The scoreboard in Houston is locked up at 14-14 at halftime, after a wild first half that saw both teams trading blows and a few crucial misses. Giants kicker Dominic Zvada shanked a 44-yard field goal as time expired, ensuring this one stays even heading into the locker room, his second miss of the half. This game has been a back-and-forth battle, with both squads showing flashes, but the Giants are leaving you wanting more on special teams.
McCarthy’s Big First Start, Zvada’s Costly Kicks
J.J. McCarthy is out there making his first start for the Giants today, his first since way back in Week 18 last season, and the kid is slinging it. He’s already stacked up 178 yards in the first half alone, going 9-for-12. We’re seeing some serious deep-ball action, too, with McCarthy becoming the first Giants quarterback since 2011 to drop two 40-plus-yard completions in a single half. Malik Nabers is benefiting big time, snagging four catches for a whopping 94 yards. Running back Cam Skattebo, who had zero touches last week, is getting involved with eight carries for 27 yards, and Jameis Winston even punched in a touchdown on a quarterback sneak, adding three carries for three yards on those short-yardage plays. The offense is moving, outgaining the Texans 221 to 144. So why aren’t they ahead? Well, Zvada’s earlier miss from 56 yards, combined with that 44-yarder at the buzzer, is definitely staring them down.
Tank Dell Returns With a Bang, Harrison Jr. Scores
Meanwhile, the Texans are absolutely battling, and it’s been a day of comebacks for them. C.J. Stroud has been steady, going 10-of-15 for 108 yards. The highlight for Houston has to be Marvin Harrison Jr. scoring his first touchdown as a Texan, a 6-yard strike from his former Ohio State teammate, Stroud. But talk about a feel-good story: Tank Dell is back on the field for the first time in almost two years after a gruesome knee injury in Week 13 of the 2024 season kept him out all of last season and six games this year. He’s not just back, he’s making an impact! Dell leads the team in receiving yards, including a monster 43-yard reception. He looks ready to roll, and that’s a huge boost for the Texans offense.
This game is far from over, tied at 14-14. The Giants clearly have an offensive rhythm going with McCarthy airing it out, but they absolutely have to clean up the kicking game. The Texans, with Dell making a heroic return and Harrison Jr. finding the end zone, are showing they’ve got the firepower to hang tough. The second half is gonna be a dogfight, and every single snap is going to matter if either team wants to pull ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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