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By Andrew Gould
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Skeptics may have to reconsider writing off the New York Giants after Sunday's statement win over the Houston Texans.
The Giants improved to 4-2-1 with a 27-21 overtime road victory. They'll enter a Week 8 bye leading the NFC East under new head coach John Harbaugh.
Dan Orlovsky loved what he saw from the G-Men. The ESPN analyst applauded their performance on Monday's "First Take."
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"To go down to Houston with a backup quarterback -- at least in the moment -- and look as good as they did is a hallmark win," Orlovsky said. "It's the best win of J.J. McCarthy's career."
Orlovsky thought McCarthy "played with conviction" in his first start for the Giants. The recent trade acquisition completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards against a stout Texans defense that led the league in yards allowed last season.
Yet the Giants won on the ground with a 42-yard Cam Skattebo rush and ensuing Devin Singletary's 30-yard touchdown run.
"To win that game in overtime the way that they do, against that team?" Orlovsky marveled. "They gave the ball to Singletary. They gave the ball to Skattebo and said, 'Your secondary's not willing to tackle us.'"
Orlovsky also believes the Giants have a "legit good" defense floating under the radar. The former quarterback commended their recent first-round picks, including a 2023 selection enjoying a breakout year.
"Abdul Carter is an absolute game-wrecker. Arvell Reese is sensational," Orlovsky remarked. 'You know who else is great? [Deonte] Banks. Banks was a laughingstock at corner a couple of years ago. .... This unit is a good football unit."
Orlovsky thinks Giants have quickly established a distinct brand of football under Harbaugh.
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"The Giants have an identity as a football team, and no one else in the division does," Orlovsky declared. "I know exactly who the Giants are. They're a physical offensive line. They got talented playmakers. They can run the football at you and they want to throw the ball downfield. Defensively, they're an active defensive line. They're crazy athletic in their front seven and they try to lock you up in the secondary."
If not for Skattebo's late fumble in a Week 5 tie to the Washington Commanders, Orlovsky noted that the Giants could be 5-2. It may be time for everyone to take them seriously as a threat to win the NFC East.
"This is a hallmark win for the Giants, and I do think it's a declaration for everybody that's kind of waiting for the shoe to drop," Orlovsky opined. "They're a good football team."
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