The NFL has its scheduling quirks. Teams face an entire division every year from the opposing conference and by sheer definition you see them every four seasons unless there is some scheduling quirk involved. The New York Giants are one of those teams for the Texans. We don’t have a particular rivalry and we are in opposite conferences, so we will not see them but every four years. By definition, I have done this feature once with Ed Valentine from Big Blue View in the last five seasons doing this feature.
The Giants made it interesting by making a quarterback change midweek and that is where our conversation began.
Battle Red Blog: The Giants have tabbed J.J. McCarthy to start this week. What should we expect to see from him? Are Giants fans confident that he can raise the level of play at the position and lead the Giants to the playoffs?
Ed Valentine: I don’t think we really know what to expect. I do know Giants fans think this is the right choice. McCarthy hasn’t been with the team for a month yet, and how comfortable he is with the entire offense is anybody’s guess. He says he can run the entire playbook, but we will see.
He gives the Giants’ offense a jolt of energy, and he brings the quarterback run game back into the offense. The Giants built an offense around Jaxson Dart, and the quarterback run game was a big part of it. That was out the window with Jameis Winston. McCarthy is not the runner Dart is, but he is young, athletic, can run, and puts that part of the playbook back into the arsenal. He also has a big arm, and isn’t afraid to use it.
Can he get the Giants to the playoffs? That’s anybody’s guess. There is probably more upside with McCarthy than with Winston, but he did flop last year in Minnesota and he was No. 3 on the Vikings’ depth chart for a reason.
BRB: Cam Skattebo did not get a lot of carries last week. Has he fallen out of favor following his fumble against Washington?
EV: Cam Skattebo played six snaps and got ZERO carries Sunday against the Saints. He was held accountable for fumbling four times in five games, including three straight. His overtime fumble vs. the Commanders was inexcusable, and cost the Giants a chance to win. The Giants released Najee Harris this week, so Skattebo will most likely be right back in the mix this weekend.
BRB: Malik Nabers is one of the top receivers in the NFL this season. How would you compare him to the other WR1s in the league?
EV: I honestly don’t spend a lot of time studying Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, etc. That said, Nabers is a tremendous playmaker. He is a top 10 receiver, no doubt.
BRB: Who are some names we haven’t heard of that could make an impact on Sunday?
EV: The Giants don’t really have a bunch of out-of-nowhere guys you probably haven’t heard of. Maybe Trace Ford, a second-year edge defender who was just added to the 53 or kick returner/receiver Charlie Jones, who caught his first two passes with the Giants last week.
BRB: The Texans opened as heavy favorites (7.5 advanced to 10 points) according to Fanduel. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?
EV: I think this is a difficult game for the Giants. I fear that the Texans defense, which has not been right this season, will have a get-right game. Prop bets are not my thing. I don’t pay much attention.
We want to thank Ed so much for taking the time to answer our questions. This will be the rarest of occasions where yours truly will be in actual attendance at the Texans game. It will be the first time in my life to attend a Texans game although I did attend numerous Houston Oilers games back in the day. We want to wish Ed and the Giants luck for the rest of the season. As per usual, we hope that luck will begin on Monday morning.
