EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Darren Rizzi returns home to New Jersey, looking to avoid too many distractions, trying to extend the losing streak of a New York Giants team he grew up rooting for and rooting for. hoping to spur the New Orleans Saints into a late run so he can remove the interim tag from his head coaching title.

Rizzi and the Saints (4-8) will try to hand the Giants (2-10) their eighth straight loss when the teams meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where New York is winless in six games this season.

“I grew up about 15 minutes from the stadium supporting the Giants, I went to watch a lot of playoff games when Bill Parcells was the coach,” Rizzi said. “So it’s definitely something that’s on my mind, but I’m just trying to wear the blinders like everyone else and just trying to coach the game.”

The Saints still have a chance to defeat the weak NFC South. They are two games behind the Falcons and Buccaneers, who are both 6-6. New Orleans has split its games with Atlanta and has one game remaining against Tampa Bay.

Since replacing Dennis Allen in November, Rizzi is 2-1. Loss has come last weekend against the Rams. New Orleans did not respond well after the setbacks, losing seven straight at one point. If the longtime special teams coach can turn things around, he might have good reason to keep the top job.

“We still have things to play for. We still have opportunities in front of us,” said quarterback Derek Carr.

The Giants are simply looking to win, something they haven’t done since Oct. 6 in Seattle. The franchise record for consecutive losses is nine. This has been done three times, most recently in 2019.

“There’s really nothing you can do about it now,” said rookie Malik Nabers, who leads the Giants with 75 receptions. “The record is the record. But you can always focus on the future.

Miller Time

Saints running back Kendre Miller is hoping to finish strong from a frustrating season that began with a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp.

Miller, who was also criticized by Allen for his inability to stay healthy and his knowledge of the playbook, made his season debut in Week 7, only to pull another hamstring during his second game and go on injured reserve.

Rizzi said it would be a “clean slate” for the second-year player.

“He is explosive when he has the ball in his hands. He’s obviously a playmaker,” Rizzi said. “Kendre’s deal is going to be to lock in the game plan, the mental part, make sure he’s physically ready to go and let the rest take care of itself.”

Common ground

The middle of the Giants defense will be different this week. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (elbow) is on injured reserve, and tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck, shoulder) and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) likely won’t play this weekend.

That means a combination of rookie free agent Elijah Chatman, DJ Davidson (shoulder) and Jordon Riley (knee) will start at tackles and rookie Darius Muasau will start at inside linebacker.

Down the hill

The Saints had to spend part of this week figuring out how to best adjust to the loss of dynamic and versatile tight end Taysom Hill.

“He fills so many roles,” Rizzi said of Hill, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday. “So there’s going to be a lot of different guys that have to be part of the solution.”

Although Hill was listed as a tight end, he also took snaps at running back, quarterback, receiver and fullback. He also served as a backup on punts and returned kickoffs.

In eight games, he totaled 278 yards and six touchdowns on 39 carries, caught 23 passes for 187 yards and completed two passes for 21 yards.

Ransacked city

When the Saints beat the Giants 24-6 last December, Tommy DeVito was sacked seven times.

Drew Lock starts this week behind a broken offensive line. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) missed the Dallas game last Thursday and right tackle Evan Neal (hip) was questionable Wednesday. Both practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

If they can’t play, Chris Hubbard and Josh Ezeudu would likely replace them.

O captains, my captains!

The Giants began the season with five captains: Lawrence, quarterback Daniel Jones, left tackle Andrew Thomas, inside linebacker Bobby Okereke and long snapper Casey Kreiter.

Kreiter might be the only one to dress on Sunday. Jones was released. Thomas and Lawrence are on injured reserve and Okereke is dealing with a week-to-week back issue.

“Injuries happen every year,” Kreiter said. “I think it’s unfortunate that a lot of them happened to the team captains. But the good thing about this locker room here is that there are a lot of leaders on this team.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.

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