The New York Giants hit the midpoint of the 2026 season sitting alone atop the NFC East, and that has them in position to claim the No. 3 seed in the conference if the playoffs opened today.
There are still nine games left, so nothing is locked in yet. But after Week 9, the Giants have plenty to feel good about as they continue their push for their first division title since 2011.
Here’s where things stand in the NFC playoff race after Sunday’s late games:
- San Francisco 49ers (7-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-1) Monday Night Football
- New York Giants (5-2-1)
- Carolina Panthers (3-5, 1-1 NFCS)
- Chicago Bears (7-2)
- Detroit Lions (6-2)
- Green Bay Packers (6-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (5-4, 2-1 NFCW)
- Los Angeles Rams (5-4, 0-2 NFCW)
- Dallas Cowboys (4-5)
- New Orleans Saints (3-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6, win over ATL, 3-3 NFC)
- Atlanta Falcons (3-6, loss to TB, 3-3 NFC)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-6, 2-5 NFC)
- Washington Commanders (2-5-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2-7)
The NFC East standings look like this:
- New York Giants (5-2-1, 2-0-1 NFCE)
- Dallas Cowboys (4-5)
- Washington Commanders (2-5-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2-7)
Dallas stayed within striking distance by winning on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Washington, meanwhile, took a loss to the Los Angeles Rams at home, leaving the Commanders in a tough spot heading into their Week 10 Thursday Night Football matchup with the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
That game gives the two teams another shot to sort things out after they played to a tie in Week 5 at Northwest Stadium. This time, the Giants are expected to have J.J. McCarthy at quarterback instead of Jameis Winston, who went 33 of 54 for 326 yards and three touchdowns in that meeting.
The Giants are also hoping to get leading rusher Cam Skattebo back after he sat out Week 9 with a hamstring injury. Without him, the ground game never got going. New York finished with just 80 rushing yards as a team, and Devin Singletary led the way with 31 yards on 21 carries, a 1.5-yard average.
Kickoff is set for Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET, with the game airing on Amazon Prime.
In Other News...
Giants Defensive Surge Is Making Dennard Wilson A Huge NFC East Story
The Giants rise this season has been built on a defense that looks nothing like the unit from a year ago, and Dennard Wilson has become one of the biggest reasons why. New York has climbed into the top five in total defense and sits third against the pass even while dealing with the absence of key players Brian Burns and Tremaine Edmunds, a sign that the structure and standard on that side of the ball are holding up no matter who is available.
Wilsons impact has shown up in the way players around him are responding, too, with Deonte Banks and Arvell Reese among the names who have benefited from the reset. The bigger story for the Giants is what that means inside the NFC East, where a defense built on accountability and consistency can change the way the rest of the division has to prepare for them the rest of the way. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Are Turning One October Night Into A Playoff Atmosphere
A Thursday night at MetLife Stadium is getting a little extra stagecraft, with the Giants leaning into their Vintage White look and asking fans to match the scene in the stands. The team is also rolling out a White Out Shop with limited-edition apparel, part of an effort to turn an ordinary midseason home date into something that feels closer to a playoff night.
Fans coming through the gates will get rally towels and wearable light bands for coordinated displays, adding to the atmosphere the team is trying to build against Washington. It is also the only home game this season in which the Giants will wear the vintage white jerseys, a nod to the 1980s era that included the franchises first Super Bowl title. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Hover Over Jonathan Taylor As Trade Market Tightens
The Colts are still trying to move Jonathan Taylor before the NFL trade deadline, and the market around the running back has not exactly come together. Denver, Green Bay and Minnesota have all reportedly looked into the possibility, but the asking price has been steep enough to keep those conversations from advancing, leaving the situation in a holding pattern as the deadline approaches.
For the Giants, the door has not closed, even if the path has grown narrower. New York remains in the mix as a potential trade partner, but talks have reportedly stalled, which leaves the team hovering over a move that would add a proven playmaker while also testing how far the Colts are willing to bend before time runs out. [Read more 🡒]