J.J. McCarthy sparks Giants QB controversy as 243-yard rally falls short in 34-27 Saints loss

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on Sunday ended with the football in J.J. McCarthy’s hands — and, the NY Post reports, with the team facing “a quarterback controversy for next week.”

McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston for the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter after Winston’s second interception — thrown on the edge of field-goal range while the Giants were trying to cut into a 24-10 deficit — set up a Saints touchdown and was Winston’s final pass of the day, the Post reported.

With the Giants having allowed 34 straight points, McCarthy engineered 17 unanswered fourth-quarter points, leading three scoring drives in a seven-minute span and finishing 11 of 21 for 243 passing yards, according to the Post.

The Saints punted three times in the fourth quarter as the rally built, the Post reported. McCarthy’s last drive reached the Saints’ 14-yard line on fourth-and-1 before the Giants fell one completion short of completing the comeback.

The loss was New York’s first since Week 2, but at 3-2-1 the Giants remain atop the NFC East, while the Saints snapped a three-game losing streak, the Post reported.

In a subplot overshadowed by the quarterback drama, Cam Skattebo was benched amid ball-security issues, the Post reported. McCarthy arrived two weeks ago in a trade with the Vikings — and with a starting job apparently within reach.

Source: NY Post