2 Giant Goofballs: A NY Giants Podcast

The Giants went into Houston as double-digit underdogs and pulled off a 27–21 overtime win. J.J. McCarthy gave New York a passing game again, Cam Skattebo answered his critics, and Devin Singletary delivered the walk-off touchdown. But two missed field goals and another late blown lead nearly wasted all of it.
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Did J.J. McCarthy prove he can keep the Giants winning without Jaxson Dart?
McCarthy completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards without an interception in his first Giants start. He wasn't perfect, especially on the final regulation drive, but he handled Houston's pressure and opened up downfield opportunities for Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields.
Cam Skattebo had his own statement to make. After barely seeing the field against New Orleans, he rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown, including the 42-yard overtime run that set up Singletary's 30-yard game-winner. Has Skattebo officially earned the lead-back job, or should Tyrone Tracy remain part of the conversation?
Drew and Rob also give Deonte Banks his due after an impressive performance against Nico Collins. The Giants defense held C.J. Stroud to 153 passing yards and came through with the overtime stop, despite allowing Houston to tie the game late.
And then there's the kicking situation. Two missed field goals nearly cost the Giants another winnable game. Is it time for John Harbaugh to bring in competition during the bye week?
The Giants are now 4-2-1 and head into their bye leading the NFC East. Drew and Rob debate whether this team is finally learning how to win ugly, what McCarthy's performance means for the quarterback room, and how much credit Harbaugh deserves for the turnaround.
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Dennard Wilson is putting Giants defenders on notice. Publicly calling out poor effort could finally bring the accountability New York needs, but will that fix the defense or expose even bigger coaching problems? Drew and Rob debate whether the players or coaches deserve more blame.
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Are the Giants' biggest problems caused by players or coaching? 
Dennard Wilson's criticism puts the spotlight on defensive effort, but the running game, personnel rotation, and special-teams mistakes raise serious questions about coaching decisions as well.
The Giants are still leading the NFC East at 3-2-1, but the Saints loss exposed problems across the roster. Drew and Rob react to Wilson calling out "traitors to the defense," discuss the 13 missed tackles against New Orleans, and question whether publicly challenging players will bring the changes Giants fans have been demanding.
Matt Nagy says J.J. McCarthy is ready to operate the full offense against Houston, but the running back situation remains frustrating. How did Cam Skattebo finish the Saints game without a carry? The guys question Nagy's explanation, the four-man rotation, and whether a smaller group of backs can finally establish a rhythm. Chris Horton's explanation for the special-teams mistakes also gets plenty of criticism.
NFC East news includes Evan Neal signing with the Eagles' practice squad, the serious medical situation involving Jalen Hurts, and what the Giants' division lead means heading into Week 7.
Then it's NFL Week 7 predictions across the league. Drew and Rob make their picks for winners, spreads, totals, and potential upsets.
Can the Bengals beat Baltimore if Lamar Jackson isn't fully healthy? Will the Browns keep finding ways to win despite their offensive struggles? Can the Colts recover against Minnesota? And can anyone actually trust the Dolphins or Jets?
The unbeaten 49ers travel to Atlanta, where injuries and the Falcons' pass rush could create problems. The Panthers face the Buccaneers in an NFC South matchup, while Denver visits Arizona with serious questions surrounding both offenses.
Packers vs. Lions delivers one of the week's biggest debates. Detroit's offense has been explosive, but its secondary has struggled, and both hosts like Green Bay to take advantage. The Rams also face a Raiders team that has been more competitive than expected.
The Chiefs travel to Seattle for Sunday Night Football, with Kenneth Walker III facing his former team. Can Seattle's run defense shut down Kansas City's biggest rushing threat, or will Patrick Mahomes find another way to win?
Finally, the Cowboys and Eagles face off on Monday Night Football. Both entered the week chasing the Giants in the NFC East, and Drew and Rob make their predictions while enjoying the unusual position of looking down at both division rivals.
The episode closes with the biggest questions facing the NFL after six weeks, the undefeated teams under pressure, and whether J.J. McCarthy can help the Giants stay atop the division.
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J.J. McCarthy gives the New York Giants a more mobile quarterback who could finally get their offense moving, but John Harbaugh is taking a serious risk by starting him against Houston with three offensive tackles dealing with injuries. Was McCarthy's huge fourth quarter against New Orleans enough to justify the move, or is he being thrown into a situation that's almost impossible to succeed in?
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Did the Giants make the right decision starting J.J. McCarthy against the Texans?
McCarthy's mobility gives the offense options that were limited with Jameis Winston, but his turnover concerns, unfamiliarity with the system, and Houston's pass rush make this a difficult first start. Drew and Rob explain why they ultimately trust Harbaugh while still questioning whether the switch should have waited until after the bye.
McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter against the Saints, but Houston presents a completely different challenge. Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Marcus Mbow all missed Wednesday's practice, prompting the Giants to add Josh Sills. With Will Anderson Jr. coming after McCarthy, can the offensive line give him any chance to settle in?
And was Winston ever the right backup for an offense designed around Jaxson Dart?
The Giants also released Najee Harris and Jihad Ward while promoting Trace Ford. Those moves led to a bigger argument about the running game. Drew makes a strong case that Tyrone Tracy Jr. deserves more carries, pointing to his production when given a consistent workload. Cam Skattebo has received considerably more opportunities, but neither the rotation nor the blocking has produced a reliable rushing attack.
Should Tyrone Tracy be the Giants' lead running back instead of Cam Skattebo?
Drew and Rob also weigh potential trade targets Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson, including what New York could realistically afford to give up. Neither move is presented as an agreed or confirmed trade.
The problems aren't limited to the offense. Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader's assessments of the Giants' run-defense struggles raise concerns about assignments and communication. Secondary injuries and special-teams mistakes add to the questions facing a team still leading the NFC East.
Looking ahead to Houston, C.J. Stroud is playing better, Tank Dell is returning, and the Texans have won two straight games. Drew and Rob examine how McCarthy can attack Houston's defense, whether the Giants can slow Stroud, and what would qualify as an encouraging performance before the bye.
Finally, it's Patriots vs. Bears on Thursday Night Football. Drake Maye and Caleb Williams have both impressed lately, and while Drew and Rob lean toward Chicago winning, they split on their against-the-spread picks.
The Giants are in first place, have a new starting quarterback, and are running out of healthy offensive linemen. Sunday against Houston could tell us just how far this team has come—and how much work is still left.
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The New York Giants can stick with Jameis Winston's experience or turn to J.J. McCarthy's mobility and upside—but either decision comes with risks while New York holds first place in the NFC East. John Harbaugh has a major Week 7 quarterback decision against Houston, and the upcoming bye week only complicates the timing.
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Should the Giants start Jameis Winston or J.J. McCarthy against the Houston Texans? 
Winston offers experience and familiarity with the offense, while McCarthy brings mobility and the potential to jump-start a struggling Giants attack. Neither option is without risk.
Drew and Rob examine Harbaugh's refusal to name a starter following the Giants' 34-27 loss to New Orleans. McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter and nearly brought New York back, but how much of that production was a product of the Saints playing with a substantial lead? Winston's turnovers remain a concern, yet McCarthy has had limited time to learn the Giants offense. The discussion gets heated over whether Winston deserves another start with a short leash or whether it's time to hand McCarthy the job.
The quarterback isn't the only offensive problem. Najee Harris has expressed frustration with the four-back rotation, while Harbaugh says nobody has earned the featured role. We examine the running game, Cam Skattebo's limited opportunities, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, and the problems along the offensive line.
The Saints game film also reveals some encouraging individual performances. D.J. Reader earns praise for an 89.2 PFF defensive grade, J.C. Davis makes a promising first appearance, and Malik Nabers continues delivering with 12 receptions for 165 yards. But can those individual performances overcome the team's inconsistency?
In Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts' serious medical diagnosis has created major uncertainty for the Eagles. Drew and Rob discuss his expected extended absence, the questions surrounding the medical timeline, and what the Eagles' struggles mean for the NFC East. Above everything else, the hope is for Hurts to make a full recovery.
Can the Giants take advantage of a struggling NFC East, or will their own problems waste the opportunity?
Houston presents the next major test. C.J. Stroud is coming off a 312-yard performance, Tank Dell is expected to return, and the Texans have won two straight. With Giants injuries mounting at cornerback and along the offensive line, the matchup could expose weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
Then it's the full NFL Week 6 recap. Drew and Rob revisit Denver's overtime win over Seattle, Houston's narrow victory over Jacksonville, Cleveland's upset of Baltimore, Tennessee's first win against Indianapolis, Carolina's win in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh's overtime comeback against Tampa Bay, Arizona's unusual win over the Rams, Buffalo's victory over Las Vegas, and Green Bay shutting down Dallas. They also review their NFL picks, point spreads, over/unders and the still-unfinished Monday night matchup between Washington and San Francisco.
The Giants remain atop the NFC East. The question is whether Harbaugh can make the right decisions to keep them there.
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Starting J.J. McCarthy could give the New York Giants the explosive offense they've been missing, but benching Jameis Winston after just 11 minutes of relief work carries its own risk. McCarthy's remarkable fourth-quarter performance nearly rescued a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints and left John Harbaugh facing one of his toughest quarterback decisions.
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Should J.J. McCarthy replace Jameis Winston as the Giants' starting quarterback?
McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter and led the Giants to 17 unanswered points, but one impressive relief appearance doesn't automatically prove he's ready to start. Drew and Rob examine both sides of the decision and what Harbaugh needs to consider before the Giants face Houston.
The quarterback debate isn't the only controversy following this loss.
Cam Skattebo received ZERO touches against the Saints after his costly fumble against Washington. Skattebo acknowledged being punished, but Harbaugh maintained that his lack of carries wasn't intentional. The Giants' running backs managed only 34 yards on 14 carries, raising serious questions about the offensive line, running back rotation, and Matt Nagy's approach. Drew and Rob discuss why they support Harbaugh holding players accountable while still recognizing the damage an ineffective rushing attack does to the offense.
Was benching Skattebo the right message, even if it may have cost the Giants offensively?
The Giants also had a complete team collapse. Leading 10-0, New York surrendered 34 consecutive points before McCarthy sparked the late comeback. Charlie Jones' kickoff fumble, Winston's interceptions, a defense that allowed 175 rushing yards, and the inability to pressure Tyler Shough all played a role.
Drew and Rob also debate the fourth-quarter clock management, the final incomplete pass to Isaiah Likely, and whether the Giants should have received a defensive pass interference call.
There were reasons for optimism. Malik Nabers finished with 12 receptions for 165 yards, Isaiah Likely continued producing big plays, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. scored twice. But the Giants still couldn't finish the comeback.
With New York sitting at 3-2-1 atop the NFC East, the discussion turns to John Harbaugh's impact on the team's mentality. These Giants refuse to quit, but is improved toughness enough when the same execution problems keep putting them behind?
Plus, injury concerns heading into Houston and the growing pressure on the offensive coaching staff to find a more consistent identity.
The Giants have fight. Now they need to stop requiring miracles just to stay in games.
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