East Rutherford, N.J. - The New York Giants won a tight defensive game over the New Orleans Saints 16-13 when Josh Brown kicked a 23-yarder as time expired Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
It was Brown's third field goal and the Giants (2-0) won without scoring a touchdown on offense as they returned a blocked field-goal attempt 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter for their only touchdown. Saints rookie kicker Will Lutz's attempt late in the second quarter was blocked by Johnathan Hankins and returned by Janoris Jenkins for a touchdown.
After trailing 7-3 at hafltime and 10-3 in the third quarter the Saints (0-2) tied the score on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Willie Snead. The teams then traded fourth quarter field goals until Brown's winning kick.
The Saints defense forced three Giants fumbles in the first half - all recovered by the Saints - but couldn't convert them to points. The defense also stopped the Giants on a fourth-and-goal play from the 2-yard line and forced them to kick a field after they had a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
The Saints suffered a major blow when cornerback P.J. Williams was knocked out of the game while making a tackle in the first quarter. According to the Fox TV broadcast he has been taken to a local hospital and has a concussion. The game was stopped for several minutes as medical personnel attended to the second-year player.
Right tackle Zach Strief left the game in the second half and was replaced by Senio Kelemete.
In the second quarter Saints quarterback Drew Brees moved past Dan Marino into third place on the NFL's all-time yardage list.
The Saints return home Monday, Sept. 26 to play the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on "Monday Night Football," almost 10 years to the day of the historic re-opening of the Superdome.
Saints stat leaders
Drew Brees, 29 off 44 for 263 yards
Mark Ingram, nine carries for 30 yards
Brandin Cooks, seven catches for 68 yards
Willie Snead, five catches for 54 yards
Giants stat leaders
Eli Manning, 32 of 41 for 368 yards
Rashad Jennings, 13 carries for 27 yards.
Odell Beckham Jr., eighrt catches for 86 yards
