JJ McCarthy dropped into the Giants’ Sunday game against the Saints and absolutely sparked a comeback, engineering three scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Dude was making plays right away after Jameis Winston got benched in the second half, and even though the Giants ultimately lost 34-27 to the Saints, it set off a total firestorm in New York. Coach John Harbaugh’s QB situation just keeps dominating the news, and now he’s got a seriously tough call to make with his team sitting first in the NFC East.
The Giants’ QB Rollercoaster Is Officially Off the Rails
Harbaugh’s first season has been a wild ride at quarterback. First, they lost Jaxson Dart to a season-ending injury back in Week 2. Then, Jameis Winston stepped in. Winston, in classic Winston fashion, had his ups and downs over five games, but he still led the Giants to a 2-1-1 record as the starter. That’s not terrible, right? But then Sunday happened. Winston struggled hard, and Harbaugh pulled him, throwing McCarthy into the fire. The rookie answered with those three late scoring drives that almost stole the game. It’s a gut punch when you see that kind of spark and still come up short.
Harbaugh’s High-Stakes Decision
Now everyone’s staring down Harbaugh, waiting for a decision on who starts next week. On Monday, he was asked point blank if Winston was still the guy for their road game against the Houston Texans. His response? “We’re working through that now, homing in on a decision.” “Homing in” doesn’t exactly scream confidence, does it? This is a huge call for the Giants. They’re in first place in the NFC East, so whoever gets the nod has to keep that momentum rolling. They’re playing the Texans next, a team that started 0-4 but has suddenly won two straight, including beating the Jaguars in London. Houston’s defense, especially pass rusher Will Anderson who’s leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks, is no joke. McCarthy’s mobility could be a weapon, but his lack of experience running the Giants’ offense could also be a major problem. Harbaugh’s probably going to give both guys a ton of reps in practice before he finally makes up his mind.
More Headaches for Big Blue
And if the QB situation wasn’t enough, Harbaugh’s got another mess to sort out in the backfield. Cam Skattebo, who’s supposedly the Giants’ starting running back on paper, didn’t get a single carry during that Saints loss. Zero! Harbaugh basically said he’s waiting for one of his running backs to step up and actually earn the job. So, yeah, it’s not just who’s throwing the ball that’s an open question for New York.
The Giants are heading to Houston next with Harbaugh needing to figure out two key spots. This decision at QB isn’t just about one game; it’s about whether they can hold onto that NFC East lead. Get ready for a tense week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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