Rich on JJ McCarthy’s “Massive Opportunity” to Stake a Longterm Claim on the Giants’ QB1 Job

The plan was to give Jameis Winston one more start, ride the bye week, and then hand the ball to J.J. McCarthy. One quarter in New Orleans threw that plan out the window.

Chris brought the news to The Rich Eisen Show: Jeremy Fowler is reporting that McCarthy will start for the Giants this week against the Houston Texans. After that comes a bye, a trip to Philadelphia and a home date with Washington.

What forced the issue was McCarthy's one quarter of action against the Saints. He went 11 of 21 for 243 yards, which Rich noted is the third most passing yards by a backup quarterback in a quarter since 1978. Malik Nabers came alive, Tyrone Tracy scored on the ground and through the air, and Isaiah Likely did his thing.

Rich called the move "the only move John Harbaugh had" of relevance. Going back to Jameis after that, he argued, "flies in the face of not only what your own two eyes see, but also why else would you bring him aboard?"

He was also upfront about where he stands. "I'm completely biased," Rich said, adding that the kid "has an it factor that didn't show enough in Minnesota."

## House Money in New York

Rich walked through the Minnesota chapter: traded for and drafted in the first round, hurt, then watching the Vikings commit with one foot in on him and one on Sam Darnold. Darnold left, McCarthy struggled, got hurt, and "calls himself a nickname that he didn't deserve." Darnold won a Super Bowl somewhere else, and Minnesota moved on.

New York is different. "In New York, it's house money," Rich said. "Because this kid is a placeholder for Jaxson Dart. Unless dot dot dot. And the unless is the script he can write."

He has the pieces to write it. Rich pointed out that McCarthy once again has an LSU receiver, Nabers, the way he had Justin Jefferson in Minnesota. And he has a head coach who is all in. Rich recalled Kevin O'Connell once telling the show that organizations fail prospects before prospects fail organizations. Now McCarthy has Harbaugh, "the brother of your coach when you won it all and made me a very, very happy man."

## A Division Nobody Wants

The NFC East is wide open, by Rich's read. The Eagles are "completely decimated by injuries," the Cowboys "cannot tie their complimentary all three phases shoes," and the Commanders "can't do that and tell time sometimes." The Giants sit at 3-2-1.

"The Giants are well positioned to win a division that everyone's wondering who wants to win," Rich said. "This is a massive opportunity."

He even called his shot on when Harbaugh would get asked about McCarthy's future: six weeks. Chris told him to take the under.

Rich is not predicting a Tom Brady run, but he does want Cam Skattebo back on the field. "Figure out how to get the dog the football. Give him a bone."

## Houston First

The Texans, Rich said, are "the only two and four team in football that everybody's treating like they're six and oh." C.J. Stroud is playing lights out, so McCarthy will have to match him.

But Rich could not resist the low hanging fruit. "JJ's beaten CJ Stroud before. In his building, I might add. Throwing the football." Chris added that McCarthy had Blake Corum behind him in that one too.

If it breaks right, Rich sees a path: win in Houston, take the bye, beat a busy Eagles team in Philadelphia, then beat Washington. "Hey, they could wind up being 3-0-1 in division," he said. "Taking control of the division."

The NFC East, in his words, "is shaping up to be last year's NFC South." He then declared himself "the Carole King of sports hosts" for weaving it all into a tapestry.

## A Message for Bryce Underwood

That tapestry led straight back to his alma mater. Rich's message to Michigan's benched quarterback, Bryce Underwood, was to keep his head up, because he could be right back in the mix.

McCarthy is the proof. "J.J. McCarthy was ridiculed for calling himself nine," Rich said. "He was ridiculed and he was forgotten." He was third string and not even dressing before the trade. Now he is starting for a head coach who is all in, with a chance to win the NFC East.

The show also noted that Nabers had 165 yards receiving, his third straight game with 100 or more. Rich said McCarthy looked bigger after the game, like someone who has "been through it" and is coming out the other side.

And the twist still amazes him. The Giants did not draft McCarthy. They took Nabers instead, then took Jaxson Dart a year later. "Now J.J. McCarthy's throwing to Malik Nabers," Rich said. "Can't make it up."