Before the kickoff, reports indicated the Giants would shift to a running back committee, with Skattebo downgraded and Najee Harris starting in his place. The change followed a costly fumble in overtime against the Commanders on Oct. 11, inside Washington’s 25-yard line, which erased a potential game-winning field goal in a game that ended in a tie.
During the game, all six of Skattebo’s snaps came in the first half, with his first snap serving as a decoy on a 20-yard end-around by Darnell Mooney. In the first half, Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary each logged nine snaps. Harris carried the ball three times for zero yards, Singletary three times for 5 yards, and Tracy twice for 4 yards, with Tracy also catching a 17-yard touchdown.
By the end of the game, the Giants’ backfield combined for 34 rushing yards on 14 attempts, about 2.4 yards per carry. Skattebo entered the game with 81 carries on the season, the team lead, while Harris stood at 27 carries prior to finishing with 2 yards on four attempts. The committee approach did not yield more productive outcomes than Skattebo’s own recent averages, as the group averaged 2.4 yards per carry.
Special teams contributed to the Saints’ momentum, with a pair of kickoff-return fumbles by Charlie Jones. The turnovers helped erase a 10-0 Giants lead and fueled a late surge by New Orleans.
Skattebo still leads the Giants in rushing attempts for the season, but the team opted for a mixed backfield in this contest, and the result was a modest rushing output from the collective group. New York ran the ball 20 times in the game, excluding Skattebo from the rushing column for the day.
For further context, the Giants’ backfield rotation in this game included multiple players working for opportunities, with the coaching staff looking for a hot hand. The outcome suggested that the quest for a consistent run-game plan remained a work in progress.
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