EAST RUTHERFORD -- The key to the Giants' success against Saints quarterback Drew Brees in Sunday's 16-13 win was their ability to get off the field on third down.

A week after allowing the Cowboys to convert 10-of-17 third downs (59 percent), the Giants stifled the Saints. New Orleans converted just 3-of-13 third downs (23 percent) on Sunday.

The Giants spent most of Sunday's game in sub packages with three or four cornerbacks on the field. Although the strength of those personnel packages is coverage, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was selectively aggressive. The Giants frequently brought pressure on third downs with blitzing defensive backs.

"When you get Drew Brees moving, his throws are not that effective," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. "So I think they did a good job rushing."

Spagnuolo's approach was successful. Safety Landon Collins and cornerback Leon Hall recorded sacks on third-down blitzes, and the Giants forced incompletions with pressures on other third downs.

Here's a closer look at the success of the Giants' third-down defense against the Saints:

PLAY #1

Situation: 3-9 at NO 33, first quarter

Personnel: DE Olivier Vernon, DT Owa Odighizuwa, DT Jason Pierre-Paul, LB Jonathan Casillas, LB Keenan Robinson, DB Landon Collins, DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Janoris Jenkins, DB Eli Apple, DB Leon Hall, DB Darian Thompson

The play: Vernon and Pierre-Paul dropped into coverage, Okwara and Casillas rushed from the middle, and Collins and Rodgers-Cromartie blitzed from each slot. Saints running back Mark Ingram picked up Rodgers-Cromartie off the offense's right edge, but Collins came in unblocked because Saints left tackle Terron Armstead initially engaged with Vernon. Quarterback Drew Brees looked to get rid of the ball quickly, but Vernon had dropped back to take away his outlet. Collins dropped the helpless Brees for a five-yard loss.

Result: 5-yard loss

PLAY #2

Situation: 3-3 at NO 10, first quarter

Personnel: DE Vernon, DT Pierre-Paul, DE Odighizuwa, LB Casillas, LB Robinson, DB Collins, DB Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Apple, DB Jenkins, DE Hall, DB Thompson

The play: The three down linemen rushed while Robinson blitzed through the A-gap opposite Pierre-Paul. Initially lined up on the slot receiver, Collins blitzed off the offense's right edge. Brees got rid of the ball quickly, but his throw was high as Collins leaped in the passing lane.

Result: Incompletion

PLAY #3

Situation: 3-10 at 50, second quarter

Personnel: DE Vernon, DT Odighizuwa, DT Romeo Okwara, DE Pierre-Paul, LB Robinson, DB Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Hall, DB Jenkins, DB Apple, DB Collins, DB Thompson

The play: Hall lined up over right tackle Zach Strief and blitzed on the snap. Strief and running back Mark Ingram both moved toward Pierre-Paul on the snap. Hall shot through the opening into the backfield before Ingram, who also was also eyeing Thompson blitzing from his deep safety spot, could recover. Hall got enough of Brees to drop the quarterback as Pierre-Paul closed in.

Result: 11-yard loss

PLAY #4

Situation: 3-7 at NY 43, third quarter

Personnel: DE Vernon, DT Okwara, DT Odighizuwa, DE Pierre-Paul, LB Robinson, DB Trevin Wade, DB Rodgers-Cromartie, DT Jenkins, DB Apple, DB Collins, DB Nat Berhe

The play: Jenkins blitzed from his left corner spot, while Rodgers-Cromartie blitzed from the slot on the opposite side. Vernon generated pressure in front of Jenkins, as running back Mark Ingram was left to pick up the charging defensive end. Pierre-Paul dropped into coverage after bluffing a rush that drew the attention of right tackle Zach Strief. That allowed Rodgers-Cromartie to come off the edge clean. With Vernon and Rodgers-Cromartie applying pressure, Brees overthrew well-covered tight end Coby Fleener on an out route.

Result: Incompletion

PLAY #5

Situation: 3-8 at NY 27, fourth quarter

Personnel: DE Vernon, DT Odighizuwa, DT Okwara, DE Pierre-Paul, LB Robinson, DB Hall, DB Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Jenkins, DB Apple, DB Thompson, DB Collins

The play: Spagnuolo brought pressure and left his cornerbacks with no help on one of the biggest plays of the game. Three of the down linemen rushed -- Pierre Paul jammed the tight end and stayed with him off the line -- while Robinson, Thompson and Collins blitzed. The Saints did a good job in protection, but Drew Brees' fade to Brandon Coleman along the right sideline fell incomplete with Apple in tight coverage.

Result: Incompletion

The defensive game plan was a great illustration of Spagnuolo playing to the strengths of his personnel. With confidence in his cornerbacks' ability to cover, Spagnuolo was able to send safeties on blitzes. Having his dangerous defensive ends bluff a rush before dropping in coverage drew the attention of the Saints tackles and opened lanes for blitzers from the second level.

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.