Darren Rizzi returns to New Jersey to keep the Saints coaching job and prolong the Giants’ woes

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Darren Rizzi is returning to New Jersey to avoid too many distractions, trying to extend the losing streak of a New York Giants team he cheered for as a child and hoping to win the New York Giants A late attempt to inspire Orleans Saints so that he can be stripped of his interim title as head coach.

Rizzi and the Saints (4-8) will try to hand the Giants (2-10) their eighth straight loss when the teams meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where New York is winless in six games this season.

“I grew up only about 15 minutes from the stadium cheering on the Giants. Back when Bill Parcells was the coach, I saw a lot of playoff games,” Rizzi said. “So it’s definitely something in the back of my mind, but I just try to put the blinders on like everyone else and just try to coach the game.”

The Saints still have a chance to win the weak NFC South. They are two games behind the Falcons and Buccaneers, who are both 6-6. New Orleans split its games with Atlanta and still has one game left against Tampa Bay.

Since replacing Dennis Allen in November, Rizzi has a 2-1 record. The loss came last weekend against the Rams. New Orleans has not responded well to setbacks, losing seven straight at times. If the longtime special teams coach can turn things around, he could make a case for keeping the top job.

“We still have things to play for. We still have opportunities ahead of us,” quarterback Derek Carr said.

The Giants just want to win, something they haven’t done since Oct. 6 in Seattle. The franchise record for consecutive losses is nine. This has been done three times, most recently in 2019.

“There’s not really anything you can do about it now,” said rookie Malik Nabers, who leads the Giants with 75 receptions. “The record is the record. But you can still focus on moving forward.”

Miller time

Saints running back Kendre Miller is hoping for a strong finish to a frustrating season that began with a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp.

Miller, who was also criticized by Allen for his inability to stay healthy and his knowledge of the playbook, made his season debut in Week 7 but ruptured his other Achilles tendon in his second game and was forced to go on injured reserve.

Rizzi said it will be a “clean slate” for the second-year player.

“He is explosive when he has the ball in his hands. He’s obviously a playmaker,” Rizzi said. “Kendre’s deal will be to commit to the game plan, the mental part, and make sure he’s physically ready to go and let the rest take care of itself.”

Middle ground

The middle of the Giants defense will be different this week. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (elbow) is on injured reserve, and tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck, shoulder) and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) are unlikely to play this weekend.

That means a combination of rookie free agent Elijah Chatman, DJ Davidson (shoulder) and Jordon Riley (knee) will start at tackle, and rookie Darius Muasau will start at inside linebacker.

Downhill

The Saints had to spend part of this week figuring out how best to adjust to the loss of dynamic do-it-all Taysom Hill.

“He fills so many roles,” Rizzi said of Hill, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday. “So there’s going to be a lot of different people that have to be part of the solution.”

Although Hill was listed as a tight end, he also had success as a running back, quarterback, receiver and fullback. He also served as upback on punts and return kickoffs.

In eight games, he rushed for 278 yards and six touchdowns on 39 carries, caught 23 passes for 187 yards and completed two passes for 21 yards.

Sackstadt

When the Saints beat the Giants 24-6 last December, Tommy DeVito was sacked seven times.

Drew Lock starts this week behind a broken offensive line. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) missed last Thursday’s game in Dallas and right tackle Evan Neal (hip) was questionable on Wednesday. Both practiced on a limited basis on Thursday.

If they can’t play, they would likely be replaced by Chris Hubbard and Josh Ezeudu.

O captains, my captains!

The Giants started the season with five captains – Lawrence, quarterback Daniel Jones, left tackle Andrew Thomas, inside linebacker Bobby Okereke and long snapper Casey Kreiter.

Kreiter may be the only one who will be fit on Sunday. Jones was released. Thomas and Lawrence are on injured reserve and Okereke has been dealing with a week-to-week back problem.

“Injuries happen every year,” Kreiter said. “I think it’s unfortunate that a lot of this happened to the captains of the team. But the good thing about this locker room here is there are a lot of leaders on this team.”

___

AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tom Canavan, The Associated Press