Giants snap 13-game road losing streak against Eagles despite J.J. McCarthy scare

PHILADELPHIA — The Giants nearly lost J.J. McCarthy to injury Sunday. But for the first time since 2013, they didn’t lose at Lincoln Financial Field.

McCarthy returned after a hip injury and the Giants won 19-11 to snap a 13-game road losing streak to the Eagles. The defense added seven sacks and rookie Arvell Reese introduced himself to this NFC East rivalry with his best game as a pro so far.

Reese had 12 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. Darius Alexander ended the game with a sack on Joe Milton as time expired.

The Giants (5-2-1) remained in first place in the NFC East despite surviving a scare to McCarthy, who finished 12-for-19 for 127 yards. He exited in the third quarter after taking a hit from linebacker Zack Baun.

Jameis Winston entered in relief and threw an incomplete pass on his first drive. But the veteran led the Giants to a touchdown on his next series with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely.

McCarthy returned on the next series after he jogged out of the locker room back to the sidelines.

In the fourth quarter, McCarthy ran out of bounds on a third-down conversion and pulled up a bit after a 10-yard gain. He stayed in the game. The Giants scored only once more, on a 49-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada. But it was enough to stay ahead.

Winston finished 6-for-7 on his second drive, including a 27-yard pass to Darnell Mooney. He added a 10-yard run and converted a fourth-and-1 with a sneak. It was more than enough to push the Giants forward until McCarthy returned.

The Giants scored on their first two possessions thanks to a pair of field goals by Dominic Zvada. But the offense stalled after that. Their next four drives ended in three-and-outs for just 20 total yards. McCarthy was sacked five times before halftime, including twice by Baun.

The running game, which totaled 188 yards two weeks ago, went backwards with Cam Skattebo ruled inactive before kickoff. Devin Singletary had just 31 yards on 21 carries. Greg Desrosiers Jr., in his NFL debut, had just three carries for 20 yards. The Giants had just 80 yards on 31 carries.

The Eagles’ offense wasn’t much better for three quarters with Milton making his first NFL start at quarterback. Without injured receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, the Giants’ defense kept the offense in check save for a 3-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley.

Barkley’s touchdown came after a pass interference penalty by Deonte Banks brought the Eagles to the 3-yard line. The Eagles (2-7) went for two after the Giants were penalized for having 12 men on the field and Milton converted on a 1-yard run to make it 8-6.

Reese had a pair of sacks in the second quarter, including one where he came untouched and blasted Milton to jar the ball loose. Micah McFadden recovered it yet the Giants couldn’t capitalize. McCarthy fumbled after a sack on second down and while the Giants recovered, they punted two plays later.

The Eagles, who have lost seven straight games, finished with 220 yards while the Giants had 243. All three of Reese’s sacks came on third down and the rookie now has 4 1/2 sacks this season.

Zvada was a perfect 4-for-4 on his field goals, including a 49-yard field goal with 4:24 remaining. He missed five field goals over his last three games, but the rookie atoned by converting attempts from 53, 40 and two from 49 yards.

McCarthy remained unbeaten since taking over as Giants quarterback. He labored through the fourth quarter and at times limped off the field. But he finished the game and so did the Giants, who remained in first place in the NFC East.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.