Giants defense, Cam Skattebo answer challenge with 27-21 OT win over Texans
· Yahoo Sports
HOUSTON — John Harbaugh’s New York Giants responded to the coaching staff’s tough love in J.J. McCarthy’s first start with an impressive 27-21 upset win over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on Sunday.
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Coordinator Dennard Wilson’s defense delivered a physical and aggressive performance, led by new middle linebacker Micah McFadden, after being called out for a lack of effort in last week’s loss to New Orleans.
And running back Cam Skattebo snapped off his leash emerging from Harbaugh’s doghouse, rumbling for 124 yards and a touchdown, including a backbreaking 42-yard run on the game-winning drive in overtime.
Fullback Pat Ricard cleared the way both on Skattebo’s big OT run and on Devin Singletary’s 30-yard walk-off touchdown scamper with 7:25 remaining in the extra period to end the game.
The Giants (4-2-1) enter their Week 8 still in first place in the NFC East.
Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada had been 0 for 2 on field goals from 56 and 44 yards going into overtime. So it was important that they score a TD. Harbaugh even turned down a 55-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter and punted from the Texans’ 37-yard line because of the rookie’s struggles.
Kayvon Thibodeaux dropped an interception at midfield with 9:11 remaining in overtime, but Abdul Carter scorched into the backfield on third down to draw a holding penalty and give the offense the ball for the winning score.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy called a terrific game. Malik Nabers (seven catches, 111 yards) went over 100 yards for a fourth straight game. And rookie receiver Malachi Fields (four catches, 83 yards) had a breakout day.
The game reached overtime due to a 9-play, 48-yard Texans touchdown drive that ended with a 3-yard Stroud touchdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson with 52 seconds remaining in regulation.
Nagy sprung Skattebo for a 19-yard run on third-and-short late in the third quarter to kick start a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
Jameis Winston, who had scored and converted with the Tush Push in short yardage already, turned and snuck a handoff to Skattebo off the right side with Ricard blocking and Fields in the backfield to simulate the QB dive. Skattebo scampered out to the Giants’ 48.
McCarthy, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards and no turnovers, then delivered a 14-yard completion to Fields on third-and-9 down to the Texans’ 16. And Skattebo burst off the right side and broke three tackles plus used a stiff arm for the 16-yard touchdown run for a 21-14 lead with 8:55 to play.
Those were actually the first points of the entire second half following a scoreless third quarter.
The Giants had to be disappointed that the game was tied, 14-14, at halftime, considering how well they coached and played in the first two quarters.
McCarthy’s 9-play, 78-yard scoring drive to take a 14-6 lead with 3:32 to play in the half was full of excellent play calls and execution.
It started with a 12-yard Skattebo crack toss run to the left with Ricard, Fields, left tackle Andrew Thomas and left guard Jon Runyan Jr. blocking.
McCarthy eluded a corner blitz to sprint forward and deliver a 17-yard strike to Nabers. Nagy ran an Army-like option for a 5-yard gain to running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. on the McCarthy pitch.
Nagy fooled Texans head coach Demeco Ryans with a 29-yard throwback from McCarthy to tight end Thomas Fidone II to the 1-yard line. And Winston Tush Pushed in a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Giants were in full control, but the Texans offense woke up and drove 90 yards in eight plays for a 6-yard Stroud touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. with 34 seconds to play.
It was the second touchdown Harrison Jr. has scored on the Giants in the month of October, including his Oct. 4 score at MetLife Stadium before Arizona traded him to Houston.
Then Stroud flipped a shovel pass to tight end Cade Stover to tie the game at 14 apiece.
A Texans personal foul on the ensuing kickoff gave the Giants terrific field position with 29 seconds to play. And McCarthy hit Nabers with an accurate 27-yard completion to get in field goal range, followed by a Skattebo carry to inch closer for the end of half field goal.
But Zvada shanked a 44-yard attempt wide right, his second miss of the half, to keep the game tied going into the locker rooms.
The Giants had trailed at the start of the game but not for long. Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn booted a 58-yard field goal to give the hosts a 3-0 lead after the game’s first drive.
But McCarthy answered immediately with a 42-yard deep shot to Nabers down to the Texans’ 2-yard line in 1-on-1 coverage against corner Kamari Lassiter out of the slot.
Tracy punched in a 2-yard TD run on a read option handoff from McCarthy, and the Giants led 7-3 with 6:26 left in the opening quarter.
Then Wilson, the Giants’ defensive coordinator, continued to heat up Stroud with pressures and stunts to overwhelm Houston’s offense and get the ball back to New York.
Skattebo, who got the start coming out of Harbaugh’s doghouse, was penalized 15 yards for using the crown of his helmet to run over the Texans’ M.J. Stewart on the next drive. But McCarthy and the offense answered again.
This time, on third-and-17, Fields took a dart from McCarthy and turned up the right sideline for a 47-yard catch and run.
Unfortunately, Zvada missed the 56-yard field goal. Then after both teams exchanged punts, Fairbairn sank a 57-yard field goal to make it 7-6 Giants with 9:03 to play in the first half.
The sloppy Texans hung around despite committing a startling nine first half penalties.
Tracy leaves with hamstring injury
Tracy left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. The Giants’ inactives for the game were safety Jevon Holland (concussion), corner Greg Newsome (concussion), swing tackle Marcus Mbow (knee), TE Theo Johnson (neck), CB Nikko Reed, OL Josh Sills and QB Jake Haener.
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