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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The New York Giants head into their Week 8 bye with plenty of momentum after beating the Texans 27-21 in overtime in Houston last weekend. J.J. McCarthy finished 20 of 28 for 252 yards in his first official start with the Giants, and Cam Skattebo rumbled for a career-high 124 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on just 17 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt.
The win moves New York to 4-2-1 and guarantees the Giants will remain atop the NFC East going into their bye, regardless of how the Cowboys or Eagles do. With two divisional matchups next on the schedule, with the Giants traveling to Philadelphia before hosting the Commanders in Week 10, the Texans win provided a massive boost for the team.
Unfortunately, the game also came with a hefty fine for Skattebo. The NFL officially fined the Giants running back $7,073 on Saturday for unnecessary roughness and use of the helmet during the Texans game. The incident happened in the first quarter, when Skattebo took a handoff, lowered his head, and drove straight through Houston safety M.J. Stewart. The play sent Stewart to the ground, and officials threw a flag for unnecessary roughness, costing the Giants 15 yards.
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Through seven games, Skattebo has recorded 418 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 98 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and already surpassing his rookie-season rushing yardage total. He's also hauled in 11 catches for 76 receiving yards. The Texans game was particularly important for Skattebo after he went without a touch in Week 6 due to some fumbling issues from earlier in the season. He responded with the best game of his young career.
Skattebo's game is built around physicality. He regularly lowers his pads, seeks out contact, and tries to power through defenders rather than avoid them. That's part of the reason why he's become one of the NFL's most exciting young stars and a fan favorite in New York. It's also what makes the fine somewhat surprising, with the league opting to punish Skattebo for what looked to many like a normal football play.
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The Giants remain firmly in the playoff hunt and will be eager to keep the momentum alive when they come out of their bye. Skattebo too might come in with even more of a chip on his shoulder as well. The Giants will next face the Eagles on the road in Week 9, followed by a back-to-back home games against the Commanders and Jaguars.
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