NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- New York Giants coach Jim Fassel will likely be dismissed after the 2003 season. New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett is hoping for a reprieve.
The teams will play on Sunday night with only the Saints holding on to slim playoff hopes.
Both teams had high expectations heading into the season. But a five-game losing streak has dropped the Giants into last place in the NFC East and Fassel will pay with his job.
Haslett led the Saints to a division title in his first year as coach in 2000, but hasn't been to the playoffs since and is also on the hot seat. New Orleans squandered an opportunity to move over .500 and severely damaged its postseason chances with a 14-7 loss to Tampa Bay last week.
The Saints trail Dallas and Seattle, who are in the two wild card spots, by two games with just three left. They are also one game behind Green Bay. But with a win last week, the Saints could have pulled within a game of first-place Carolina, which has lost three straight, in the NFC South.
Quarterback Aaron Brooks fumbled four times and lost three of them in the loss to Tampa Bay. Deuce McAllister's streak of nine straight 100-yard games was also snapped. He has rushed for 1,462 yards this season.
Quarterback Jesse Palmer is expected to make his first NFL start for the Giants.
Regular starter Kerry Collins suffered a sprained left ankle after being hit from behind by defensive end Bruce Smith in the third quarter of last week's 20-7 loss to the Washington Redskins.
A fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2001, Palmer appeared in just two games in relief last season and came off the bench three times this year. Pressed into extended action Sunday after Collins' injury, Palmer was 7-of-11 for 83 yards and was sacked five times.
Injuries have been a major factor for the Giants, who have lost tight end Jeremy Shockey, tackle Luke Petitgout, cornerbacks Will Allen and William Peterson, safety Shaun Williams and defensive end Kenny Holmes to injuries.
Collins, who has thrown for 3,110 yards this season, is the latest to join the list. He had started 67 straight games for the Giants since the 1999 season.
The Giants won the last meeting between the teams in 2001.
