New York Giants: 3 Big takeaways from loss vs. Saints in Week 4

The New York Giants dropped a 33-18 decision to the New Orleans Saints Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Here are three big takeaways from that game.

The New York Giants are not a playoff contender — not yet anyway. Big Blue battled the high-powered New Orleans Saints pretty tough for three-quarters, but finally succumbed to Drew Brees and company, 33-18 Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The loss dropped the G-Men to 1-3 while the Saints soared to 3-1 on the young season.

Here are three big takeaways from Sunday’s contest for the Giants.

1. OBJ has to make more of an impact

It’s hard to believe, but after four games, Odell Beckham Jr. still has not recorded a touchdown this season. His numbers against the Saints weren’t terrible — seven receptions for 60 yards and a 10-yard run — but he never made an impact in the game.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

The LSU product is the highest-paid wide receiver in the league and he has to start performing like the best wideout in the NFL. It’s been almost a year (Oct. 8 last year against the Chargers) since Beckham has found the end zone and that has to change immediately if Big Blue has any hopes of getting back into the playoff hunt in the NFC. He has to be a difference maker.

2. No answer for Alvin

Kamara, that is. The Giants actually did a decent job of containing the fleet-footed tailback for the first 45 minutes . The fourth quarter was another story. The Norcross, GA native galloped for a pair of touchdowns (from four and 49 yards away) to seal New York’s fate.

Kamara entered the contest leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage and he finished the afternoon with 134 yards rushing and 47 receiving (181 total) to power New Orleans. His 49-yard scamper down the right sideline was a thing of beauty as he just seemed to glide down the field. His acceleration is really something to behold. Kamara ran the G-Men out of the building when it counted most. He and Todd Gurley are probably the two most dynamic running backs in the league.

3. Where were the forced turnovers?

In order to defeat a high-octane offense like the Saints, the Giants knew they had to create some turnovers, get the ball in good field position, shorten the field. While they held Brees to just 217 yards in the air and no touchdown passes, Big Blue did not force any interceptions or recover any fumbles. Although they had several quarterback pressures, the Giants recorded just one sack on Brees the entire afternoon (B.J. Hill).

While New York’s defense should be commended for holding Michael Thomas in check (four catches for 47 yards), their lack of forced turnovers and sustained pressure on Brees kept important drives alive for the Saints. New Orleans is averaging 34 points per game this season. It’s almost impossible to beat them if you can’t force Sean Payton’s squad to turn the ball over.