New York Giants
After only a few quarters of action, Harbaugh saw enough to bench Jameis Winston for the young quarterback.
New York Giants head coach has made the bold decision to bench Jameis Winston for J.J. McCarthy.LAPRESSE
Updated
Heading into Week 6, the New York Giants were actually in great shape. Despite losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to a season-ending injury in Week 2, the Giants were 3-1-1 and atop the NFC East heading into a home game against the New Orleans Saints. Jameis Winston was holding down the fort in Dart's place.
The Giants collapsed against the Saints, though. After taking a 10-0 lead, New York gave up a shocking 34 unanswered points. After a fourth straight drive without points, and a second interception by Winston, Giants head coach John Harbaugh went to his bench for a spark. J.J. McCarthy came in and mounted a furious comeback attempt that came up just short in the end.
McCarthy ended up completing 11 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, while adding 26 yards on the ground. He did throw an interception on his first drive, but he did more than enough for Harbaugh to make a bold decision: McCarthy will start over Winston in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.
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Could John Harbaugh have waited one more week before starting J.J. McCarthy over Jameis Winston?
Not everyone is thrilled with Harbaugh's decision. Local radio host Craig Carton lit into Harbaugh for making the move, saying that the Giants' season is now over because of the decision.
What a ridiculously stupid decision by your hero Johnny Harbaugh. A season in which you have a chance to win the division - I'd favor you right now, because of your current record, to win the division. Even though I think you're gonna be a .500 team after Sunday.
But that's a good idea: Let's take a kid who's barely played football, only played essentially a half of football this particular season, and put him up against a defense that's arguably on paper the best defense in football. Oh, that couldn't possibly go south on us. Your season ended today.
The timing of Harbaugh's decision is truly open to questioning. Not only will McCarthy have to make his first start for the Giants against an elite Texans defense, it's also on the road in Houston's stadium.
Harbaugh could have easily waited one game, let Winston start against Houston, and then ramped up McCarthy during the team's Week 8 bye in order to have him fully ready for the second half of the season. Harbaugh feels that McCarthy gives the team the best chance to win, though, as soon as possible.