JJ McCarthy and the New York Giants are not feeling great, as they suffered a 24-21 Thursday Night Football loss at home at the hands of an NFC East rival.
The Giants wasted a late-game three-point lead and absorbed a 24-21 defeat to Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Despite the setback, McCarthy has complete belief in the Giants' ability to rebound.
“This football team is going to get better from this,” the former Michigan Wolverines star signal-caller said after the game, via Connor Hughes of SNY. “I know that.”
In a way, that is also a message fit for McCarthy himself. As the quarterback, his performance will largely direct what direction the Giants go from here.
Against the Commanders, New York was doomed by poor drives in the fourth quarter, including the last one that ended in an interception by Commanders veteran defensive back Rasul Douglas on a pass intended for Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
The Giants took a four-point lead when McCarthy found tight end Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard touchdown with 8:13 remaining in the final frame.
New York then intercepted Daniels on the following drive but punted on its next possession. Daniels was intercepted again after the Commanders got the ball back, but the Giants also failed to capitalize, punting to end another drive.
Washington wasn't going to waste another opportunity, as the Commanders scored with under a minute left in regulation on a 32-yard touchdown by wide receiver Stefon Diggs. That score preceded the aforementioned interception by Douglas.
McCarthy finished the game with 293 passing yards and a touchdown against an interception on 23-of-36 pass completions.