EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The revamped defense isn’t just helping the New York Giants win games. It’s actually winning them games. Well, that and Victor Cruz.

After spending over $200 million to reshape the league’s worst defense, the payoff has been immediate. The Giants held quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints without a touchdown for the first three quarters on Sunday in a 16-13 last-second win at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants' offense did just enough, moving into field goal range in the final seconds -- thanks in large part to Cruz. He made a leaping circus catch deep down the right sideline one play after Odell Beckham Jr. dropped a potential game-winning touchdown.

It led to a game-winning 23-yard field goal from Josh Brown in his return from suspension. Brown served a one-week ban stemming from a domestic violence arrest in 2015.

But it was the defense that stood out consistently throughout the victory. The Giants (2-0) have now allowed two touchdowns in two games this season. The only touchdown they allowed in Week 1 came when the Dallas Cowboys received the ball on the Giants’ 35-yard line following an interception thrown by quarterback Eli Manning.

It’s in stark comparison to last season, when the Giants had trouble stopping every top quarterback on their schedule. That's also why the Giants and Saints were supposed to be involved in a shootout on Sunday. After all, these are the same teams that combined for over 1,000 total yards and 101 points last year.

It didn’t work out that way. Points were hard to come by on Sunday. Mistakes were much more common.

The Giants' offense was sluggish for much of Sunday’s contest. It raises the question: Perhaps the defense is now the team’s best unit? Through two weeks, the results speak for themselves. The Giants' defense is getting the job done.