Giants Stun Texans as NFC East Race Takes Shape in Week 7

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Giants Upset Houston as NFC East Race Continues and Trade Questions Surround Colts

The NFC East remains up for grabs, and the Giants strengthened their position with an outright victory as double-digit underdogs. The result ruined plenty of survivor picks, but the Giants played better than many expected.

Houston had looked strong against Jacksonville and appeared capable of saving its season. Instead, the Texans suffered another disappointing loss as their defensive problems continued. They have been run over by opponents, and a defense that was expected to be their calling card has not delivered.

The point spread looked unusually high throughout the game, and the result confirmed those concerns. McCarthy was not fantastic and did not match his performance from the previous game, but he did enough to help the Giants win.

The Giants look like a team capable of finishing slightly above .500, which could be enough to make them a force in their division. This was a massive win, and they now have a legitimate chance to win the NFC East.

Houston, meanwhile, should not be this bad. The Texans also opened poorly last season before recovering, but this loss was costly. A one-point win would have meant a great deal in the standings, regardless of the result against the spread.

Even with Houston’s head-to-head victory over Jacksonville, it now feels like Jacksonville’s division to lose. The Colts covered against Minnesota, but they appear likely to wave the white flag in the coming weeks.

Minnesota did enough offensively and delivered defensively in a 16-10 victory. The result did not produce a cover, but Minnesota remained undefeated after coming out of its bye.

The Colts’ situation also raises questions about whether Jonathan Taylor could be traded and whether the team should begin stripping down its roster. However, NFL trade deadlines regularly generate significant speculation without producing many actual deals.

A Jonathan Taylor trade would be complicated. Indianapolis would need to find the right destination and determine his value. A first-round pick for a running back appears unlikely, but the Colts might not want to accept a second-round selection.

The better option may be for Indianapolis to keep Taylor and consider potential deals during the offseason rather than forcing a move now.