This page requires JavaScript to display.

McCarthy replaces Winston

Sports · Heat 1.7 / 10 · 7 shows · 1h 31m airtime

The Saints beat the Giants 34-27 on October 18, 2026, leading 34-10 with seven minutes left before John Harbaugh benched Jameis Winston after two interceptions. Winston played with two broken bones in his offhand. J.J. McCarthy finished 11 for 21 for 269 yards, a touchdown and an interception in relief, with 243 of those yards in the last 12 minutes, the second most in a game since 2000 behind Drew Brees' 249. He also tried to throw about four interceptions in the fourth quarter. The discussion is whether one relief appearance makes McCarthy the starter in New York or fool's gold after three years in Minnesota.

How 7 podcasts covered it

  1. Pardon My Take, 2026-10-19 (1:37:23 to 1:51:11)
    Adds Winston's two broken bones in his offhand
    Recaps the Saints' 34-27 win and McCarthy's fourth-quarter relief, adding that Winston played with two broken bones in his offhand and that McCarthy's first pass in relief was intercepted. Also covers Scattebo's zero-carry doghouse and Kellen Moore's five game balls.
    New angle: Jameis Winston played with two broken bones in his offhand.
  2. Nightcap, 2026-10-19 (0:02 to 12:53)
    Adds Nabers' 12 catches for 165 yards
    Recaps the Saints' 34-27 win and the Winston benching, then spends most of the segment arguing McCarthy versus Winston as the Giants' starter. The box score and the fourth-quarter case are already on the record; the new detail is Malik Nabers' 12 catches for 165 yards.
  3. Nightcap, 2026-10-19 (15:51 to 29:48)
    Argues whether Winston should start the rest
    Reacts to the Harbaugh and Skattebo clips, then argues over whether Winston can start the rest of the season and whether McCarthy deserves a chance. Stays inside the Saints-game fallout already on the record, adding only opinion and career background.
  4. First Take, 2026-10-19 (31:58 to 40:26)
    Reports Skattebo's career-low six snaps and the fumble count
    Turns from McCarthy's fourth quarter to the Giants' running back usage, with Cam Skattebo getting no carries and a career-low six snaps. Plays Harbaugh's postgame denial and reports the discipline behind it: four fumbles on about 80 carries.
    New angle: Skattebo has four fumbles on about 80 carries, the reason for his career-low six snaps.
  5. The Dan Patrick Show, 2026-10-19 (25:47 to 28:10)
    Credits McCarthy for looking good after a change
    Reaction to McCarthy's relief appearance against the Saints, with Dan crediting him for looking good after a change of scenery and admitting he had been rough on him. It stays inside the box score already on the record, then drifts to the Rams and Chargers.
  6. The Right Time with Bomani Jones, 2026-10-19 (8:37 to 10:43)
    Adds that the Vikings preferred Wentz
    Recaps McCarthy's relief turn against the Giants and predicts he will get a chance to start given Skattebo's struggles and Dart's absence. Adds one on-the-record detail: the Vikings preferred Carson Wentz to McCarthy.
    New angle: The Vikings chose Carson Wentz over J.J. McCarthy.
  7. The Ryen Russillo Show, 2026-10-19 (1:01:49 to 1:08:39)
    Debates Winston versus McCarthy for the Giants
    Debates whether the Giants should stick with Jameis Winston or hand the job to J.J. McCarthy, and lands on McCarthy as the different dice roll. Adds a historical marker for the comeback: McCarthy's 243 yards in the last 12 minutes trail only Drew Brees since 2000.
    New angle: McCarthy's 243 yards in the last 12 minutes are the second most in a game since 2000, behind Drew Brees' 249.
  8. The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL, 2026-10-20 (55:27 to 1:12:01)
    Argues McCarthy's tape overstates his box score
    Breaks down the Giants-Saints game and argues Winston should be benched for McCarthy, but the sharper read is on McCarthy's tape: he tried to throw about four interceptions in the fourth quarter, so the box score overstates him.
    New angle: McCarthy tried to throw about four interceptions in the fourth quarter against the Saints.
  9. Nightcap, 2026-10-22 (30:02 to 40:04)
    Debates whether one relief game earns the job
    Debates whether McCarthy's relief appearance in the Giants' 34-27 loss to the Saints earns him the starting job. Joe argues one game showed enough; Shannon and Ocho call it fool's gold after three years in Minnesota.
    New angle: McCarthy finished 11 for 21 for 269 yards, a touchdown and an interception in relief.
  10. Nightcap, 2026-10-22 (40:04 to 44:25)
    Extends the Winston versus McCarthy debate
    Extends the Winston-versus-McCarthy argument past the Saints loss, with Shannon and Ocho backing Winston and Joe backing McCarthy. The only new material is scheduling chatter - the Giants' bye and the Texans up next - and it stays inside the debate the earlier coverage set up.
Unpacking...