Saints add to the Giants’ woes

If you want to know how quickly things change in the NFL, take a look at the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants.

A year after enduring a “homeless season” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the reborn Saints are a game away from a first-round playoff bye after beating the Giants, 30-7, on Sunday.

In that same period, Tom Coughlin may go from the man who led the Giants to the NFC East title to the unemployment line.

“That would be a tremendous accomplishment considering everything that happened last year with these guys, what they went through,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said of the potential bye a year after New Orleans had a 3-13 record.

The Saints (10-5) got contributions from everyone in handing the Giants (7-8) their sixth loss in seven games.

Reggie Bush ran for a career-best 126 yards and a touchdown, Deuce McAllister had 108 yards rushing and a touchdown and the defense limited New York to six first downs and 142 yards in a rout that turned Giants Stadium into a ghost town in the fourth quarter.

The Saints can clinch the No. 2 seeding in the NFC if Dallas loses either of its final two games or New Orleans wins at home against Carolina.

Unbelievably, the Giants (7-8), who did not have a snap in Saints territory all game, remain in the playoff hunt.

“I feel badly for all Giants fans to come here on Christmas Eve and then for us to lose the game the way we lost it,” Coughlin said. “It’s embarrassing.”

The sellout crowd let Coughlin know it was upset, twice chanting “Fire Coughlin” before heading for the exits.

The Giants play at Washington on Saturday night.

“I didn’t expect them to cheer us,” Giants center Shaun O’Hara said. “It’s Christmas and everyone wants to be merry. They are obviously upset with us and they have a right to be.”