HOUSTON — Takeaways from the Giants’ 27-21 overtime win over the Texans:
— This week, the coaching staff told Deonte Banks that he would be following Nico Collins, the Texans’ top wide receiver, all over the field. That is true No. 1 cornerback treatment for Banks. My oh my, how far we have come with this still-young player. Banks had “draft bust’’ on his résumé after two troublesome seasons following a decent rookie year. He is performing like the first-round pick he was back in 2023. He blanketed Collins like a glove, limiting him to virtually nothing: two receptions (on five targets) for 6 yards. Do not let anyone tell you coaching doesn’t matter. And give the most credit to Banks for turning himself and his career around.
— This is why you don’t anoint any rookie until the weather starts getting considerably colder. Slow starts can give way to improvement. Strong openings can fade. Dominic Zvada made the first nine field goals of his NFL career and there was all sorts of deserved praise for the 22-year-old’s calm, technique and leg strength. Then he missed four of his next seven kicks heading into Week 7. Zvada’s first attempt in the climate-controlled dome was a 56-yarder that drifted wide right. That’s a long kick but the Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made two kicks in the first half, from 58 and 57 yards. The crusher came in the closing seconds of the first half, when Zvada was wide right from 44 yards. In the third quarter, John Harbaugh eschewed a 55-yard attempt.
— Did not expect to see Jameis Winston race onto the field on the Giants’ third offensive snap? Join the club. It was third-and-1 and Winston came in for one specific reason: Run the quarterback sneak. He did his job, pushing forward for 2 yards to pick up the first down. In the second quarter, Winston scored on a 1-yard touchdown sneak. He is bigger, stronger and more powerful than J.J. McCarthy and so this move makes complete sense. It also shows the need to use every player on the roster. Winston is no longer the starter but he has a role. On game day, that role is to support McCarthy in any way possible. And, on occasion, to go in and run a play for him.
