The Saints offense has hit only one snag so far on Sunday, but it was a costly one for running back Khiry Robinson.
Robinson was carted off with a right leg injury after a short run just before the two minute warning in the second quarter at the Superdome. Anguished would be a pretty good description of Robinson’s face as the cart rolled off the field with players on both teams taking knee around the cart to fill out the never welcome scene of a serious injury.
The loss of Robinson didn’t keep the Saints from extending their lead a few plays later, however. Drew Brees continued a brilliant half with a two-yard throw to Willie Snead for his fourth touchdown of the half and a 28-14 Saints lead that the Giants would cut to 28-21 before halftime.
The touchdown was the 17th straight completion for Brees against a Giants secondary that’s looked completely overmatched without the help of any pass rush to force Brees to deviate from his plans. Brees is 19-of-21 overall for 300 yards, but the Saints will need to keep things going because the Giants haven’t had much trouble moving the ball either.
Their final score of the half came on a short pass to Shane Vereen for Eli Manning’s third touchdown of the game. The drive was helped along by Brandon Browner’s third penalty of the game and a personal foul on linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha for hitting Manning low, but six straight completions followed those calls to ensure that the Giants would put more points on the board.
They’ve got injury concerns of their own on offense with tight end Larry Donnell and wide receiver Dwayne Harris both departing before the half was over. That hasn’t stopped Manning from going 18-of-21 for 165 yards and three touchdowns in his return to his hometown for an old fashioned shootout with Brees.
