The New York Giants delivered a statement win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. JJ McCarthy thrived in his first start, Cam Skattebo made a statement after getting benched against the Saints, and the defense stepped up despite several key injuries. With their bye week ahead, are the Giants primed for a playoff appearance?
JJ McCarthy Impresses In His First Giants Start
After a struggling start to his career, the Minnesota Vikings traded McCarthy to the Giants for a 5th-round pick. He got his first chance to play in the fourth quarter of a week-six game against the Saints, taking over for a struggling Jameis Winston, who threw three picks. In that one quarter, McCarthy threw for 243 yards and a touchdown. He had one interception as well, but almost completing the late comeback gave John Harbaugh the faith to start him.
The Texans’ defense isn’t easy to start against, but McCarthy balled out. He threw for over 70% completion and 252 yards. He didn’t throw for a touchdown, but he also didn’t throw an interception, so it’s already an improvement over Jameis Winston. In his rookie season for Minnesota, he only threw for over 200 yards twice. He has his confidence back and is looking like his Michigan self. In this small sample, he’s shown the skill to keep the Giants’ momentum rolling. He’s everything Giants fans hoped for when they traded for him.
Malik Nabers And Malachi Fields Lead The Giants’ Receiving Corps
The Giants’ receiving corps was a major question mark heading into the season. With Wan’Dale Robinson leaving for Tennessee, the Giants had to rebuild the corps around Nabers, who was returning from an ACL tear. The Odell Beckham Jr. experience didn’t end how fans hoped, and Calvin Austin III tore his ACL after signing in the offseason. Other than that, the new additions have been great.
Third-round rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields seemed to have his breakout game against Houston. He caught four of five targets for 83 yards, including a 47-yard breakaway reception in the first quarter. He showed flashes in prior games, catching two in each, but this was his most efficient performance yet. Isaiah Likely struggled and had his worst game of the season, but the Giants weren’t very affected by it. New York stayed competitive while one of their best weapons was a non-factor, which is a great sign for the season to come.
Malik Nabers made up for Likely’s absence with yet another impressive game. His 111-yard performance is his fourth 100-yard game in a row. He’s playing like one of the league’s best wide receivers, which is a relief after he tore his ACL. Some doubters questioned him at the start of the season, especially after the disastrous Rams game in week two, when he caught only one pass. Any patient fan knew it would be fine, and they were right. In a one-game sample, McCarthy and the receiving corps look fantastic.
Cam Skattebo Leads the Giants’ Rushing Attack Against Houston
After the costly fumble against the Washington Commanders, John Harbaugh benched him for the entire game against the Saints. That was a game they could’ve easily won had he played – New Orleans has allowed over 100 rushing yards in every game BUT against the Giants. Harbaugh corrected his mistake after the game, cutting Najee Harris (he’s only averaged 3.2 yards per attempt this season). In the Houston game, Skattebo officially got his job back, and Tyrone Tracy got an increased role after a solid showing against New Orleans (two total touchdowns).
Against Houston, Skattebo had his best game of the season with 124 yards (the most yards in a game since he was drafted) and a touchdown. He delivered the exact performance Harbaugh demanded after his punishment. Harbaugh had nothing but praise for the running back room following the game.
“You saw it. They did. They took the bull by the horns”
Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy also did damage. Tracy scored his own touchdown, and Singletary scored the game-winning 30-yard touchdown to end overtime. This performance reminded some Giants fans of the “Earth, Wind and Fire” running back room in 2008 (Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw).
The run blocking has been excellent with the new additions Patrick Ricard and Francis Mauigoa (as well as longtime Giant Jermaine Eluemunor). They have filled in for Andrew Thomas, who has struggled since suffering a groin injury in week two. Mauigoa only has one penalty all season, and Eluemunor allowed only two pressures all game while dealing with Will Anderson Jr.
Unfortunately, Tracy just hit IR after injuring his hamstring during the win and will be out at least until week 12. Skattebo also injured his hamstring, but should be back right after the week eight bye.
Giants Defense Continues To Deliver Despite Key Injuries
The Giants’ defense has done well despite numerous injuries (Tremaine Edmunds is now out for the entire season). Arvell Reese remains a strong candidate for defensive rookie of the year after putting up seven total tackles and two QB pressures. Abdul Carter bounced back after not recording a tackle against the Saints, and he’s back to his dominant self. Micah McFadden stood out against Houston, with 10 solo tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
The biggest surprise this season has been Deonte Baks. He struggled since his rookie season and nearly fell out of the Giants’ lineup, going without an interception since then. Last season, he finished with only 31 tackles, less than half of his rookie season. He already has twenty this year. He proved himself once with a game-winning pick-six against Arizona, and again with an elite performance against Houston. He was typically lined up against star wide receiver Nico Collins, and only allowed four yards and one catch. Collins finished the game with six yards, his lowest value since he was a rookie.
Unfortunately, one of the Giants’ defense’s biggest liabilities is currently Kayvon Thibodeaux. After two solid seasons in the league, he quickly began to decline and now looks like half the player he used to be. Against the Texans, he blitzed seven times with zero pressures, and he hasn’t recorded a sack since week four last season. That’s a far cry from the 11.5 sacks he recorded in his second year. He also dropped what could’ve been a game-clinching interception in overtime. Had New York lost the game, he would’ve been largely responsible.
The Giants Still May Have Not Solved Their Kicking Issue
Dominic Zvada is the other guy who almost handed New York a loss. New York has had embarrassing kicking woes over the last two seasons because Graham Gano has been constantly injured. They went through four kickers last season, most of whom were mediocre at best. After a strong start, rookie Dominic Zvada has quickly fallen into a slump. He missed three field goals against the Washington Commanders, and even one make could’ve kept the game from ending in a tie. Against Houston, he missed both of his attempts. He has done his best to make sure the Giants play down to the wire (or overtime) each week.
After the Titans game, he looked to be the kicker of the future, going 4/4 on field goals, and the next week against Arizona, he made two 50+ yarders. There is still hope; he is only a rookie, and all but one of his misses came from over 50 yards (the other was 48). He has to pick it up soon, though, before New York looks for yet another replacement.
The End Of My Giants Rant
The Giants have high hopes for the rest of the season. They lead the division by two games, and after the Bye week, they play the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. Coach Harbaugh himself calls this the most important stretch of the season. New York can essentially end both their playoff hopes with wins As long as McCarthy and Skattebo keep up what they did in week seven, everything else will continue to fall in line for a playoff appearance.
