Perhaps the only thing more improbable than the Giants’ first place finish in the NFC East heading into their bye week is how they got there.
John Harbaugh was expected to be a difference maker in his first year at MetLife Stadium, but not like this.
Not with Devin Singletary, an afterthought for much of the season, ending Sunday’s win at Houston with a 30-yard touchdown run. Not with Jameis Winston — thrust into the starting role when Jaxson Dart was lost for the year with a knee injury in the second week of the season — now back in a backup role and still rushing to score against the Texans.
And certainly not with JJ McCarthy leading the way as the team’s new quarterback after his career seemed to be going nowhere in Minnesota, which drafted McCarthy 10th overall in 2024.
But here are the Giants, at 4-2-1 and with a clear path to a division title.
It’s McCarthy who may have the best chance to change the trajectory of his career after being dealt to the Giants for a fifth-round pick less than a month ago.
He responded by throwing for 243 yards in less than a quarter when he replaced Winston late in their loss to the Saints, then followed that up with a career-high 252 yards against the Texans in the same stadium where he led Michigan to a 2024 national title.
“It’s one of those things where you think you’re starting over, but no, you’re going from experience,” McCarthy said of getting back on track with the Giants.
He’s still only 23 years old and only started 10 games for the Vikings last season before falling to third on their roster behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz to start this season.
But he arrived at MetLife Stadium seemingly built for the offense the Giants hoped to run before Dart was injured.
In their first game of the season against Dallas, Dart and the rest of the offense looked virtually unstoppable.
Dart and McCarthy are not the same players, but they possess similar attributes and were drafted in the first round just a year apart.
McCarthy was selected four spots behind Malik Nabers and there was no shot that anyone would have predicted the pair would connect on passes together.
But Nabers is a big reason why McCarthy has found success so quickly with his new team. In less than five quarters together, Nabers caught 11 passes for 206 yards from McCarthy.
Nabers, of course, is in great shape after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. He has surpassed 100 receiving yards in each of the last four games.
And while any team gets a bye week, it should be especially beneficial for the Giants, as it will give McCarthy more time to work with his new teammates before their return to action on Nov. 8 in Philadelphia.
Despite his struggles with the Vikings, McCarthy said Sunday that he started to feel more comfortable in the league during the Week 14 win over Washington. After three straight losses in which he threw six interceptions and just two touchdowns, McCarthy — after missing a week in concussion protocol — split the Commanders 16-for-23 passing for 163 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He then won his final three starts, although he missed another with a hand injury.
“Just being able to really start to feel the defense slowing down and understanding the concepts, the intent of the plays, the situation,” McCarthy said. “There are a lot of things that go into playing quarterback in the NFL and it takes a little time to figure those things out. I definitely feel like I’m on an upward trajectory after this game. I continue to hone my craft and get better every day.
He appears to have already gained a solid foundation in Matt Nagy’s offense, which is why Harbaugh was confident in accompanying McCarthy against Houston.
For the Giants to continue building on their success, McCarthy will need to prove he can continue to grow as a quarterback.
The early returns, however, are promising — and another example, according to Harbaugh, of a player taking advantage of another opportunity.
“It’s about understanding if things aren’t working out for you, that’s not the final word,” Harbaugh said Monday. “At the end of the day, you have the final say on everything.”
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