2015 New York Giants–New Orleans Saints game
On November 1, 2015, during Week 8 of the 2015 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints defeated the visiting New York Giants 52–49 on a last-second field goal by Kai Forbath. Held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, now known as the Caesars Superdome, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the game remains one of the highest-scoring non-overtime games in NFL history. The matchup featured 13 combined passing touchdowns, with Saints quarterback Drew Brees tying an NFL record by throwing seven touchdown passes. Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a career-high six touchdown passes, including three to Odell Beckham Jr.
Manning, born in New Orleans, and Beckham, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, both attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, each had a homecoming performance to remember. The teams combined for 101 points, the third-most in a regulation game in NFL history at the time.
Background
The Giants, at 4–3 and atop the NFC East, were led by veteran quarterback Eli Manning, who entered Week 8 with 11 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions on the season. His top target was Odell Beckham Jr., who had quickly emerged as one of the league’s most explosive wide receivers. Both players also returning to their hometown of New Orleans, where Manning's father Archie Manning had been the Saints’ starting quarterback for over a decade.
The Saints, at 3–4 under longtime head coach Sean Payton, had rebounded from an 0–3 start to win three of their last four games. Quarterback Drew Brees had already topped 300 passing yards in four games that season, though questions lingered about the Saints’ struggling defense.
Oddsmakers installed the Saints as a 3-point home favorite. The matchup was broadcast regionally on Fox, with announcers Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa.
Game summary
First half
The game opened with a flurry of offense. Brees threw two first-quarter touchdown passes, to Ben Watson and Marques Colston, while Manning answered with two scores to Beckham. The shootout continued in the second quarter as Brees hit Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead for touchdowns, while Manning connected with Dwayne Harris.
By halftime, the Saints led 28–21, with Brees already having thrown four touchdowns.
Second half
In the third quarter, Manning found Beckham for a 50-yard strike and later hit Shane Vereen on a short touchdown, while Brees answered with long scoring passes to Cooks and C. J. Spiller. The Saints entered the fourth quarter up 42–35.
Early in the fourth, Manning tied the game again on a 20-yard pass to Harris, but Brees countered with his seventh touchdown of the day, finding Snead to make it 49–42. With 1:20 remaining, Manning and Harris connected once more to knot the score at 49–49.
On the Giants' ensuing punt with 20 seconds left, returner Marcus Murphy was tackled and the Giants were flagged for a facemask penalty. The 15-yard markoff set up Forbath’s 50-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Saints a 52–49 victory.
Brees finished 40-of-50 for 511 yards and 7 touchdowns, tying the NFL single-game record for touchdown passes shared by Sid Luckman, George Blanda, Y.A. Tittle, and Peyton Manning. Manning threw for 350 yards and a career-high 6 touchdowns, with 3 going to Beckham.
The game produced the most combined passing touchdowns (13) in NFL history and remains one of the highest-scoring contests ever played. It is remembered as a defining performance of Drew Brees’ career and as a showcase of Manning and Beckham’s offensive chemistry.
Statistics
Team
- Total yards: NO 608, NYG 416
- First downs: NO 35, NYG 21
- Turnovers: 1 each
- Time of possession: NO 34:57, NYG 25:03
Individual leaders
- Passing: Brees – 40/50, 511 yds, 7 TD; Manning – 30/41, 350 yds, 6 TD
- Receiving: Beckham – 8 rec, 130 yds, 3 TD; Cooks – 6 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD; Snead – 7 rec, 76 yds, 2 TD
- Rushing: Mark Ingram – 16 car, 80 yds; Rashad Jennings – 10 car, 54 yds
Aftermath
The contest is regarded as one of the greatest quarterback duels in NFL history and remains the only game in which both quarterbacks threw at least 6 touchdown passes.
The Giants dropped to 4–4 and went on to finish 6–10, missing the playoffs. The Saints improved to 4–4 but also ended at 7–9, their second consecutive losing season.
See also
- Miracle at the New Meadowlands (December 2010)
- 2013 Denver Broncos–Dallas Cowboys game (October 2013)
- 2013 Minnesota Vikings–Baltimore Ravens game (December 2013)
- Miracle in Motown (December 2015)
- 2018 Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams game (November 2018)
- 2022 Indianapolis Colts–Minnesota Vikings game (December 2022)
- List of highest-scoring NFL games
- List of National Football League records (individual)
- History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
- History of the New Orleans Saints