
*Brees threw 50 passes without getting sacked. It was the most passes a Giants opponent has thrown without being sacked since Dec. 1, 1986, when San Francisco's Joe Montana threw 52 passes.
*Brees completed 40 passes, tied for the second-most ever vs. the Giants. St. Louis' Marc Bulger completed 40 passes in a 44-24 Giants victory on Oct. 2, 2005. The record of 41 was set by Dallas' Tony Romo on Dec. 6, 2009, in a 31-24 Giants victory.
*Manning threw a career-high six touchdown passes – three to Odell Beckham Jr., two to Dwayne Harris, and one to Shane Vereen. His previous best was five against Philadelphia on Dec. 30, 2012.
*The six touchdown passes tied for the second-highest total in Giants history. Tittle threw for seven scores at Washington on Oct. 28, 1962, and for six vs. Dallas on Dec. 16 1962.
*Manning's six touchdown passes increased his career total to 276. That moved him past Joe Montana (273) and Vinny Testaverde (275) and into 10th place on the NFL's career list. Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas is ninth with 290.
*Manning completed 30 of 41 passes for 350 yards, those six touchdowns, and no interceptions. His passer rating of 138.2 is his fifth-highest in a complete game in his 12-year career.
*The 300-yard game was his second of the season (441 vs. San Francisco), and 35th in his career in the regular season. The Giants are 16-19 in those games.
*Manning's 30 completions increased his career total to 3,506. That moved him past former Giants quarterback Kerry Collins (3,487), and into 11th place on the NFL's career list.
*Beckham, playing as a professional in his hometown for the first time, and Vereen led the Giants with eight receptions apiece. Beckham's accounted for 130 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season, and the 10th of his 20-game career. The Giants are 4-6 in those games.
*Beckham became the first Giants receiver to score three touchdowns in a game since he accomplished the feat against Washington on Dec. 14, 2014. It was the fifth multiple-touchdown game of his career, and first this season.
*Harris caught two touchdown passes, and is now second on the team with three. Beckham and Harris became the first pair of Giants teammates with at least two touchdown receptions in the same game since Oct. 10, 1993, when wide receiver Mike Sherrard and tight end Howard Cross had two apiece in a 41-7 victory at Washington.
*Vereen's eight receptions tied his career high, which he had achieved five times previously – three times in his fourth seasons with New England, and twice this year, most recently on Oct. 11 vs. San Francisco. The receiving touchdown was his second of the season; the other was also a two-yarder, vs. the 49ers.
*Myles White caught his first pass as a Giant, an eight-yarder in the second quarter. It was his first NFL reception since Dec. 8, 2013, when he played for Green Bay vs. Atlanta.
*Cornerback Trumaine McBride gave the Giants a 49-42 lead when he caught Willie Snead's fumble in midair and sprinted 63 yards to the end zone. It was the Giants' third defensive touchdown of the season, and second in as many weeks. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who forced Snead's fumble, returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown last week vs. Dallas, and a fumble 57 yards in the season opener vs. the Cowboys.
*McBride's 63-yard fumble return was the longest by a Giants player since Michael Boley had a 70-yarder vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 4, 2012.
*Rodgers-Cromartie also intercepted a Brees pass, his third pick in two games.
*The Giants won the coin toss and deferred, which they have done all four times they won the toss this season. They accomplished what they wanted when they deferred, scored at the end of the first half (Manning's two-yard touchdown pass to Vereen with
seven seconds left) and on their first possession of the second half (on Beckham's 50-yard touchdown, which tied the score at 28-28). The Giants are 2-2 this season, and 2-8 under Tom Coughlin when they defer.
*The Giants scored a touchdown on their opening offensive possession for the second time this season, and in each instance, the score was a pass from Manning to Beckham (who combined for their first touchdown in their hometown). On fourth-and-goal from the two, Manning threw to the right for Beckham, who caught the ball just shy of the goal line and stepped into the end zone. The Giants last scored a touchdown on their first series on Oct. 19 in Philadelphia, when Manning threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Beckham. Under Coughlin, the Giants are 22-16 in regular season games and 1-1 in the postseason in games in which they score a touchdown on their first possession.
*Rookie safety Landon Collins, who was born in New Orleans and raised nearby, led the Giants with nine tackles (four solo).
*The Giants did not sack Brees, the first time since opening night in Dallas they did not record a sack.
*Tight end Ben Watson led the Saints with nine receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Marques Colston added eight catches for 114 yards and a score. It was the first time multiple opposing receivers had more than 100 yards vs. the Giants since Oct. 28, 2012 when Dallas' Jason Witten, Dec Bryant, and Miles Austin all did it.
*The Saints' second touchdown – a 26-yard pass from Brees to Brandin Cooks – concluded a 96-yard drive, the longest against the Giants since Philadelphia had a possession that covered 97 yards on Oct. 12, 2014.
*The game took 3:33 to complete, making it the Giants' longest game since their Christmas Eve victory over the Jets in 2011 (3:35).
*The Giants have lost their last five games in New Orleans, a streak that began in 1994. Manning is 0-3 in his hometown. The Giants last won in the Superdome in 1993.
*Tight end Larry Donnell was carted off in second quarter with a neck injury, and did not return. Running back Orleans Darkwa (back), and guard Geoff Schwartz (ankle) also left the game with injuries.
*Cornerback Jayron Hosley suffered a facial laceration on the game's first play. Hosley started his third consecutive game in place of Prince Amukamara, who is sidelined with a pectoral injury. Holsey, who was replaced by Trevin Wade, returned for the Giants' second defensive series.
*Jasper Brinkley made his first start of the season at middle linebacker. Jon Beason was inactive with an ankle injury, and Brinkley got the start ahead of Uani 'Unga, who has started three games this season. It was the 34th career regular-season start for Brinkley, a seven-year veteran, and his first since Dec. 28, 2014, when the played for Minnesota vs. Chicago. Brinkley had three tackles (two solo).
*Jonathan Casillas also started for the first time this season, at weakside linebacker, where J.T. Thomas had started the first seven games. Thomas has an ankle injury. It was Casillas' 19th career regular-season start, and first since Dec. 14, 2014, when he played for New England vs. Buffalo. Casillas had six tackles (four solo)
*Linebacker James Morris made his NFL debut on special teams. Morris was signed off the practice squad on Saturday.
*Justin Pugh, Cullen Jenkins, and Brandon Meriweather joined Eli Manning and Zak DeOssie at midfield for the coin toss. Linebacker Jon Beason, the Giants' third season-long captain, was inactive with an ankle injury.
*The Giants' inactive players were cornerback Prince Amukamara (pectoral), linebackers Jon Beason (ankle), and J.T. Thomas (ankle), defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (hamstring), wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), offensive lineman Bobby Hart and defensive tackle Louis Nix III.
