What changed
The New York Giants beat the Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime on the road, despite Houston being favored by roughly nine to ten points. JJ McCarthy completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards in his first Giants win, prompting Colin Cowherd to compare his troubled start with Sam Darnold’s eventual career turnaround.
Why it matters
McCarthy’s arrival has changed the Giants’ quarterback conversation quickly. Acquired on September 28, he helped New York move to 4-2-1 and first place in the NFC East, while Houston fell to 2-5.
The win also showed a team finding multiple ways to score. Four Giants players ran for touchdowns, reportedly the first time New York had done that since December 3, 1950. McCarthy is now 3-0 against C.J. Stroud dating to their college meetings, and the victory was his seventh in 11 career starts.
The Darnold comparison is useful as a question, not a conclusion. One upset and seven wins do not show that McCarthy will follow the same path, and it remains unclear whether he will keep the job long term.
The next test arrives November 8, when New York visits Philadelphia after its bye.
Comments
No comments yet.