McCarthy got traded from the Vikings to the Giants, he called it "a shock" but also "an opportunity to take advantage of." When Cam Skattebo received zero touches in Week 6 -- one week after a costly fumble -- he admitted he wasn't expecting the lack of involvement, but it also forced him "to kind of step back and look at it and figure out why." Every NFL player faces pivotal moments -- make-or-break situations where they must dig deep and find a way to respond. Both challenges and opportunities in one. These were McCarthy's and Skattebo's.
And in their biggest moments thus far in their young careers, they made their stand. "I think that's exactly the story," John Harbaugh said about his team responding. "I mean to that's the point.
It tells you who they are. You might have thought before the game 'We're gonna find out about our guys. We're gonna find out about who they are.' And we did." In his first start with New York, McCarthy threw for 252 yards and had no turnovers, and in his return to prominence in the lineup, Skattebo ran for 124 yards and a touchdown as the Giants upset the Texans 27-21 in overtime.
Skattebo's 42-yard rumble -- the longest run of his career -- set up Devin Singletary's walkoff score. The longest run of Cam Skattebo's career puts the @Giants in striking distance in OT...NYGvsHOU on FOX/FOX OneStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/VslWlQGb0V Before the overtime bursts, though, McCarthy put on a laser show against one of the NFL's most talented defenses. He smartly leaned on Malik Nabers (seven catches, 111 yards), who is looking very much like he's back to pre-ACL tear form, and made several truly outstanding throws.
McCarthy looks like a completely different QB in New York, making big time throw after big time throw.20/28, 252 PASS YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT vs TexansWith McCarthy at QB, the 4-2-1 Giants are now the favorites to win the NFC East.pic.twitter.com/friJD0TZ7D https://t.co/tw9oUKWXsH McCarthy completed five throws of at least 15 yards downfield after completing six last week as a sub. The 11 completions are his most in a two-game span in his career ... and he didn't even sub in for Jameis Winston until the fourth quarter last week. This is what the Vikings had hoped McCarthy would be when they drafted him: an athletic quarterback with a live arm able to access every part of the field.
For McCarthy to do this, given the circumstances -- traded just weeks earlier, making his first start on the road against a really good defense -- was shockingly impressive. "It's that thing: It's guys have scars," Harbaugh said. But you heal stronger, and you become better because of it, so you should be grateful." Skattebo, meanwhile, ran over, around and through Houston's defense.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
