John Harbaugh called out his running backs this week. They responded Sunday in Houston.
Skattebo and the Giants' ground game dominated in an overtime win against the Texans. The running back group that drew criticism from their head coach put the team on their backs and delivered when it mattered most. This wasn't a quiet statement. They ran hard, moved the chains, and controlled the game when the Giants needed to establish identity on offense.
The overtime victory came down to execution, and the backs executed. Harbaugh's message landed. Instead of folding after getting benched in the coach's doghouse, they proved they belong in this backfield and can carry the load. The Giants leaned on them repeatedly, and that commitment paid off in Houston.
This is the kind of response that wins locker rooms. Players hear the criticism, take it personally, and show up Sunday. Skattebo and company did exactly that. With the ground game working like this, the Giants have another dimension to build around heading forward. The running backs answered the bell when their coach demanded better.