Giants at Texans, Week 7: Live updates, discussion, news, highlights

J.J. McCarthy gets his first start on Sunday. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The 3-2-1 New York Giants aim to end a two-game winless Sunday against the 2-4 Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Oddsmakers don’t like the Giants’ chances, with FanDuel Sportsbook posting the Giants as 10.5-point underdogs on the road. Game time is 1 p.m. ET with the broadcast on FOX. [See full viewing, listening, wagering information]

class="wp-block-paragraph">The game will mark J.J. McCarthy’s first start as the Giants’ quarterback. Jameis Winston went 2-1-1 after replacing the out-for-the-season Jaxson Dart. After a nearly-heroic effort in the fourth quarter last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, McCarthy now gets his chance.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Use this as your discussion thread throughout the game. See our Giants-Texans StoryStream for all of our pre- and post-game coverage.

Pre-game ‘things I think’Here are a few things I am thinking about as kickoff approaches.

McCarthy’s starting will be the big story, and it will be interesting. One of the biggest reasons the Giants acquired McCarthy is that, in an offense built to capitalize on Dart’s running ability, he enables them to use most of the playbook.

“I know for us going into this thing, knowing what we wanted to do with Jaxson’s ability and his traits, him and Jameis Winston are very different, and that’s okay,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said this week. “Now coming into this thing with J.J., you get to a point where his skill set is very similar to Jaxson. So it’s like, okay, it brings back – we talked about percentages the first time we were here, right? You talked about whether it’s 30 percent of the offense is gone. Well, maybe now 20 percent of that 30 that was gone is back.”

Because of that bigger playbook, the upside with McCarthy is probably higher than with Winston. That, though, doesn’t mean there isn’t also plenty of potential for things to be messy.

The ceiling of the Giants season hinges on how well this move goes.

• >The play of the defense will be telling. Dennard Wilson’s harsh public callout of his group’s effort vs. the Saints was great media and discussion fodder, but it was also risky. This generation of players is not accustomed to being spoken to or about in that manner. Ask Yankees fans about their frustration with the kid gloves treatment their players get from Aaron Boone and the front office. Whether they react positively or negatively to it will be interesting.

There is also the reality of how much loss the defense has suffered. Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Chauncey Golston are gone for the season. Greg Newsome and Jevon Holland are out this week. Does this defense have enough playmakers left to slow Houston’s offense?

• >The running back timeshare. Najee Harris is an ex-Giant, and Cam Skattebo should be back in a major role vs. the Texans. How the Giants divvy up time and touches between Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary will be interesting.

One thing is certain. Not getting any touches last week, then watching Harris get cut, has gotten Skattebo’s attention.

“I think I got taught a lesson,” Skattebo said this week. “Nobody’s safe. It’s as simple as that. I think when we go on the field and we perform, if we’re not performing, we understand there’s a possibility of not being here. If I don’t perform, I know there’s a possibility of me not being here.

• >Jalin Hyatt’s role. The Giants wouldn’t have elevated the 2023 third-round pick from the practice squad just to be a spectator. I am curious how much Hyatt plays, and how Nagy uses him. The Giants need more explosive plays, and Hyatt’s speed combined with McCarthy’s ability to throw the deep ball could be part of why Hyatt is getting this chance.

“Kudos” to Hyatt for earning this opportunity. He impressed John Harbaugh and his staff enough before being injured this summer to get a look as a punt gunner. They thought enough of Hyatt to keep him on the practice squad. Now, it is clear they have thought enough of his work the past six weeks to give him this chance. Let’s see if he can take advantage of it.

• >The NFL trade deadline. I am fascinated to find out whether or not the Giants will aggressively try to buy between now and the Nov. 10 deadline. They won’t be sellers, but there are end-of-contract players they could move like John Michael Schmitz or Kayvon Thibodeaux for the right offer. I think the Giants might be “adjusters,” both buying and selling if the opportunity is right. Maybe they make a big splash for a player like Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor or Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas. Maybe they don’t do anything at all. Protecting draft assets unless they can get a player they believe is more than a short-term fix has to be a priority.

Right now, my guess would be on the Giants at least making a small move to bolster the defensive line depth. We will be covering the trade deadline in depth over the next couple of weeks, so be sure to watch for that.