Giants HC John Harbaugh Names 2 Most Important Games After OT Win

Oddsmakers had the New York Giants pegged as heavy underdogs in Houston, and New York made that look like a bad bet.

The Giants beat the Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime in Week 7. Afterward, head coach John Harbaugh singled out the two games waiting after the bye as the season’s biggest, according to a transcript released by the team.

Harbaugh didn’t play down the stakes.

“The two most important games of the season will be coming up after we come back from the bye, which will set the direction for the rest of the season really,” Harbaugh said. “But we’re going to be in this thing until the end now.”

Week 9 brings the Philadelphia Eagles, then the Washington Commanders on a short week.

New York reached Houston winless in its previous two games, a tie followed by a loss, and the slide pushed the Giants to switch quarterbacks.

J.J. McCarthy, starting for New York for the first time, went 20 of 28 for 252 yards.

Houston spent most of the opening half chasing and fell behind again in the final quarter before forcing overtime.

Overtime belonged to New York. After a defensive stop, running back Cam Skattebo broke loose for a career-long 42 yards, and fellow running back Devin Singletary finished the job with a 30-yard touchdown.

Skattebo, Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr. carried 28 times for 180 yards. Each of the three scored, and the 100-yard day was a first for Skattebo.

That production followed Harbaugh’s public challenge to the group and New York’s release of Najee Harris. Skattebo hadn’t logged one carry a week earlier against the New Orleans Saints.

“It was awesome to be able to show Coach and show the team that we have running backs in the backfield that can do it,” Skattebo said.

A week off helps. Tracy hurt his hamstring before halftime, and Skattebo’s hamstring flared up as he finished his 42-yard gain.

Not bad for a team the betting market had written off. At 4-2-1, the Giants carry a two-game NFC East lead into the bye and will still be on top for the Week 9 game against Philadelphia.