New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints match player stats tell the real story of a game that started as a rookie quarterback’s dream and ended as a turnover filled collapse. The Saints won this Week 5 matchup 26 to 14 at Caesars Superdome on October 5, 2025, and the box score is packed with useful numbers for fans who want more than just the final score. This guide breaks down every key stat line from both teams, explains how the game actually swung in the second half, and points out which players truly earned their paychecks that Sunday.
Whether you follow the Giants, the Saints, or you just want a clear and accurate record of what happened, this article covers passing, rushing, receiving, defense, and special teams in plain, easy language. Every number below comes from official box scores and team recaps, so you can trust what you read here.
What Was the Final Score in the Giants vs Saints Game?
The New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Giants by a score of 26 to 14 in a Week 5 game played on October 5, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Both teams walked into the matchup looking for their first real signs of momentum. The Giants had come in at one win and three losses after a surprise upset over the then unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers, while the Saints were still searching for their opening win at zero and four.
By the final whistle, both clubs sat at the exact same record of one win and four losses, just from opposite directions. For the Saints, the win carried extra weight. It marked the first victory of head coach Kellen Moore’s tenure in New Orleans and the first career win as a starter for quarterback Spencer Rattler. For the Giants, the loss stung after such a promising start to the afternoon.
How Did the Game Unfold from Start to Finish?
The Giants controlled the opening quarter completely, scoring touchdowns on each of their first two possessions to jump out to a 14 point lead before New Orleans found any rhythm. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart connected with tight end Theo Johnson twice in the early going, and it looked like New York might run away with the game on the road.
That lead did not survive the second half. New Orleans answered with 23 unanswered points, powered by an explosive passing play and a defensive score, to completely flip the outcome. The turning point everyone remembers came in the fourth quarter, when Giants running back Cam Skattebo lost a fumble that Saints safety Jordan Howden scooped up and carried 86 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 26 to 14 with under 15 minutes left. From that point forward, the Giants never threatened to close the gap again.
What Were Jaxson Dart’s Passing Numbers for the Giants?
Jaxson Dart completed 26 of 40 passes for 202 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first career start on the road. The rookie signal caller spread the ball around well early, but the two picks in the second half came at costly moments as New Orleans built its comeback.
Dart was also playing without star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who had suffered a season ending torn ACL the week before this game. That absence forced the Giants to lean heavily on their tight ends and running backs in the passing game, which shows up clearly in the receiving numbers below.
| Giants Passing | Comp/Att | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxson Dart | 26 of 40 | 202 | 2 | 2 |
Who Led the Giants in Rushing and Receiving?
Cam Skattebo led the Giants on the ground with 15 carries for 59 yards, while Jaxson Dart added 55 rushing yards of his own on just 7 attempts, often by scrambling away from pressure. Devin Singletary chipped in 20 yards on 6 carries, and Wan’Dale Robinson picked up 2 yards on a single carry out of the backfield.
In the passing game, tight end Theo Johnson was the standout performer for New York, hauling in 6 catches for 33 yards and both of the team’s touchdowns. Fellow tight end Daniel Bellinger added 4 catches for a team high 52 receiving yards. Skattebo was also a factor as a receiver with 6 catches for 45 yards, while Darius Slayton caught 3 passes for 31 yards and Robinson added 5 catches for 30 yards.
| Giants Rushing | Carries | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| Cam Skattebo | 15 | 59 |
| Jaxson Dart | 7 | 55 |
| Devin Singletary | 6 | 20 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | 1 | 2 |
| Giants Receiving | Catches | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theo Johnson | 6 | 33 | 2 |
| Daniel Bellinger | 4 | 52 | 0 |
| Cam Skattebo | 6 | 45 | 0 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | 5 | 30 | 0 |
| Darius Slayton | 3 | 31 | 0 |
How Did Spencer Rattler and the Saints Passing Attack Perform?
Spencer Rattler completed 21 of 31 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown without throwing a single interception, giving New Orleans the steady quarterback play it needed to complete the comeback. Backup quarterback Taysom Hill also saw one passing snap, connecting on his only attempt for 19 yards.
Rattler’s biggest moment came through the air to Rashid Shaheed, a connection that produced the longest offensive play either man had recorded in his career to that point. That single throw changed the entire complexion of the game and gave the Saints life heading into the second half.
| Saints Passing | Comp/Att | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Rattler | 21 of 31 | 225 | 1 | 0 |
| Taysom Hill | 1 of 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
Which Running Backs and Receivers Stood Out for New Orleans?
Kendre Miller paced the Saints rushing attack with 10 carries for 41 yards, while Alvin Kamara added 27 yards on 8 carries and also caught 4 passes for 28 more yards out of the backfield. Rattler himself picked up 21 yards on 6 scrambles, showing off his mobility under pressure.
Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed was the offensive star of the game for New Orleans, catching 4 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, with a gain of 87 yards on his longest reception. Chris Olave was the possession target of the day, hauling in 7 catches for 59 yards. Tight end Juwan Johnson added 2 catches for 17 yards to round out a balanced attack.
| Saints Rushing | Carries | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| Kendre Miller | 10 | 41 |
| Alvin Kamara | 8 | 27 |
| Spencer Rattler | 6 | 21 |
| Saints Receiving | Catches | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Shaheed | 4 | 114 | 1 |
| Chris Olave | 7 | 59 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | 4 | 28 | 0 |
| Juwan Johnson | 2 | 17 | 0 |
What Defensive Plays Decided the Outcome?
The single biggest defensive play of the game came when defensive tackle Bryan Bresee forced a fumble from Giants running back Cam Skattebo, and safety Jordan Howden returned it 86 yards for a touchdown that put the Saints firmly in control. Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry also had a huge day, picking off two passes to slow down the Giants offense in the second half. Linebacker Demario Davis recorded 7 tackles and a forced fumble of his own, anchoring the New Orleans defense throughout the afternoon.
On the Giants side, linebacker Darius Muasau and cornerback Paulson Adebo each finished with 6 tackles, while safety Tyler Nubin added 4 tackles. Those numbers reflect a defense that stayed on the field far too often once the turnovers started piling up, since New York gave the ball away five times in total between fumbles and interceptions.
How Did Special Teams and Kicking Affect the Score?
Saints kicker Blake Grupe made 4 of his 6 field goal attempts, including a long of 53 yards, which supplied several of the key points during New Orleans’ comeback. Giants kicker Jude McAtamney was a perfect 2 of 2 on extra points, though he did not attempt a field goal in this game. Punters on both sides saw plenty of work, with New York’s Jamie Gillan averaging 37.5 yards per punt and New Orleans’ Kai Kroeger averaging 41.5 yards per punt.
While special teams rarely grab headlines, Grupe’s four made field goals were a quiet but important part of turning a close game into a comfortable final margin for New Orleans.
Giants vs Saints Player Stats: Who Had the Best Game?
Based on the full set of New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints match player stats, three players stand out above everyone else on the field. Rashid Shaheed gets the nod as offensive player of the game for the Saints, since his 114 yard, one touchdown performance included the single biggest passing play of the day. Jordan Howden deserves equal credit for his 86 yard fumble return touchdown, a defensive score that flipped momentum for good. On the losing side, tight end Theo Johnson was clearly the Giants’ best performer, catching both of the team’s touchdowns and finishing as their most reliable target all afternoon.
Quarterback comparisons also favor New Orleans in the stat that matters most: Spencer Rattler threw for more yards than Jaxson Dart, added a touchdown, and did not turn the ball over once, while Dart’s two interceptions proved costly in a game the Giants led early. Numbers alone do not always capture the full story, but in this case the stat sheet lines up closely with how the game actually played out on the field.
What Does This Result Mean Going Forward?
This game mattered for reasons that go beyond one Sunday in October. The win gave Kellen Moore his first victory as an NFL head coach and gave Spencer Rattler his first career win as a starting quarterback, both meaningful milestones for a Saints team trying to rebuild its identity. For the Giants, the loss came at a difficult time, arriving one week after losing top receiver Malik Nabers to a season ending knee injury and adding to questions about the team’s depth at key positions.
The Giants and Saints have met more than thirty times since the late 1960s, and the series has historically stayed close between these two NFC opponents. This particular result pushed both teams to identical one win and four loss records, setting up very different paths for the rest of their seasons.
Conclusion
The New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints match player stats from this Week 5 game paint a clear picture of two teams heading in opposite directions during the second half. Jaxson Dart and Theo Johnson gave Giants fans plenty to be excited about early, but turnovers and a pair of huge plays from Rashid Shaheed and Jordan Howden handed the Saints a much needed 26 to 14 win. Spencer Rattler’s clean, mistake free performance stands out as the difference maker when you look at the full box score side by side. For anyone tracking either franchise, this game offered a useful early season snapshot of each team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between the Giants and the Saints?
The New Orleans Saints won the game 26 to 14 over the New York Giants. The matchup took place on October 5, 2025, during Week 5 of the NFL regular season at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. It was the first win of the season for the Saints and dropped the Giants to a record of one win and four losses.
Who was the Giants’ starting quarterback in this game?
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart started for the Giants and completed 26 of 40 passes for 202 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. It was his first career start on the road, and he played without top receiver Malik Nabers, who was already out for the season with a torn ACL.
What was the longest and most important play of the game?
The longest offensive play was Spencer Rattler’s touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed, which covered 87 yards. The most important defensive play was Jordan Howden’s 86 yard fumble return touchdown after Bryan Bresee forced a fumble from Cam Skattebo, a score that gave New Orleans firm control in the fourth quarter.
How many turnovers did the Giants commit in this game?
The Giants committed five total turnovers, made up of three fumbles and two interceptions thrown by Jaxson Dart. Nearly all of these mistakes came in the second half, and New Orleans converted several of them directly into points, which explains how a 14 point deficit turned into a 12 point loss.
Did this win end the Saints’ winless start to the season?
Yes, this victory over the Giants was the first win of the season for New Orleans after opening at zero wins and four losses. It also gave head coach Kellen Moore his first career win as an NFL head coach and quarterback Spencer Rattler his first career win as a starter.
