Kamara Joins 5K/5K Club as Saints' 34-0 Run Buries the Giants

Sixth ever

Alvin Kamara caught a 31-yard touchdown pass and became only the sixth player in NFL history with 5,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards, per saints.com. The Saints beat the Giants 34-27 on Sunday, snapping a three-game losing streak to move to 2-4, per saints.com. m:…4136

Kamara's milestone arrived in the middle of a 34-0 run: after falling behind 10-0, New Orleans scored 34 straight. Shough accounted for four touchdowns in all — though the two saints.com recaps differ on the split: one credits him with three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown, the other calls it a four-touchdown-pass game. m:…4136 m:…4079

This is reasoning, not the report: the 5,000/5,000 club measures a particular kind of career — the back who never comes off the field. Kamara got there on a 31-yard catch, which is fitting: it is the receiving half of the milestone that separates him from every pure rusher of his era, and the Saints have been building their offense around that duality for nearly a decade. m:…4136

The middle eight

Coach Kellen Moore had a name for the stretch that won it: the middle eight, which he identified as a crucial part of the game, per saints.com. The team's own account says the effective stretch lasted approximately 21 minutes of game clock. m:…4079

Owner Gayle Benson's pointed comments earlier in the week apparently landed — saints.com says they motivated the team — and Isaiah Stalbird forced a fumble on a kick return during the run. m:…4136

The Giants are out of patience

New York fell to 3-2-1, and coach John Harbaugh is openly weighing a quarterback change for Week 7. Asked after the game when he would start thinking about it, Harbaugh made clear the evaluation is already underway. m:…4136 m:…5362

The case for change arrived in relief: J.J. McCarthy threw for 243 yards after entering the game — though giants.com notes most of it came against soft zone coverage with little pressure. m:…5362

New Orleans ran for 175 yards on 38 carries — 4.6 per carry, per the Giants' own account — behind a softened front. New York's bright spot was defensive lineman DJ Reader: seven tackles and seven run stops, earning PFF Team of the Week honors, per giants.com. m:…5362

Winston, for the record, completed 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown against the Saints, per the Giants' own account — and the Saints played mostly zone coverage without frequently bringing pressure once McCarthy entered, a caveat worth keeping in mind when weighing the relief numbers. m:…5362

Paris and a decision

The Saints get no breather: they head to Paris to face the Steelers. The Giants play Houston — whose defense ranks 14th in DVOA, per giants.com's own notes — then hit their bye, a two-week runway for Harbaugh's quarterback decision. m:…4079 m:…5362

This is reasoning, not the report: a 34-0 run and a franchise milestone buy belief, the one currency a 2-4 locker room can't fake. The Giants, meanwhile, have a quarterback decision that will define their next month — and Harbaugh's answer suggests the clock is already ticking. m:…4136 m:…5362

This is reasoning, not the report: the Giants' choice is really about the bye. A McCarthy audition against Houston gives Harbaugh two weeks of tape either way; a Winston start keeps the season's floor. Harbaugh's answer suggests the audition is already underway. m:…5362