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By Aman Sharma
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J.J. McCarthy keeps throwing deep, and Kurt Warner believes he knows the reason.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Warner tied the New York Giants quarterback’s string of downfield shots to his confidence. Per PFF, McCarthy has aimed 20.4% of his throws at least 20 yards downfield, the highest rate in the NFL.
Warner liked what he has seen.
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“This Giants offense since he’s taken over has been a bunch of big plays down the field because he’s confident. He’s getting back. He knows what he wants to do and he’s ripping it,” Warner said.
New York traded a fifth-round pick in 2027 to the Minnesota Vikings for McCarthy after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury.
The 23-year-old got his chance in Week 6, replacing Jameis Winston against the New Orleans Saints with 11 minutes to go in the final quarter, right after Winston’s second interception.
McCarthy went 11 of 21 for 243 yards and a touchdown in a 34-27 loss. Nobody had posted more fourth-quarter yardage all season, and coach John Harbaugh made him the starter.
His debut as the starter, a Week 7 overtime win over the Houston Texans, went smoother: 20 of 28 for 252 yards and a 99.1 passer rating.
Receiver Malik Nabers has helped, leading the Giants with 48 catches for 605 yards.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy gave the quarterback room some credit, too. On “The Schrager Hour,” he recalled what Winston did hours after being benched.
“The day he is told he is not the starter, which was in the morning, later on that day, I walk by the hallway downstairs. He’s running a meeting with just two people: Him and J.J. [McCarthy] are in there watching third downs. And I’m just saying to myself, ‘That’s the stuff that people don’t see.’”
At 4-2-1, the Giants sit alone atop the NFC East for the first time since 2015. After the bye, they’ll chase their first playoff berth since 2022 with a quarterback who clearly doesn’t mind letting it rip.
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