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The New York Giants (3-2-1) will travel to Houston on Sunday to take on the Texans (2-4), with redemption on their minds after a lackluster performance in Week 6.
Last week, in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints—a game the Giants were favored to win but let slip away—Big Blue struggled in all three phases. The goal this week is to clean up the problems that plagued them, including defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's blunt criticism of players not running to the ball, embarrassing communication issues on special teams, and a lethargic rushing attack that head coach John Harbaugh hopes someone will take charge of.
It won't be easy. Despite their 2-4 record, the Texans are starting to find their rhythm. They've won their last two games against the Titans and Jaguars and boast the league's 10th-best offense and fourth-best passing offense. Their defense is likely the best the Giants have faced since their Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
But the Giants, who made the switch to quarterback J.J. McCarthy this week, are hoping the offense—which has struggled since its Week 1 domination of Dallas—gets a much-needed injection of adrenaline. McCarthy, who had a successful, extensive showing in last week's loss to the Saints (albeit against a softer defense), more closely matches the skill set of injured starter Jaxson Dart. That means the 20-30% of the playbook (the RPO and designed runs) that the Giants had to drop when they lost Dart will be restored. The hope is that bringing that element back will help the lethargic rushing attack.
There are other factors to consider. For one, the health of the team's top three offensive tackles (Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor and Marcus Mbow) is a big question mark, with the latter two listed as questionable for Sunday. Suffice it to say, this is not a good week for the tackles to be gimpy, not with an afternoon against NFL sack leaders Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Jadeveon Clowney on the dance card.
On the other side of the ball, the Giants defense just lost another key starter in inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, the defense's quarterback. That's not good news for a run defense that ranks 29th in yards allowed per game (135.5) and 31st in average rushing yards allowed per play (5.05).
If there is a hint of good news for Giants fans to lean on, it's that even if the Giants lose this week, they will still be in first place in the NFC East. Dallas and Philadelphia are playing each other, and Washington has a bye. Still, it would make for a much better afternoon if the Giants can go into their Week 8 bye with an upset win, giving themselves and their division lead a little more padding.
Key Analysis
The Giants' decision to start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback signals a strategic shift to revitalize an offense that has been stagnant since Week 1. By reintroducing RPO and designed runs, the team aims to leverage McCarthy's mobility and alleviate pressure on a struggling rushing attack. However, the effectiveness of this plan hinges on the health of the offensive line, which faces a formidable Texans pass rush led by Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, and Jadeveon Clowney. Defensively, the loss of Tremaine Edmunds exacerbates concerns about a run defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. While the Giants' division lead provides a safety net, a win in Houston would build momentum and confidence heading into their bye week.