What happened: McCarthy delivered a 27-21 victory on Sunday in his debut atop the New York Giants' depth chart. Parsons, who weighed in when New York acquired the quarterback in late September, endorsed the first-time starter's performance.

Why it matters: The win puts the Giants in the conference's third seed as the front office faces a decision to buy or stand pat at the trade deadline. Immediate production under center validates the midseason trade that brought McCarthy to New York.

What to watch: New York approaches the trade deadline holding a postseason spot with McCarthy entrenched as the starter.