When the New York Giants trailed the New Orleans Saints 34-10 with just over 11 minutes remaining, it appeared head coach John Harbaugh simply decided to give backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy a look. Following a Jameis Winston interception that led to a Saints touchdown, McCarthy trotted on to wrap up the day and, after a promising start to his first drive, threw an interception in New Orleans territory.

Then, everything nearly turned into chaos.

The Saints fumbled two plays later, and McCarthy drove the Giants down for a quick touchdown. Then came another Giants stop, and McCarthy threw a 24-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely. Following another stop and a Giants field goal, all of a sudden, New York trailed by just seven points, forced a punt and had a chance to tie a game that once looked lost.

McCarthy and company started on their own 28-yard line and moved all the way inside the New Orleans 20, but couldn't convert a 4th-and-1 from the 14. Despite the comeback falling just short, McCarthy put together a huge stat line in 11 minutes, with 243 passing yards, one touchdown and 26 rushing yards. As Josh Dubow of the Associated Press highlighted, his 22.1 yards per completion were the most for a Giants quarterback with 10-plus completions since Phil Simms in 1989.

Going even one step further, McCarthy also made NFL history and shed light on a brutal quarterback situation in the AFC.

J.J. McCarthy makes NFL history, tops Justin Herbert's best week in 11 minutes

If McCarthy's 243 passing yards in 11 minutes seems unfathomable, that's because it essentially is. That yardage total is the most in an 11-minute span in NFL history.

To sum up just how impressive McCarthy's stretch of play was in his Giants debut, you can also look at a player who was on the rise as one of the top few arms in the NFL in recent years, but has struggled immensely to start the 2026 season.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and their new-look offense have failed to get much of anything going all season. The team fell to 0-6 on the season Sunday, and the two-time Pro Bowler and 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has a single-game high of 226 passing yards this season (Week 3 at the Buffalo Bills).

In just 11 minutes, McCarthy topped Herbert's highest single-game passing-yard total this season. If that doesn't signal that something has to change for the Chargers, I'm not sure what does.

For good measure, McCarthy's 243 passing yards also surpassed the season-highs of Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis and Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward.