Miracle at the Meadowlands III \u2014 the story of J.J. McCarthy\u2019s home debut with the Giants \u2014 was missing the final page that would\u2019ve made it a Hallmark movie instead of a soul-crushing drama.<\/p>\n
Because of McCarthy\u2019s fourth-quarter brilliance replacing a benched Jameis Winston, the Giants threatened to become the rare NFL team to win despite allowing 34 consecutive points \u2026 until McCarthy\u2019s final pass Sunday fell incomplete in a 34-27 loss to the Saints at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n
So the Giants (3-2-1) were left to ponder how their defense went from pitching a shutout over the first 28 minutes to allowing six scores on seven possessions to getting four fourth-quarter stops.<\/p>\n
\u201cWay too hot, way too cold,\u201d safety Jason Pinnock told The Post. \u201cWe have to find out what\u2019s lighting the match and what\u2019s blowing the candle out. Because when it\u2019s good, it\u2019s really good. And when it\u2019s bad, it\u2019s really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Giants pulled Winston after the second of his two interceptions led to the Saints scoring a touchdown to take a 34-10 lead with 11:36 to go.<\/p>\n
If the Giants were waving the white flag with a 0.1 percent win probability \u2014 after many of the 82,905 fans had headed for the exits or booed or both \u2014 no one saw it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not surprised because with the type of team we have, anything is possible,\u201d Kayvon Thibodeaux told The Post after a fourth straight game was decided with less than 20 seconds on the clock. \u201cBut I definitely think we dropped the ball. There are no moral victories. We have to be cleaner as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy threw an interception on his fourth pass but then caught fire playing no-huddle offense. He led three touchdown drives and finished with the second-most fourth-quarter passing yards (243) by a non-starter over the past 25 seasons, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a shot if the clock\u2019s not at zero, no matter what,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cYou just kind of felt the juice coming on the sideline \u2014 defense making plays, offense making plays \u2014 and things just came together a little too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Faced with fourth-and-1 at the 14-yard line with 12 seconds to go, McCarthy scrambled and fired incomplete to the back of the end zone for Isaiah Likely. Malik Nabers broke open from the slot, but it would\u2019ve required a cross-field throw.<\/p>\n
It looked like Likely\u2019s arm was restricted by Jonas Sanker\u2019s coverage, and he popped up motioning for the officials to throw a flag.<\/p>\n
Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) makes a long-yardage run late during the fourth quarter when the New York Giants played the New Orleans Saints Sunday, October 18, 2026 at MetLife Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) is sacked by New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really get into those,\u201d Likely said. \u201cI feel like I can make any play on the ball as long as I get my hands on it. You never want to leave it in the ref\u2019s hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Had the Giants scored, head coach John Harbaugh admitted he would\u2019ve called for a 2-point conversion and tried to steal a win.<\/p>\n
What Harbaugh wouldn\u2019t say is whether Winston or McCarthy will start next Sunday against the Texans.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a heck of a job given the circumstances and kind of desperation time,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cIt\u2019s different than normal football, but made some plays and got us back.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) is sacked by New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Bill Kostroun for NY Post<\/p>\n
If the Giants, who remain atop the NFC East, do not make the playoffs, they will rue the final 83 seconds of the first half and first 159 seconds of the second half against the Saints.<\/p>\n
A chance to be 4-0 at home for the first time since 2008 and extend an unbeaten streak to four games began to disappear when the Saints wiped out a 10-0 deficit by scoring 17 points and running 17 offensive plays between true offensive plays run by the Giants.<\/p>\n
How does that happen?<\/p>\n
Daniel Carlson kicked a 58-yard field goal \u2014 a gutsy call by head coach Kellen Moore considering Carlson already had missed from 55 \u2014 with 1:23 to go in the first half, and Charlie Jones fumbled the ensuing kickoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust have to be better,\u201d Jones said. \u201cAny time you have the ball in your hands, you just have to make sure at a minimum you\u2019re handing it to the ref at the end of the play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) completes a reception under coverage by New York Giants cornerback Nic Jones (31) during the third quarter of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
And then the defense fell one play short of a goal-line stand, allowing a game-tying 2-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Bryce Lance as decoy Chris Olave drew a double-team with one second remaining.<\/p>\n
Quarterback Tyler Shough, who finished two spots ahead of Jaxson Dart in the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year vote, led the Saints on back-to-back touchdown drives to open the third quarter. He accounted for four touchdowns with his arm and legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonally, I think we got down on ourselves when we got down,\u201d Thibodeaux said. \u201cWe have to keep believing. When you play defense, you have to stop the bleeding. We have to execute more in that middle eight minutes of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n