The New York Giants face a complicated quarterback situation after Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. For most of the second half, New York looked dead to rights. A late spark from an unlikely source has opened a debate nobody expected this season.

A Charlie Jones fumble in the second quarter put the Giants in chase mode, and they never recovered. That deficit forced quarterback Jameis Winston into a long list of unnecessary risks, and the offense paid the price. But then JJ McCarthy unexpectedly resurrected an anemic, immobile Giants offense. 

Jameis Winston’s afternoon left the door open

Winston completed 14-of-26 passes for 152 yards and threw two interceptions. Those numbers speak for themselves. However, the bigger problem was how the game script played out around him.

Once the Giants fell behind, they completely abandoned the run game. That left Winston dropping back over and over with the Saints knowing exactly what was coming. As things spiraled, the coaching staff finally turned to JJ McCarthy.

Almost nobody expected McCarthy to be playable this season. Despite that, he stepped onto the field and made a number of ridiculous throws. He also ripped off a huge run on what was nearly a game-winning drive at the end of the game.

While the comeback fell short, he finished 11 of 21 for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception. And now the question arises: should they turn things over to the young QB next week against the Houston Texans?

Why McCarthy’s comeback needs context

While McCarthy’s performance was stellar, we do need to acknowledge the advantage the Giants had in unleashing a player the opposing defense hadn’t prepared for. The Saints prepared to face Winston, studied his tendencies, and had no reason to spend significant time on McCarthy.

Whenever a team has to adjust on the fly to a quarterback it didn’t plan for, it puts that defense in a really bad spot. McCarthy brings a completely different skill set than Winston, and that difference helped spark the comeback. Defenses can’t simply flip a switch midgame and account for a new set of problems.

Additionally, the Giants were throwing the ball a ton in that stretch. The Saints were on their heels and never looked like they could slow New York once the momentum started building. A defense playing with a lead and sitting back is a very different challenge than a defense that has a full week to prepare for you.

That doesn’t erase what McCarthy did. He made throws he had no business making, and he showed poise in a chaotic spot that should encourage everyone in the building. It raises the question of how much of that success carries over when an opponent actually has film and a game plan for him.

Winston should start, but his leash just got shorter

Ultimately, I think the Giants should still start Winston next game. One rough outing, built on a fumble that flipped the game script, isn’t enough to bench the veteran for a quarterback nobody expected to see this year.

That said, Winston can’t afford another performance like this one. If he turns the ball over and struggles as he did against New Orleans, the conversation opens up. At that point, putting McCarthy on the field soon becomes a real possibility rather than a reaction to one strong half.

Winston needs a clean performance next week, because the Giants can’t keep digging early holes and asking a backup to bail them out.