The 3-2-1 New York Giants travel to Houston to face the 2-4 Houston Texans on Sunday. Houston has won its last two matchups against the Jaguars (34-31) and the Tennessee Titans (26-3). The Texans faced Jacksonville last week in London; Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn nailed a 49-yard field goal with zero on the clock to give Demeco Ryans’ team their second win in as many weeks.
The Giants named J.J. McCarthy the starting quarterback for Week 7. McCarthy gives the Giants a mobile quarterback who better
fits an offense designed for Jaxson Dart. Still, communication in a loud environment for a young quarterback with less than a month in Giants blue could be an issue for New York. Whatever happens — I’m excited to watch!
Houston’s defense finished second in scoring last year, allowing just 17.4 points per game, and it allowed the fewest yards per game (277.2 yards) while forcing the third-most takeaways (29). The defense isn’t as stout through six games in 2026.
Texans defensive statistics
The Texans rank 20th in points allowed per game (23.8) and 15th in yards allowed per game (329). The Texans rank 27th in passing yards allowed per game (246) while ranking third-best in run defense (83 yards rushing per game). The Texans have 18 sacks through six games, tying for third-most in the NFL.
Houston doesn’t blitz much — the Texans rely on their personnel. They blitz at a 20.7% rate, 29th in the league. Houston is middle of the pack in pressure percentage at 22.7%. The Texans rank 19th in red zone touchdown percentage (62.5%), and the defense ranks 18th in third-down conversion rate (40.78%).
The defense is 14th in EPA per play allowed (–0.02), fourth in defensive success rate allowed (39.8%), with just five total takeaways (23rd in the league). Matt Burke is the coordinator under defensive head coach Demeco Ryans.
Texans’ personnel
The Texans defense aligns in a traditional 4-3. They’re a gap-sound defense with a strong nickel package that has underperformed this season. Star nickel/safety Jalen Pitre missed Week 6 with a sprained AC joint; he’s questionable. Houston’s front seven is among the best in the league.
Edge defender Will Anderson Jr. is a phenomenal player for Demeco Ryans. He has 28 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 18 pressures. He leads the league in sacks; Danielle Hunter plays opposite Anderson, and Hunter has three sacks with 14 pressures. Jadeveon Clowney and Dominique Robinson rotate into the lineup for Anderson and Hunter.
Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai are the defensive linemen; Rankins has two sacks and five pressures this season. Rookie Kayden McDonald and Logan Hall rotate into the lineup. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is a fast and physical linebacker who has 49 tackles this season. Henry To’oTo’o plays alongside Al-Shaair.
Houston has one of the best secondaries, but it is underperforming and beaten up. Pitre missed last game, and Reed Blankenship — who has struggled this season — was concussed in Week 6. They have two star cornerbacks: Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, with the latter struggling more in 2026—he’s allowed a 66.7% catch rate on 28 receptions. Stingley, however, has just allowed a 48.5% catch rate.
Callen Bullock and veteran M.J. Stewart could be the starting safeties, with Blankenship dealing with a concussion.
The matchup
The Giants believe McCarthy gives them a better chance against Houston, in part because of his ability to escape and evade from within the pocket. Jameis Winston was sacked 15 times this season, and the offense — which lacks a run game — relied so heavily on Winston’s arm that is historically known for its inconsistency and borderline reckless play.
McCarthy’s mobility will help the Giants’ offense in multiple phases: designed quarterback runs, read plays (zone-read, RPO, etc.), and pocket escapability, while also providing the offense with better overall arm talent. Expect the Giants to lean on read plays when in shotgun, while trying to establish the run with heavier personnel packages. The play-action passing attack will likely have a few bootlegs and move the pocket plays that utilize McCarthy’s ability to operate on the move.
New York should not be shy to take shots when pre-snap coverage is confirmed in one-on-one scenarios to receivers who aren’t Malik Nabers or Isaiah Likely — who will still be the focal points of the offense. McCarthy can let the ball fly, and Malachi Fields and Darnell Mooney have created adequate separation this season, especially the latter of the two.
The Giants should keep up the high motion rate if McCarthy is up to speed on running the offense effectively with pre-snap movement. The Giants should run a similar offense that we saw in Week 1 with Jaxson Dart at quarterback, while calling more plays that get McCarthy moving. Hopefully, McCarthy’s ability to run will lighten boxes for the Giants’ struggling rushing attack, specifically on zone reads.
Zone-read plays with either Tyrone Tracy Jr. or Cam Skattebo should be used by the Giants’ staff. Tracy Jr. can still operate as the third-down back, but a return of involvement for Skattebo, who received zero touches last week, should happen, especially with Najee Harris released. Devin Singletary should also receive his touches.
The health of Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor is crucial, especially against strong power rushers like Hunter and Anderson, who would both be incredibly difficult matchups for Marcus Mbow.
Houston doesn’t need to blitz — and they don’t do it much — but they may look to send the pressure and spy on McCarthy until the young quarterback proves he can defeat the blitz; it will also be a loud environment, so exotic pressure looks could confuse not only McCarthy but the protection with possible young starting tackles.
Final thoughts
The Giants are heavy underdogs heading into Houston with a new starting quarterback. Their offense has struggled to run the football, and McCarthy can hopefully help to spark something for the rushing attack. Still, this is a tough environment, and communication will be key to keeping pre-snap penalties to a minimum, but it could be hard to achieve on the road, given the circumstances. Even if the Giants lose, though, they will have a full week during the bye to assess the situation and improve on their struggles with a new signal caller.
