Former Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee came up clutch when the New Orleans Saints needed him most, making the defining play in their 26–14 win over the New York Giants on Sunday at Caesars Superdome.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Giants threatening to take the lead, Bresee ripped the ball away from running back Cam Skattebo at the Saints’ 12-yard line. Safety Jordan Howden scooped it up and sprinted 86 yards to the end zone, flipping the momentum and extending New Orleans’ lead to two scores with just under 15 minutes remaining.
What could have been a go-ahead drive for New York instead became the turning point in the Saints’ first victory of the 2025 season.
“That’s the kind of play that changes games — and maybe the Saints’ season,” one analyst said after the game.
Bresee finished with a tackle for loss, a pass defended, and a quarterback hit in addition to the forced fumble — further evidence of why the 2023 first-round pick continues to grow into his role as one of the Saints’ most disruptive defenders.
The former three-time All-ACC selection and 2020 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year is now in his third season in New Orleans, showing flashes of the dominance that made him a first-round selection out of Clemson.
Through the first four games of the season, Bresee had tallied nine total tackles, three QB hits, a tackle for loss, and one sack. After Sunday’s breakout, his impact is undeniable — and the Saints may have just found the spark they needed to turn their season around.