The New York Giants won in Philadelphia on Sunday for the first time in 13 years, beating the Eagles 19-11 to take firm control of the NFC East despite injuries up and down the roster.
The win coincided with a career revival for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who played through an apparent hip injury and finished 12-of-19 for 127 yards. It was not a graceful performance, but in the NFC East a team can limp its way to a division title. McCarthy could follow Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, who rejuvenated their careers with teams other than the ones that drafted them, and he appears to be finding more room to develop in New York than he did in Minnesota.
For a moment the Giants looked as snakebit as any team in the league. McCarthy collapsed in pain after a vicious hit and appeared to have suffered a severe hip injury. He returned two series later, after Jameis Winston had led New York to its only touchdown of the afternoon. Head coach John Harbaugh said the staff considered leaving Winston in for the rest of the game, but trainers and doctors cleared McCarthy and he said he was ready, so they put him back out there.
Behind McCarthy, the running back room remains a work in progress. Cam Skattebo missed the game with a hamstring injury. Devin Singletary carried 21 times, more than the 18 carries he had all season to date, and Gregory Desrosiers jumped up from the practice squad to carry three times for 20 yards. That could push New York toward a deal before the trade deadline over the next 48 hours, with a running back like Jonathan Taylor a possible target.
Harbaugh stressed, however, that the Giants are not in the market for a quick fix. He said any move has to make sense in the short and long term, and that paying an exorbitant price for a short-term fix usually does not work out. The Giants are making a lot of calls, he said, but he does not believe one player completes a roster. If the right opportunity comes along, and a deal makes sense, the team will do it.
New York maintains a lead over Dallas, including a Week 1 victory, with both Philadelphia and Washington floundering. The Giants host Washington in four days and then face the Jaguars and the Colts. Their remaining schedule ranks in the middle of the league, with the rest of the division clustered around them, so they will not be able to count on any schedule breaks.
Source: Yahoo Sports
