John Harbaugh took credit for Sunday’s overtime victory against the Houston Texans immediately after the game. And the New York Giants coach said the credit goes to the players, including quarterback JJ McCarthy and running back Cam Skattebo, and to God.
“First of all, I just want to say humbly, personally, very grateful to my Lord, High Rock, Protector and Bastion, the Lord God of Heaven,” Harbaugh said as he opened his press conference. “And our guys, man, that was a player’s win.”
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The Giants are supposed to win this season with their young quarterback and young running back doing incredible things, but who could have predicted that McCarthy would be the young quarterback instead of Jaxson Dart, and that the young running back would have to come out of the coaching staff’s doghouse first.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs past Houston Texans safety MJ Stewart (29) and is tackled by linebacker Henry To’oto’o during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston on Sunday, October 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gérald Herbert)
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McCarthy and Skattebo were outstanding in helping the Giants beat the Texans.
Skattebo rushed for a career-high 124 yards, made perhaps the game’s deciding run in overtime to score the game-winning points, and ran so hard throughout the game – get this – on one play that he was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Because he buried a potential tackler.
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On New York’s second possession, Skattebo took over from McCarthy and ran through a hole, ducked his head and ran through Texans safety MJ Stewart.
Skattebo rolled Stewart, but the NFL is focused on player safety these days, so he was flagged because he ducked his head before making contact.
Larry Csonka, Jim Brown and Earl Campbell would have been proud. And the 15-yard penalty that followed would have been foreign and dreadful for the greatest of all time.
Skattebo was not finished. He scored on a 16-yard run and, in overtime, had a 42-yard run that gave the Giants the ball at the Houston 28-yard line. A field goal would have won it from there, but Devin Singletary scored a touchdown on the next play and a Giants victory.
Harbaugh, who benched Skattebo last week, said his running back played with “fierce joy” on Sunday.
New York Giants quarterback JJ McCarthy throws during the second half of an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, October 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The coach also noted the way McCarthy responded when he left to earn his first win as the Giants’ starting quarterback. McCarthy was officially named the starter on Wednesday, succeeding Jameis Winston who took over for the injured Dart.
McCarthy, who joined the team 27 days ago when he was traded from the Minnesota Vikings, had a good day.
He was generally efficient, completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but didn’t throw an interception and didn’t fumble either.
“I thought he did a great job,” Harbaugh said. “He definitely didn’t play perfect, but he played a heck of a football game. He deserves a lot of credit.”
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the NFL Football Training Center. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
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The dual performance from his youngsters has left Harbaugh confident his team can meet challenges – some of which he has posed himself, notably with the Skattebo bench.
“It tells you who they are,” he said. “I thought before the game we were going to get to know our guys.”
The Giants are the only team in the NFC East with a winning record. And having their virtually new young quarterback perform while rediscovering the team’s best runner suggests this team will be relevant even if Dart isn’t around.
“We’re going to stay at it until the end now,” Harbaugh said.
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