Giants at Texans, Week 7: Live updates, discussion, news, highlights
J.J. McCarthy gets his first start on Sunday. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The 3-2-1 New York Giants aim to end a two-game winless Sunday against the 2-4 Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Oddsmakers don’t like the Giants’ chances, with FanDuel Sportsbook posting the Giants as 10.5-point underdogs on the road. Game time is 1 p.m. ET with the broadcast on FOX. [See full viewing, listening, wagering information]
The game will mark J.J. McCarthy’s first start as the Giants’ quarterback. Jameis Winston went 2-1-1 after replacing the out-for-the-season Jaxson Dart. After a nearly-heroic effort in the fourth quarter last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, McCarthy now gets his chance.
Use this as your discussion thread throughout the game. See our Giants-Texans StoryStream for all of our pre- and post-game coverage.
In-game updates
The New York Giants win the opening coin toss and choose to defer to the second half. The Texans will get the ball to start the game.
Giants have won the toss and deferred to the second half.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) October 25, 2026
First quarter
Tyrone Tracy with a 32-yard return on the ensuing kick-off, and now it’s McCarthy time.
Nice 32-yard kick return from Tyrone Tracy Jr. and the kick return unit to start
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) October 25, 2026
The 58-yard field goal hooks inside of the right upright. The Texans lead 3-0 with 11:40 in the third quarter.
The Giants win the challenge and hold the Texans to a field goal on their opening drive.
And challenge is successful: incomplete pass.
Texans send out their field goal unit. https://t.co/2v9XdVK2JZ
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) October 25, 2026
John Harbaugh challenges the 4-yard catch on 3rd and 5. The ball appeared to hit the ground on a low pass, which may have aided the catch.
The #Giants are challenging the catch.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) October 25, 2026
Micah McFadden sighting to bring down a middle screen.
Micah McFadden with a tackle on first play here, he’s at ILB as expected with Arvell Reese.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) October 25, 2026
Dennard Wilson wasn’t happy with the defense’s effort a week ago, along with missed tackles. Some of those problems flaring again here on the #Texans first drive.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) October 25, 2026
Zaire Barnes with a potential touchdown saving tackle on the opening kickoff.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) October 25, 2026
Pre-game ‘things I think’
Here are a few things I am thinking about as kickoff approaches.
- McCarthy’s starting will be the big story, and it will be interesting. One of the biggest reasons the Giants acquired McCarthy is that, in an offense built to capitalize on Dart’s running ability, he enables them to use most of the playbook.
“I know for us going into this thing, knowing what we wanted to do with Jaxson’s ability and his traits, him and Jameis Winston are very different, and that’s okay,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said this week. “Now coming into this thing with J.J., you get to a point where his skill set is very similar to Jaxson. So it’s like, okay, it brings back – we talked about percentages the first time we were here, right? You talked about whether it’s 30 percent of the offense is gone. Well, maybe now 20 percent of that 30 that was gone is back.”
Because of that bigger playbook, the upside with McCarthy is probably higher than with Winston. That, though, doesn’t mean there isn’t also plenty of potential for things to be messy.
The ceiling of the Giants season hinges on how well this move goes.
- The play of the defense will be telling. Dennard Wilson’s harsh public callout of his group’s effort vs. the Saints was great media and discussion fodder, but it was also risky. This generation of players is not accustomed to being spoken to or about in that manner. Ask Yankees fans about their frustration with the kid gloves treatment their players get from Aaron Boone and the front office. Whether they react positively or negatively to it will be interesting.
There is also the reality of how much loss the defense has suffered. Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Chauncey Golston are gone for the season. Greg Newsome and Jevon Holland are out this week. Does this defense have enough playmakers left to slow Houston’s offense?
- The running back timeshare. Najee Harris is an ex-Giant, and Cam Skattebo should be back in a major role vs. the Texans. How the Giants divvy up time and touches between Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary will be interesting.
One thing is certain. Not getting any touches last week, then watching Harris get cut, has gotten Skattebo’s attention.
“I think I got taught a lesson,” Skattebo said this week. “Nobody’s safe. It’s as simple as that. I think when we go on the field and we perform, if we’re not performing, we understand there’s a possibility of not being here. If I don’t perform, I know there’s a possibility of me not being here.
- Jalin Hyatt’s role. The Giants wouldn’t have elevated the 2023 third-round pick from the practice squad just to be a spectator. I am curious how much Hyatt plays, and how Nagy uses him. The Giants need more explosive plays, and Hyatt’s speed combined with McCarthy’s ability to throw the deep ball could be part of why Hyatt is getting this chance.
“Kudos” to Hyatt for earning this
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.