Antrel Rolle backed up his bark, and fellow safety Stevie Brown supplied plenty of bite.
With their playmaking safeties combining for four turnovers, the Giants got back to playing with the edge Rolle was looking for in a dominant 52-27 victory over the Saints last night at MetLife Stadium.
“I saw a lot of dog today,” Rolle said with a broad grin after the Giants remained alone atop the NFC East, a game ahead of the Redskins and Cowboys.
Rolle, the fast-talking veteran safety who said the Giants needed “to get a little bit more dog in us” after their disappointing Monday night loss to the Redskins, provided a major spark in the rout of the Saints with his play. His words held just as much sway.
“When someone makes a comment like that, you definitely want to rise up,” Brown said. “Everyone looks at ’Trel as a leader and he’s played great for us this year.”
Rolle recovered a fumble, forced another and broke up a pass that directly resulted in an interception — key plays which helped the Giants build a 35-13 lead — and Brown came up with a pair of momentum-turning second-half interceptions.
“Turnovers were huge, and more important, our offense was able to get points off those turnovers, which makes it that much better,” Rolle said. “We were attacking the ball, being physical.”
The two safeties, who combined for three passes defensed and 15 tackles, limited star Saints tight end Jimmy Graham to just five receptions for 56 yards. In fact, both of Brown’s interceptions came on passes intended for the gifted 6-foot-7 Graham, who torched the Giants last year for two touchdown catches in a 49-24 Saints rout.
“We knew he was one of [Drew] Brees’ favorites targets, so we wanted to take him away,” Brown said.
Rolle began quickly, recovering Saints receiver Marques Colston’s fumble on New Orleans’ first drive. On the next Saints possession, Rolle dislodged the ball from fullback Jed Collins and Brown recovered.
Despite a 22-point deficit late in the third quarter, the Saints never packed it in, but Brown sealed their fate. Deep in Giants territory early in the fourth quarter, the Saints seemed ready to pull within a single score before Brown stepped in front of a Brees pass over the middle and returned his team-leading seventh pick of the year 70 yards to set up a 39-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal, which extended the Giants lead to 45-27. It also established a Giants record for most interception return yards in a season with 259, breaking the previous mark of 251 shared by Dick Lynch (1963) and Emlen Tunnell (1949).
“He’s been a phenomenal playmaker for us,” Rolle said of Brown.
Rolle was pleased the Giants played with the “dog mentality” he felt was missing in recent weeks. He also thinks they can take it up a few more notches.
“No pit bulls, I didn’t see pit bulls yet,” Rolle said. “We’re saving that for the long haul.”