Joe Milton finally had the perfect chance to launch the ball as far as he could. Instead, Darius Alexander got to him down on the last snap of the game, and Philadelphia walked away with a 19-11 win. Somehow a seventh sack felt like the only way this game could end.

This was a strange matchup before either quarterback took a snap. J.J. McCarthy had hardly had time to get comfortable in New York after Minnesota traded him for a fifth-round pick. Milton was just on Dallas’ practice squad three weeks ago. Now they were starting against each other in Giants-Eagles, a matchup that probably wasn’t on anyone’s preseason bingo card.

Neither quarterback put up much through the air, but both gave their teams something to work with. They also spent most of the afternoon dealing with pressure in the backfield, so the box score needs a little help telling the full story.

McCarthy’s Deep Ball Keeps Showing Up

McCarthy suddenly looking comfortable throwing downfield is still the most interesting part of his Giants stint.

Against New Orleans, he completed three of four passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also had five completions of at least 20 yards against Houston. The measurements are a little different, but the takeaway is the same: New York might actually be able to get something out of pushing the ball downfield.

Sunday’s best example didn’t even end in a completion. In the fourth quarter, McCarthy dropped a slot fade into Malik Nabers’ reach in the end zone, but Nabers couldn’t finish the diving catch. That was a touchdown opportunity the quarterback created. The incompletion shouldn’t wipe away how good the throw was.

That doesn’t turn 12-of-19 for 127 yards into some secretly dominant performance. McCarthy took five sacks and lost a fumble that his own team recovered. There’s still plenty to clean up. But the Giants’ protection has to be part of this conversation, too. Philadelphia finished with six sacks between McCarthy and Jameis Winston.

Winston deserves credit, too. After McCarthy left with a hip injury following a hit from Zack Baun, Winston threw New York’s only touchdown. McCarthy came back late in the third quarter and later scrambled 11 yards on third-and-10 to keep a field-goal drive alive. He clearly wasn’t moving comfortably, but he still made a play the Giants needed.

I’m encouraged by the throws. Getting through a messy afternoon and still making a few useful plays matters, too. New York doesn’t need every McCarthy start to look like those first explosive stretches. They just need those throws to be there to open things up every now and then.

Milton Still Needs a Changeup

Milton’s arm strength was never in doubt. The question is how often he can give a receiver the kind of ball the play actually needs.

Not every throw has to be a fastball. Sometimes taking a little off gives the receiver a chance to adjust and do something after the catch. Milton still has throws where the arm strength is more for show than for production.

That’s the part I’d want him working on. The arm talent isn’t going anywhere.

His legs gave Philadelphia something, too. Milton ran for 64 yards, including first-down scrambles of 19 and 24 yards. His deep shot to Darius Cooper also drew the pass interference penalty that set up the Eagles’ only touchdown. Those were real contributions from a quarterback making his first NFL start.

The passing was shaky at best: 18-of-34 for 169 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions. He held the ball too long on some plays, and the decisions need to come faster. Still, I came away thinking he did a decent job considering what he was working with. He’d had just 10 Eagles practices, and DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks were both out. That’s a pretty rough stage to get thrown on with lights that bright.

Seven Sacks?! Will It Travel?

Philadelphia’s offensive line has turned into a real problem. Lane Johnson retired in October, which left rookie Markel Bell at right tackle, and then the Eagles traded Cam Jurgens the next day. That’s a whole lot of experience walking out the door in 24 hours.

Barkley finishing with 22 yards on 13 carries — 1.7 yards per carry — tells you this was about more than a young quarterback needing to get the ball out faster. Philadelphia couldn’t open up much room for their running game, either.

Arvell Reese became the first rookie since 1994 to finish a game with 12 tackles and three sacks. On his strip-sack, he came in untouched in 2.29 seconds, the fastest sack in the league this season. Milton barely had time to figure out what was happening, let alone stand there and weigh his options.

Milton still has to own some of it. He admitted afterward that he needed to help adjust the protection. Holding the ball, recognizing pressure, and watching a blocker get beat are three different problems, even if they all end with the same ugly result.

All stats courtesy of Fantasy Points Data.

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