The lead that the New Orleans Saints had waited so long to build was threatening to disappear when Bryan Bresee clubbed the football tucked in New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo’s left arm.

The Saints led 19-14 when the ball popped free at the New Orleans 12-yard line. Safety Jordan Howden, only in the lineup because starter Justin Reid suffered a concussion in the first quarter, scooped the ball and had nothing but green turf in front of him.

Howden raced 86 yards for the score, and New Orleans hung on for a 26-14 win — the first of head coach Kellen Moore’s career, and the first in 11 tries with quarterback Spencer Rattler under center.

That Howden recovery was one of five consecutive Giants possessions that ended with the ball in a Saints defender’s hands — three fumbles and

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