New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints: 2021 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-10-03, the New York Giants took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 27–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Jones (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with +13.91 total EPA, and +8.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Jones (New York Giants) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.91 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.3% win probability) landed in overtime when New York Giants changed the game: (7:32) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass short right to 26-S.Barkley to NO 34 for 18 yards (27-M.Jenkins; 97-M.Roach). NO-98-P.Turner was injured during the play. His return is Probable. Pass -5, YAC 23

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 D. Jones · New York Giants · Passing · +13.91 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Winston · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +10.12 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Golladay · New York Giants · Receiving · +9.81 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Ross · New York Giants · Receiving · +5.70 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Callaway · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.96 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.48 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Barkley · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.73 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Toney · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.70 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Montgomery · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.82 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New York Giants — J. Ross (D. Jones pass) (Q2 38:59)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Johnson (J. Winston pass) (Q2 30:29)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (Q3 28:34)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (Q4 12:14)
• New York Giants — S. Barkley (D. Jones pass) (Q4 7:01)
• New York Giants — S. Barkley (OT 5:00)

Field goals

• New York Giants — G. Gano (Q3 23:40)
• New York Giants — G. Gano (Q4 0:36)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New York Giants found the end zone from the NO 52 (Q2 38:59); New York Giants added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 38:51) — 5-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 15 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short left to 83-J.Johnson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q2 30:23) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 8 (Q3 28:34) — (13:34) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q3 28:24) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the NO 5 (Q3 23:40) — (8:40) 5-G.Gano 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 11–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 8 (Q4 12:14) — (12:14) T.Hill at quarterback. (Shotgun) 64-W.Clapp reported in as eligible. 7-T.Hill right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q4 12:09) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New York Giants found the end zone from the NO 54 (Q4 7:01) — (7:01) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass deep left to 26-S.Barkley for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 25, YAC 29; New York Giants registered a safety from the NO 2 (Q4 6:52) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-D.Jones rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the NO 30 (Q4 0:36) — (:36) 5-G.Gano 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

Overtime: New York Giants won the period 6–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the NO 6 (OT 5:00).

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New York Giants (OT 7:32) — (7:32) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass short right to 26-S.Barkley to NO 34 for 18 yards (27-M.Jenkins; 97-M.Roach). NO-98-P.Turner was injured during the play. His return is Probable. Pass -5, YAC 23 [WPA +20.3% · EPA +1.77]
• New York Giants (Q4 0:58) — (:58) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass short right to 19-K.Golladay to NO 34 for 28 yards (56-D.Davis). Pass 5, YAC 23 [WPA +18.6% · EPA +2.23]
• New York Giants (Q4 0:36) — (:36) 5-G.Gano 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +0.98]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 41-A.Kamara left guard to NO 27 for 5 yards (48-T.Crowder; 30-D.Holmes). [WPA -17.0% · EPA -0.16]
• New York Giants (Q2 38:59) — (8:59) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 12-J.Ross to NO 1 for 51 yards (43-M.Williams, 29-P.Adebo). FUMBLES (43-M.Williams), and recovers at NO -8. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +4.13]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New York Giants (Q4 7:01) — (7:01) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass deep left to 26-S.Barkley for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 25, YAC 29 [WPA +11.5% · EPA +4.22]
• New York Giants (Q2 43:20) — (13:20) 5-G.Gano 35 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.15]
• New York Giants (Q2 38:59) — (8:59) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 12-J.Ross to NO 1 for 51 yards (43-M.Williams, 29-P.Adebo). FUMBLES (43-M.Williams), and recovers at NO -8. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +4.13]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:51) — (3:51) 41-A.Kamara left end to NYG 27 for 2 yards (99-L.Williams; 59-L.Carter). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -3.50]

Quarterback report card

D.Jones led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Jones (New York Giants) · 46 dropbacks · 60.9% completion · +8.7% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +13.91 total EPA
• J.Winston (New Orleans Saints) · 24 dropbacks · 70.8% completion · -0.9% CPOE · +0.42 EPA/play · +10.12 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New York Giants generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.07 vs -0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, -2.67 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 11 drives, +5.37 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New York Giants leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Jones (New York Giants) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Jones (NYG) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 38:59 · NO 52 · Score 6-0
   (8:59) 8-D.Jones pass deep middle to 12-J.Ross to NO 1 for 51 yards (43-M.Williams, 29-P.Adebo). FUMBLES (43-M.Williams), and recovers at NO -8. TOUCHDOWN.
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 38:51 · NO 15 · Score 7-0
   5-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:29 · NYG 15 · Score 7-6
   (:29) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short left to 83-J.Johnson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:23 · NYG 15 · Score 7-7
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 28:34 · NYG 8 · Score 7-13
   (13:34) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 28:24 · NYG 15 · Score 7-14
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
7. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q3 23:40 · NO 5 · Score 10-14
   (8:40) 5-G.Gano 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:14 · NYG 8 · Score 10-20
   (12:14) T.Hill at quarterback. (Shotgun) 64-W.Clapp reported in as eligible. 7-T.Hill right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:09 · NYG 15 · Score 10-21
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
10. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 7:01 · NO 54 · Score 16-21
    (7:01) (Shotgun) 8-D.Jones pass deep left to 26-S.Barkley for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 25, YAC 29
11. New York Giants Safety (+2) — Q4 6:52 · NO 2 · Score 18-21
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-D.Jones rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q4 0:36 · NO 30 · Score 21-21
    (:36) 5-G.Gano 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
13. New York Giants TD (+6) — OT 5:00 · NO 6 · Score 27-21
    (5:00) (Shotgun) 26-S.Barkley right guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. The r