The Giants’ quarterback situation is still very much up in the air heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Texans, and a late-game spark from JJ McCarthy has pushed the decision into the spotlight.
McCarthy entered the Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints late after New York had already fallen behind 34-10 in the fourth quarter, replacing Jameis Winston. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback didn’t deliver a clean finish - he threw an interception and took a sack - but he also gave the Giants a real jolt. McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, helping fuel several scoring drives that pulled New York within seven before the Giants eventually lost 34-27.
That outing may have done enough to make the starting job against Houston a genuine question. On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh was asked whether Winston would keep the role, and he didn’t commit to the veteran.
"We're working through that now .... honing in on a decision," he said, adding part of the process is figuring out "what gives [them] the best chance to win the football game at this given time."
Harbaugh also said the staff is sorting out who gives them the "best chance to move the ball, score points" against a Texans team that comes in off a much-needed win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday.
The Giants have managed to stay on top of the NFC East even as quarterback problems continue to pile up around the division. The Washington Commanders have been without Jayden Daniels for several games because of a dislocated shoulder. New York also lost Jaxson Dart to a season-ending injury last month, and the Philadelphia Eagles are expected to be without Jalen Hurts for the season after blood clots were discovered in his lungs, per ESPN.
With Dart out, Winston became the immediate answer for the Giants. He helped deliver wins over the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, though those two teams are a combined 3-9 this season. For the year, Winston has 957 passing yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 40.0 QBR.
Now McCarthy could be in line for another shot, and the Texans’ defense gives whichever quarterback starts a favorable enough target. Houston is allowing the sixth-most passing yards per game in the league at 246 per game, which could matter a lot when the Giants kick off against them on Sunday, Oct. 25.
In Other News...
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DeMeco Ryans also managed the game more cleanly, particularly late, when clock control and end-of-game decisions mattered most. Even with those encouraging signs, the bigger concern is hard to ignore: the defense does not look like the steady force it was in previous seasons. For a team trying to build momentum, the offenses gains are encouraging, but the Texans still have to prove the other side of the ball can hold up when the schedule starts demanding more. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud Just Got The Texans Weapon Fans Wanted
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Harrisons first game in Houston came with immediate usefulness, as all three of his catches moved the chains for first downs and covered 34 yards. Stroud continued to drive the offense with 312 passing yards and three touchdowns, and the early chemistry between the quarterback and his new target is the kind of development the Texans have been waiting to see. [Read more 🡒]
Carnell Tate May Be Giving Titans Offense Exactly What It Needed
The Titans finally got a jolt of life with their first win of the season, and wide receiver Carnell Tate had a hand in the kind of play that can change a sidelines mood fast. Tate pointed to his consistent preparation as the reason he was ready when the opportunity came, turning a long-awaited touchdown into more than just a stat line and giving Tennessee a needed reminder that the work can still show up on game day.
For the Texans, news around the division has a little extra weight right now, especially with Jacksonville off to a 4-1 start and owner Shad Khan publicly upbeat about the direction there. Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. has kept the focus on the Texans own energy and persistence despite long playoff odds, but a division in motion means every small spark elsewhere still matters, particularly when a rival like Tennessee suddenly looks a little harder to overlook. [Read more 🡒]