Could J.J. McCarthy Lead the Giants to the Playoffs?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

J.J. McCarthy’s Giants Opportunity Could Reshape the Division

J.J. McCarthy’s performance on Sunday may prove to be a difference-maker in the division and could make his acquisition one of the season’s best trades. After previously doubting him, there is now reason to believe McCarthy could help take the Giants to the playoffs.

McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter, setting a Giants passing record. Although some of those yards came in garbage time, he made several impressive throws and nearly completed a pass in the back of the end zone. His play resembled what he showed at Michigan and suggested his struggles in Minnesota may have been related to the situation around him.

It may still become the Jaxson Dart show moving forward, but if McCarthy plays well, the fifth-round pick involved in the deal could turn back into a first-round pick for the Giants at the end of the season. With a good coach and a potentially capable quarterback, the Giants could make a run.

The next test will reveal much more about McCarthy. Houston is favored by double digits, but its defense has not played well this season. Unlike the Saints, Houston will have a full week to prepare specifically for McCarthy. That preparation could determine whether Sunday’s performance was the beginning of something significant or simply the result of facing a team without a plan for him.

McCarthy’s arrival could also change the Giants’ locker room. The team knows what to expect from Jameis Winston, who can be a serviceable backup for a few weeks but has repeatedly struggled with turnovers over a full season. His production may help fantasy football teams, but throwing roughly as many interceptions as touchdowns is not sustainable in the NFL.

McCarthy, meanwhile, made difficult throws repeatedly and looked like more than an average replacement. His momentum could come crashing down against Houston, but he may be the one player capable of completely changing his team. If he performs like the first-round quarterback Minnesota drafted him to be, the Giants could win the division and potentially go even further.

Things clearly went badly for McCarthy in Minnesota, but the Giants have given him another opportunity. Now he has the chance to prove whether Sunday’s performance was a genuine turning point.