Big Blue Review: Week 6 vs. Saints; L; NO: 34, NYG: 27
A change is coming. It has to be. On Sunday, the “Jameis Winston Experience” became the “JJ McCarthy Experience,” and everybody noticed.
The Giants lost 34-27 on Sunday, but not for lack of trying. After Winston threw three interceptions and left the game in the fourth quarter, McCarthy tried to rewrite the narrative.
The Giants trailed by 24 points with 12 minutes left in regulation. Thanks to McCarthy, they only lost by seven. While Winston completed 14 pass attempts for 152 yards in three quarters, McCarthy completed 11 passes for 243 yards in under 12 minutes. It was the second-best fourth-quarter passing performance by a Giants quarterback in franchise history.
“I thought [McCarthy] came in there and did a heck of a job for us given the circumstances [in] desperation time,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “[He] made some nice plays and got us back. [He gave] us a chance to win the game.”
No, the Giants did not beat the New Orleans Saints. But even when all hope seemed lost, and they were down three scores, they showed grit and a relentless willingness to win.
That rarely happened last year or two years ago.
These Giants are different.
According to FOX Sports, the Giants have allowed the 14th-most rushing yards per game, and their 104.8 rushing yards gained per game rank 19th. These metrics set the tone early on Sunday as Harbaugh sat Cam Skattebo, usually his top running back.
Skattebo, who fumbled in overtime against the Commanders last week, got zero carries and was held to six snaps. Relying on Najee Harris (cut this morning), Devin Singletary, and Tyrone Tracy Jr., the Giants trailed by 91 rushing yards. Big Blue ran for 84 yards, and the Saints totaled 175.
Harbaugh’s decision on Skattebo had to do with more than his costly fumble last Sunday. Maybe it’s because he fumbled four times in five games, or he’s a bit banged up, or both. The Giants don’t have a generational running back like Derrick Henry or Jahmyr Gibbs, but someone should start.
“One of those guys needs to step up and be the back, and none of those guys [have] done that yet,” Harbaugh said. “When one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they’ll be the back. That’s the answer. That’s as honest as I can be about it.”
Even without Skattebo, the Giants still turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions and a costly late second-quarter fumble. The Giants led 10-0 before the Saints kicked a field goal with 83 seconds remaining. On the subsequent kickoff return, Charlie Jones fumbled, and New Orleans tied it in the final seconds.
The Saints kept piling on from there. They scored 34 unanswered points, all with Winston still under center for the Giants. The Saints kept scoring while the Giants committed penalties, losing 73 yards on 10 flags. But turnovers were their biggest weakness, and four is difficult to overcome.
McCarthy almost did, though, taking the Giants from a 0.1% chance to win to 17 straight points and a one-score deficit. He led the team in passing yards (243) and rushing yards (26) despite throwing an interception in his first drive, which the Giants turned into a Saints turnover.
Then McCarthy attacked, starting with a 151-second touchdown drive featuring a 27-yard dart to Malik Nabers and Tracy’s second touchdown. McCarthy found Isaiah Likely for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 16 points.
Likely caught six passes for 99 yards, and Nabers caught 12 for 165. They became the first duo in Giants history to each record over 11 catches and 90 yards in one game (Sharp). Nabers and Likely rank fifth and sixth in the NFL in receptions, and Likely leads all tight ends with 383 receiving yards.
After McCarthy’s first touchdown drive, the Saints went three-and-out, and McCarthy responded with a four-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. He started with a 49-yard pass to Charlie Jones, and his next throw was nearly picked. McCarthy collected himself and fired a 24-yard touchdown pass to Likely.
Trailing by 10 points after a failed two-point conversion, the Giants settled for a field goal on their next drive. With just over two minutes left, Dominic Zvada nailed a 41-yard kick, putting the Giants within a touchdown of tying the game.
Harbaugh was criticized for not attempting a field goal earlier in the drive. They could have kicked with 2:56 remaining, but they continued pushing for the touchdown. Marcus Mbow then took a penalty, and McCarthy got sacked. He recovered with a 17-yard pass, but it wasn’t enough for a first down.
“We had a chance to hit a couple of shots and maybe score a touchdown,” Harbaugh said. “At that point, we were trying to get it done by 2:13. That’s the time management there. We weren’t able to quite get it done by 2:13 with the clock and all that.”
The Giants have plenty to work on. They need to fix their rush defense. They need to name a starting running back and decide whether McCarthy has earned the right to be their starting quarterback.
Despite their weaknesses, the Giants still lead the NFC East. Washington lost yesterday, Dallas lost Sunday, and Philadelphia received troubling news regarding Jalen Hurts’ blood clots, which will sideline him for the rest of the season.
So, the division is the Giants’ to lose. But will it be with Winston or McCarthy?
The 3-2-1 Giants’ next game will be next Sunday at 1 PM (12 PM CDT) on the road against the Houston Texans (2-4) (FOX, FOX ONE).
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Giants
