Jameis Winston gave the Giants exactly the kind of ride he’s built a career on in Week 4: a little chaos, a few heart-stopping mistakes, and just enough big-time throwing to keep New York moving in the right direction.
That mix was on full display in the win over the Cardinals. Winston put the Giants in trouble with a pair of interceptions, but he also kept coming back with the kind of aggressive, downfield shots that can change a game in a hurry.
For now, that was enough to make it hard to imagine J.J. McCarthy stepping in anytime soon.
New York had to weather some rough patches early. Winston’s first half included a stretch where the Giants had already reached Arizona territory three times in five possessions before he finally connected with Malachi Fields for a touchdown that trimmed the Cardinals’ lead to two.
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He came right back the next drive with another scoring strike, this time finding Malik Nabers on a 25-yard touchdown after the Giants’ defense forced Jacoby Brissett into a turnover.
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Of course, Winston being Winston, the good was followed by the dangerous. He threw interceptions on consecutive drives, and Arizona cashed those mistakes in for 10 points.
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Budda Baker interception! 🙌 AZvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+ Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/fSRBXz7KKr
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But even after putting his team in a hole, Winston kept slinging it. He answered with a pinpoint throw to Theo Johnson that put New York ahead for good.
When it was all over, Winston’s stat line told the story of the night: 18-of-29 passing for 250 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. That’s the kind of line that fits a quarterback who has thrown more interceptions than all but one player since entering the league in 2015.
McCarthy may eventually force the issue if Winston’s turnovers start piling up faster than the touchdowns. But with Winston still willing to attack every inch of the field, and with Nabers and Isaiah Likely involved in the offense, the Giants have reason to stay with the veteran for now.
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