J.J. McCarthy gives the New York Giants a more mobile quarterback who could finally get their offense moving, but John Harbaugh is taking a serious risk by starting him against Houston with three offensive tackles dealing with injuries. Was McCarthy's huge fourth quarter against New Orleans enough to justify the move, or is he being thrown into a situation that's almost impossible to succeed in?
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Did the Giants make the right decision starting J.J. McCarthy against the Texans?
McCarthy's mobility gives the offense options that were limited with Jameis Winston, but his turnover concerns, unfamiliarity with the system, and Houston's pass rush make this a difficult first start. Drew and Rob explain why they ultimately trust Harbaugh while still questioning whether the switch should have waited until after the bye.
McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter against the Saints, but Houston presents a completely different challenge. Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Marcus Mbow all missed Wednesday's practice, prompting the Giants to add Josh Sills. With Will Anderson Jr. coming after McCarthy, can the offensive line give him any chance to settle in?
And was Winston ever the right backup for an offense designed around Jaxson Dart?
The Giants also released Najee Harris and Jihad Ward while promoting Trace Ford. Those moves led to a bigger argument about the running game. Drew makes a strong case that Tyrone Tracy Jr. deserves more carries, pointing to his production when given a consistent workload. Cam Skattebo has received considerably more opportunities, but neither the rotation nor the blocking has produced a reliable rushing attack.
Should Tyrone Tracy be the Giants' lead running back instead of Cam Skattebo?
Drew and Rob also weigh potential trade targets Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson, including what New York could realistically afford to give up. Neither move is presented as an agreed or confirmed trade.
The problems aren't limited to the offense. Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader's assessments of the Giants' run-defense struggles raise concerns about assignments and communication. Secondary injuries and special-teams mistakes add to the questions facing a team still leading the NFC East.
Looking ahead to Houston, C.J. Stroud is playing better, Tank Dell is returning, and the Texans have won two straight games. Drew and Rob examine how McCarthy can attack Houston's defense, whether the Giants can slow Stroud, and what would qualify as an encouraging performance before the bye.
Finally, it's Patriots vs. Bears on Thursday Night Football. Drake Maye and Caleb Williams have both impressed lately, and while Drew and Rob lean toward Chicago winning, they split on their against-the-spread picks.
The Giants are in first place, have a new starting quarterback, and are running out of healthy offensive linemen. Sunday against Houston could tell us just how far this team has come—and how much work is still left.
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