J.J. McCarthy nearly authored a stunning fourth-quarter comeback for the New York Giants on Sunday, replacing Jameis Winston in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints and throwing for 243 yards in little more than 11 minutes. The late rally left coach John Harbaugh with a quarterback decision to evaluate before next weekend’s road game against the Houston Texans.
Key takeaways
- McCarthy entered with the Giants trailing 34-10 early in the fourth quarter and directed three touchdown drives.
- Winston completed 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before being replaced.
- McCarthy went 11-for-21, threw a touchdown to Isaiah Likely and finished with 271 total yards.
- A fourth-and-1 pass intended for Likely in the end zone fell incomplete with 12 seconds remaining.
- Harbaugh did not name a starter for the Giants’ upcoming game at Houston.
McCarthy sparks late Giants push
McCarthy’s first possession ended with an interception, but the former No. 10 overall draft pick settled in quickly after that mistake. He threw a scoring pass to Likely and kept New York’s offense moving during a frantic final stretch, bringing the Giants to within one touchdown in the final minute.
His 243 passing yards in the fourth quarter matched the most by a Giants quarterback in at least 35 years, equaling Eli Manning’s total against Tampa Bay on Sept. 16, 2012. McCarthy’s 271 combined rushing and passing yards also ranked second among quarterbacks in any fourth quarter since 1991, behind only Drew Brees’ 294-yard performance for New Orleans against Atlanta on Nov. 9, 2008.
New York had one final chance to force overtime, but McCarthy’s attempt to Likely on fourth-and-1 from the end zone was incomplete with 12 seconds on the clock.
“You’re not happy after a loss,” McCarthy said. “But I was really proud of how the guys around me responded and continued to believe we could win it. That will matter a lot as we move forward.”
McCarthy arrived in New York in a Sept. 28 trade with Minnesota. Before Sunday, he had been used only in limited packages: two rushing attempts at Washington last week and one carry in the second quarter against the Saints. He had not attempted a pass for the Giants before taking over in the fourth quarter.
Harbaugh delays decision on Houston starter
Winston started against New Orleans and threw a touchdown pass to Tracy, but his second interception prompted the change with the Giants facing a 24-point deficit. After the game, Winston said he regretted missed opportunities.
“Personally, I left too many plays on the field that I could have handled better,” Winston said.
Harbaugh praised McCarthy for producing under difficult circumstances, while cautioning that the fourth-quarter environment was not a standard measure of quarterback play.
“He came in and did a heck of a job considering the situation, with it basically being desperation time,” Harbaugh said. “That is different from regular football, but he made plays and gave us an opportunity to win at the end.”
The coach said no immediate conclusion would be drawn about the starting job for Houston. Harbaugh also defended Winston’s competitiveness despite an uneven afternoon.
“I can’t answer that right now,” Harbaugh said. “It is not even a discussion at this point. We have to go back and work. I have no issue with Jameis at all. I love how he competes and fights. His performance had ups and downs today, certainly, but those decisions are not made 10 minutes after a game.”
