Everything J.J. McCarthy Said About Winning 1st Start as Giants QB Since Vikings Trade

With J.J. McCarthy making his first start after being traded from the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants downed the Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime on Sunday.

McCarthy didn't light up the box score, but he was more than happy with the result of the game.

"Truly the only stat I care about is going 1-0," McCarthy said after the win. "I could care less how we get it done. At the end of the day, you want to perform well, you want to execute well and it's one of those things where, if the running backs are getting their touchdowns, I'm as happy as I can be. Whether I'm throwing the touchdowns, I'm as happy as I can be."

McCarthy added that "it's a lot of fun" getting to play for the Giants.

"So much fun to be out there playing football, but with this group, it makes it that much more fun," he said.

McCarthy threw for 252 yards on 20-of-28 passing in his first start for the Vikings. That followed a 243-yard, touchdown-scoring performance in the fourth quarter alone against the New Orleans Saints last week.

"I thought he did a great job. He's not a guy that's never played before. He's young, but he's played," head coach John Harbaugh said. "And he showed it. He made throws. I'm sure he didn't play perfect, but he played a heck of a football game; he deserves a lot of credit."

It was the ground game that got the job done for New York in the overtime win, though. Cam Skattebo rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr. each added a score as well. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also came in and rushed for a touchdown.

▶️Full Giants-Texans Recap

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In overtime, Singletary scored the game-winning touchdown on a 30-yard rush.

"I definitely had the best view in the building," McCarthy said. "Being able to see him hit those gaps and make those cuts, they just didn't stop. They looked like it was the first play of the game when they were hitting those holes. It's just a blessing to be a part of a group like that and have a running back group like that."

McCarthy has had a rough start to his career, missing all of his rookie season before struggling in Minnesota last year, but he appears ready to turn the corner in New York.

It's fair to say that he's earned the starting job for another week, and he'll look to continue getting comfortable during the bye week before returning to action against the Philadelphia Eagles.