J.J. McCarthy could change the direction of his NFL career. In his first start with the New York Giants, he delivered, made me a believer and now I want to see more.

The Giants defeated the Houston Texans 27–21 in overtime on Sunday, with McCarthy completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards and no interceptions.

After the Minnesota Vikings moved on from him, this was an important first step.

A Second Chance in New York

McCarthy was the 10th overall pick by Minnesota in the 2024 NFL Draft. His stint with the Vikings didn’t go well as expected, and the Giants traded for him in September.

New York needed a quarterback after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury. McCarthy late-game performance against the New Orleans Saints helped him earn the starting job.

Against Houston, he showed why the Giants wanted to give him a chance.

A 42-yard pass to Malik Nabers helped set up an early Giants touchdown. Nabers finished with seven catches for 111 yards, giving McCarthy a reliable target for explosive plays.

The Giants Didn’t Need Him to Be a Hero

One of the most encouraging parts of McCarthy’s performance was that he did not have to do everything himself.

Cam Skattebo rushed for 124 yards and scored a touchdown, while Devin Singletary delivered the game-winning 30-yard touchdown run in overtime. The defense also forced Houston to punt on its first overtime possession.

That balance matters. McCarthy showed he could move the offense without turning the ball over, while the running game and defense helped finish the job.

That still does not answer every question. McCarthy did not throw a touchdown, and the Giants will need to see whether he can maintain his accuracy and decision making against future opponents.

What Comes Next?

The Giants have reason to be encouraged, but the bigger test is consistency.

Can McCarthy continue connecting with Nabers? Can he protect the football while making more plays downfield? And can he help New York remain competitive as opponents get more film on him?

Those are the questions that will determine whether this performance becomes the beginning of something bigger or simply one good afternoon.

For now, McCarthy has earned another opportunity to prove himself.

The bottom line: J.J. McCarthy did not need a spectacular statistical performance to make a statement. He needed a win, a clean game, and evidence that he could lead the Giants. He delivered all three.

Now he has to show he can do it again.

Do you believe in McCarthy?