New Orleans @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2016 ) New Orleans 13, N.Y. Giants 16

While the NFL has embraced the young quarterback in recent years, grizzled veterans Drew Brees and Eli Manning keep trucking along at the helm of their respective teams. Brees aims to continue his success as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week leads the New Orleans Saints into MetLife Stadium on Sunday to face Manning and the New York Giants.

"Obviously there is a mutual respect," the 39-year-old Brees told Newsday of Manning, 37. "The job we do is a great one but a difficult one. It requires a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of effort both mentally and physically and emotionally." Brees showed his dedication by capping his 396-yard, five-touchdown performance (three passing, two rushing) with a leap over the top in overtime to secure New Orleans a 43-37 win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. While the Saints have scored an NFC-best 104 points through three games, the Giants have mustered nearly half that total (55) -- with almost half of those points coming in Sunday's 27-22 win over Houston. Manning completed 25 of 29 passes for 297 yards with two touchdowns in that contest and faces a Saints' defense that has been gashed for a league-worst 34.3 points per game.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Saints -3.5. O/U: 50.5

ABOUT THE SAINTS (2-1): The talented twosome of the electric Alvin Kamara and 6-foot-3 wideout Michael Thomas have figured prominently in New Orleans' third-ranked scoring offense (34.7 points per game). The former collected 15 receptions and 190 scrimmage yards (66 rushing, 124 receiving) last week while the latter set an NFL record with 38 catches in his first three games to begin the season. Fellow wideouts Ted Ginn Jr. and Cameron Meredith made defenses pay for perhaps overcompensating on Kamara and Thomas, as they each had touchdown receptions last week.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-2): Odell Beckham Jr. was on the receiving end of the richest NFL contract for a wide receiver over the summer, and while the flashy wideout leads the team in catches (24) and receiving yards (271), he hasn't found the end zone this season. "I love being in the end zone. It's been a while," Beckham said. "... Getting in the end zone, of course I want to get in there, but when it comes, it's going to come." Fellow wideout Sterling Shepard found the end zone to cap a six-catch, 80-yard performance last week and erupted for eight receptions for 117 yards in his last encounter with New Orleans. Rookie Saquon Barkley has scored twice and averages a robust 4.7 yards per carry, although he'll face a Saints' rush defense that surrendered just 48 yards last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New York's Rhett Ellison is expected to replace fellow TE Evan Engram, who is considered week-to-week after spraining his MCL against Houston.

2. New Orleans DE Cameron Jordan had two sacks last week to increase his total to 34.5 since 2015, which is fourth best in the league.

3. The Saints have forced just one turnover this season, tied with Oakland for the fewest in the NFL.

PREDICTION: Saints 38, Giants 17