‘They can trust me’: As JJ McCarthy explodes in fourth quarter of Giants-Saints yo-yo game, John Harbaugh now has a decision to make

McCarthy’s play, in his first significant quarterback action since the Giants dealt him a fifth-round draft pick on Sept. 28 (he spotted a trick play here and there), put him firmly in the Giants starting quarterback conversation ahead of the Giants’ visit next week to a The Houston Texans team is gaining momentum.

Harbaugh declined to name a starter Sunday after the game.

“I can’t answer that right now,” Harbaugh said at the start of his postgame press conference. “It’s not even up for discussion or conversation right now. We have to get back to work. I have no problem with Jameis. I like the way he competes, I like the way he fights, all that kind of stuff. He was up and down today, that’s for sure, but those things aren’t all going to be decided 10 minutes after a game.”

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Nine questions later, Harbaugh’s tone had changed slightly. When would he begin the process of deciding whether to change quarterbacks?

“It starts now,” Harbaugh said.

After a 34-10 deficit, McCarthy helped the Giants rebound

As the first half drew to a close, McCarthy’s day probably seemed like his last two Sundays: a goalie or a trick play here and there, but otherwise no action.

Winston had beaten the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals just before and after the Giants acquired McCarthy deep after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee surgery. The Giants tied the Washington Commanders last week thanks in part to sloppy clock management by Jayden Daniels and co.

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Until Winston was losing games for the Giants, at least some inside the building expected him to keep his job. Then the Saints scored a field goal with 1:23 left in the half, Giants kick returner Charlie Jones fumbled on the next play and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough hit receiver Bryce Lance for a touchdown with five seconds left. A 10-point lead suddenly meant a tie at halftime. Less than three minutes into the second half, Saints running back Alvin Kamara scored another touchdown.

The Saints had scored 27 unanswered points by the end of the third quarter, aided by a pass from Winston to Nabers intercepted with 4:23 left in the third.

Once Winston’s next two outings featured a three-and-out and a second interception, his day was over. Harbaugh had already sent a message to fumbling running back Cam Skattebo, who received no carries against the Saints (Harbaugh insisted that Skattebo’s getting no runs after 12-20 in each previous game was “not intentional,” even though Skattebo acknowledged he was being punished.)

Why not also send a message to Winston, who threw the interception?

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“I just left a lot of plays that I could have executed better on,” said Winston, who completed 14 of 26 attempts for 152 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

After McCarthy’s first series ended with an interception, he rebounded to lead back-to-back touchdown drives with completions of 27, 49 and 24 yards to Nabers, Jones and Likely.

Color analyst Drew Brees praised the way McCarthy layered throws and gave his targets a chance, including a probable airborne for the touchdown. Another field goal and two defensive stops, and the Giants were leading again in the final minute, with the game on the line.

It’s likely he ultimately didn’t catch McCarthy’s fourth-and-1 shot in the end zone. But the energy in the locker room seemed to change with the way McCarthy rallied them.

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“It was right at home in terms of just playing quarterback, being able to run the whole show, making protection calls and being able to throw the ball a little bit…” McCarthy said from the locker room postgame. “I hope I just showed them that I can do my job at a high enough level that they can trust me.”

Even without Harbaugh endorsing McCarthy as a starter going forward, a locker room fond of Winston personally had earned McCarthy’s respect professionally.

“I think he just showed a spark,” guard Patrick Ricard said from his locker. “And it’s not a knock on Jameis. I feel like Jameis played his heart out and did everything he could to help us win. But I feel like when JJ came in, he just had a let it go mentality” “I’m just going to throw this thing, throw it and try to make guys play,” and they all did.

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“I think the biggest thing is giving guys chances and opportunities to make plays, and he made some plays with his feet, which is really encouraging, and I was happy for him.”

Harbaugh, too, was ready to praise McCarthy’s mobility, even as he dodged several other questions after the loss.

McCarthy used his mobility to escape the sack and climb into the pocket on his 46-yard run to Nabers. He dropped back and ran 28 yards down the field in the final minute to keep the game alive. And he used it to get out of the pocket on his final dart, although he later said he wished he had extended that play even longer.

“It’s absolutely a big asset for him,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a very mobile quarterback. Absolutely, that’s a plus for him. For sure. A big part of his skill set.”

Will Harbaugh choose to prioritize that skill set over Winston’s experience in the coming weeks? The Giants’ interest in McCarthy stemmed, in part, from his skill-set similarities (if not the same track record) with Dart, around whom the Giants designed their offense.

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Ricard, who played nine seasons for Harbaugh in Baltimore before joining him for a 10th in New York, said merit would drive the decision.

“Since I’ve known Harbs, he’s always been (lineup-wise) the best player,” Ricard said. “In 10th grade with him now, that’s still true. If you play well, you’ll keep playing. If you don’t play well, then he’ll find someone who will play well and give them those opportunities.

“I think every time you play you just have to take the opportunities and do your best.”

The Giants could opt to give Winston the start next week against the Texans, knowing their bye week and a longer period to prepare for McCarthy who will follow afterward.

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The Giants remain atop a struggling NFC East, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys falling to 2-4 on Sunday while the Washington Commanders enter “Monday Night Football” with a victory.

Winston completed 90 of 158 attempts (57%) for 957 yards, 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions while leading the Giants to 2-1-1. McCarthy completed 11 of 21 (52.4%) for 243 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, his 90.0 passer rating being more efficient than Winston’s 76.4.

What would McCarthy look like after a week of game planning around his skills and practice reps with the starters?

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He refused to defend himself publicly.

“The only thing I focus on is getting better every day,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, Coach Harbaugh has to make a lot of decisions, and those are his decisions. And I trust him completely with everything he does, any decision he makes.

“And at the end of the day, I just focus on getting better.”