Giants’ Cam Skattebo dismisses ‘B.S.’ after statement game: ‘They know what they have’

The Giants' rushing attack — and specifically Cam Skattebo — responded in a huge way during Sunday's shocking 27-21 overtime win at the Texans.

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After the game, as John Harbaugh's resilient team improved to 4-2-1, Skattebo shrugged off speculation that the Giants might trade for the Colts' Taylor to obtain the true No. 1 back that Harbaugh wants.

All week, coming off Skattebo's benching against the Saints, some fans grumbled that he might not be capable of filling that role, especially considering his early-season issues with fumbling and production.

So much for that.

"Honestly, I didn't pay no attention to that B.S.," Skattebo said of the Taylor trade speculation. "If they're going to do that, they can do that. But they know what they have in the backfield. At least now they do."

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His teammates noticed how he responded to his benching.

"It brought the demon out," right guard Francis Mauigoa told NJ.com.

Mauigoa said Skattebo ran "very angry" all afternoon.

Skattebo carried 17 times for 124 yards and a critical 16-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh wanted more from his rushing attack overall. He got it as the Giants ran for 188 yards — 5.5 per carry.

The Giants' run blocking also massively improved Sunday in Houston. The reason for that? Well, it was quite simple, said Mauigoa.

"We moved the line of scrimmage," he said. "That's what we're called to do — and that's what we're going to do."

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Devin Singletary won the game with a 30-yard touchdown. On the play before that, Skattebo surged for 42 yards. Tyrone Tracy had a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He finished with 15 yards, compared to 41 for Singletary.

But ultimately, Skattebo answered his benching with a game fitting of a No. 1 back. With Najee Harris gone, this backfield is Skattebo's again. So yeah, the Giants can shelve the Taylor trade chatter entering their bye week.

They had four touchdown runs Sunday from four different players (including Jameis Winston). They hadn't had four players run for a touchdown in the same game since 1950. This is the offensive style Harbaugh wanted in 2026.

After Skattebo's touchdown run put the Giants up 21-14 with 8:55 left in regulation, he spoke to his offensive linemen on the sideline — and shared his mentality with them.

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"In my mind, if I don't score, I'm getting benched again," Skattebo told that group, as Mauigoa recalled.

As Skattebo buried memories of his benching in Houston, his coaches helped. Before that fourth-quarter touchdown drive, wide receivers coach Chad Hall told him: "I think it's time for a backflip."

That, of course, is Skattebo's signature touchdown celebration. So Skattebo loved hearing those words from Hall.

"I knew that means it's time to get in the end zone," he said.

It was that 42-yard run — the longest gain of his NFL career — that made the difference in overtime, as it moved the Giants to Houston's 30 in a sudden-death situation. Skattebo felt dehydrated as he sprinted down the field — and then felt his hamstring cramp. So he decided to slide, instead of pulling a muscle.

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He knew the Giants were in field goal range at that point.

"Let me take care of myself and get down," he said of his thought process. "I didn't pull it. Not at all. I think I got a little tightness. I felt it there at the end, and I was like: It's not worth it to continue to go and pull it. So as soon as I felt it at all, I was able to pull up and just hold off. Now, I'm good. Just being smart."

He said after the game that he probably could jog around if needed, though he added, "We'll assess it as the week goes on."

Fortunately for Skattebo's hamstring, the Giants are off this week.

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After the bye, they return to Philadelphia — the site of Skattebo's gruesome ankle injury last season. That, too, is a distant memory for him now.

Still, Skattebo knows he must continue to focus in practice on avoiding fumbles — or else he will wind up back on the bench.

"You think about it, man," said Skattebo, who had four fumbles (one lost) before his Week 6 benching. "You think about it throughout the week: What can I do to get better at it? That was my mindset: What can I do in certain situations to make sure that the ball is not able to even be punched out?"

During practice last week, when he felt himself stumbling, he made sure to hold the ball extra tight — because those are the moments when fumbles often happen, with a defender rushing in to punch the ball out.

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"So I knew today it was time to take care of the ball when people got around me," Skattebo said.

When his redemptive performance had ended — with the Giants moving one step closer to a stunning NFC East title — Skattebo pondered this well-rounded rushing attack, led once again by him.

"If we can do that every week, then we're going to be happy running backs," he said. "And we're going to continue to kick ass."

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