Cam Skattebo gave the Giants exactly the jolt they needed Sunday, and he did it by leaning right into the same rugged style that has defined him from the start.
After being limited to just six snaps the week before, with no carries because of fumbling problems, the rookie running back answered with the best performance of his NFL career in New York’s overtime win over the Houston Texans. He ran 17 times for 124 yards and a touchdown, setting a career high and topping 100 rushing yards for the first time in the league. His biggest burst came in overtime, when he ripped off a 42-yard run that helped set up Devin Singletary’s game-winning score.
That effort earned Skattebo one of the game balls after the victory, but it also came with a strange moment that drew plenty of attention. In the first quarter, he powered ahead for nine yards on a hard run and was then hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty.
The flag moved the Giants back 15 yards and blew up what had been a promising series. The call irritated Skattebo, and John Harbaugh was visibly worked up as well, with lip readers catching some choice words for the officials.
Skattebo wasn’t backing off afterward. The former fourth-round pick made it clear he has no intention of sanding down his edge just to avoid the whistles.
"The NFL loves to post me when I do stuff like that, but then also wants to take stuff from me. I'm going to run the ball like I want to run the ball. If I'm going to continue to get flags for it or fined for it, guess I'm going to play for free," Skattebo said to reporters after Sunday's game.
That kind of penalty is not something you see every day for a running back just trying to finish a run, but that was the situation Sunday. It fit the same aggressive image Skattebo has carried since entering the NFL last season, and long before that during his time at Arizona State. He has built his game around contact, balance, and the willingness to fight for extra yards.
For the Giants, that version of Skattebo is the one they need right now. After the fumbling issues slowed him down, Sunday offered the response they were looking for. If New York is going to push toward its first NFC East title since the 2011-2012 season, it needs Skattebo running downhill exactly like this, flags and all.
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McFaddens response gave the Giants something real to think about beyond simply filling a spot for one week. Coaches and teammates came away impressed with how he handled the moment, and with Edmunds unavailable, the door is open for McFadden to keep building on a performance that suggested he can do more than just survive in the role. [Read more 🡒]