Grading the Giants’ 27-21 overtime win of the Saints on Sunday

Daniel Jones (28 of 40, 402 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) did not have a good day. He had a great day. The ball came out of his hand with confidence and precision and when he ran (4-27), he did so smartly. The one interception was a Hail Mary at the end of the first half, so no big deal. This was the Kenny Golladay (6-116) the Giants paid all that money to sign. This was the Kadarius Toney (6-78) the Giants envisioned when they made him their first-round pick. Kudos to the shuffled offensive line — Jones was not sacked! John Ross (3-77) showed the speed element he brings to the attack with a 51-yard reception. Plus, he alertly pounced on his own fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. There was a drop by TE Evan Engram (5-27) on what should have been a first-down catch — the pass was behind him, though. TE Kyle Rudolph recovering Barkley’s fumble in OT was the game-saver.

Grade: B+

Jameis Winston was very efficient (but not very productive) and Alvin Kamara (26-120) did his thing (although he had no receptions and his longest run was only 10 yards), but the Saints were held scoreless for the final 12:09 of the fourth quarter. Leonard Williams chased down Kamara — no easy feat — to stop the Saints short on fourth down in the first quarter. Bad play by LB Tae Crowder trying to strip the ball from Taysom Hill instead of getting him to the ground on TD run. CB James Bradberry, beaten on a 58-yard completion to Marquez Callaway to set up a TD, came back later in the third quarter with an interception off Hill. Pressure on Winston was poor — no sacks, no quarterback hits — and this has to be addressed. This unit limited big plays, though.

Grade: B

Graham Gano had been automatic, with 37 consecutive made field goals dating back to last season. The steak ended, in a dome of all places, when he went wide left on a 35-yard try early in the second quarter. He made a 23-yarder in the third quarter and then hit the clutch kick, a 48-yarder with 31 seconds left in regulation to force OT. Not impressed with a 33-yard punt by Riley Dixon late in the third quarter. Not wild about Jabrill Peppers opting for a fair catch on the 6-yard line early in the game, but there was a Saints player behind him to down the ball if it bounced his way. C.J. Board had a 26-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.

Grade: B

Joe Judge opted to punt the ball away, trailing by 11 points with 9:31 left, from the Saints 47-yard line. It worked out for the Giants this time as Judge correctly ascertained his defense could hold up. Why didn’t Judge use any of his timeouts on defense late in the first half to save some time for his offense in the closing minute? A jet sweep to Engram from the 2-yard line? A pass on the next play to Rudolph with top cover corner Marshon Lattimore on him in the end zone? C’mon now. Play call to free up Golladay for 23 yards in overtime was magnificent by Jason Garrett.

Grade: A