McCarthy leads Giants past Texans in debut

J.J. McCarthy made his first start for the Giants after impressing in relief against the Saints, and led New York to an overtime win over the Texans. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards without a turnover, showing composure, timely decision-making and mobility against a prepared Houston defense. The Giants opened with a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive, with McCarthy completing all three of his passes for 52 yards and Malik Nabers making a 42-yard catch. McCarthy did not consistently attack deep, but the Giants’ effective ground game helped keep him out of difficult situations. His performance makes him the clear starter while healthy, though his past struggles and the limited evidence so far counsel against getting carried away.