The Giants may be sitting in a spot that felt unthinkable not long ago: in position to chase the NFC East crown, something they haven’t won since 2011. At 4-2-1 heading into the bye, New York has put itself in the mix, and John Harbaugh’s first season at the helm has already changed the feel around the team.
That doesn’t mean the road ahead is going to be kind.
According to Tankathon’s NFC standings ordered by remaining strength of schedule through Week 7, the Giants’ slate ranks tied for eighth at .500. They’re in the same neighborhood as the Eagles and Seahawks, and the opponents still waiting in front of them suggest there won’t be much room to coast.
NFC standings by remaining strength of schedule through Week 7
- Minnesota Vikings, 6-0, .576
- Chicago Bears, 5-2, .562
- Detroit Lions, 4-2, .561
- Carolina Panthers, 3-3, .547
- Atlanta Falcons, 3-4, .539
- Green Bay Packers, 4-3, .538
- Philadelphia Eagles, 2-5, .500
- New York Giants, 4-2-1, .500
- Seattle Seahawks, 4-3, .500
- New Orleans Saints, 2-5, .493
- San Francisco 49ers, 6-1, .485
- Los Angeles Rams, 3-4, .470
- Washington Commanders, 1-4-1, .466
- Arizona Cardinals, 2-5, .463
- Dallas Cowboys, 3-4, .441
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2-5, .433
New York’s latest result only helped its case. The Giants picked up an exciting 27-21 overtime road upset of the Houston Texans, and it checked a lot of boxes at once. They had their best rushing day yet, the offense showed its most explosive version so far, and the defense managed to slow down one of the league’s more dangerous passing attacks.
Still, there’s plenty of skepticism around East Rutherford. The reason is pretty straightforward: what comes next is loaded with trouble. Matchups with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions are all looming, and each of those teams is being viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl LXI contender.
There’s also the Dallas factor.
Even with New York ahead of them right now, many are still waiting for the Cowboys to make a run, and their schedule gives them a real opening. The Giants and Cowboys both have to deal with the Jaguars, 49ers and Seahawks. Both teams also face the Indianapolis Colts, and each still has another meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.
Where Dallas separates itself is in the non-common games. Sitting at 3-4, the Cowboys still have the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles left. The source paints those teams as franchises either headed for a teardown or already in a long rebuild, which means Dallas has a path to stack wins if it takes care of business.
That’s what makes New York’s small cushion matter. The Giants have given themselves some breathing room in the standings, which matters if the Cowboys capitalize on a softer stretch.
For now, though, the Giants have already shown they’re comfortable playing the part of the overlooked team. They’ve blocked out the noise, kept winning and leaned into the underdog label. It hasn’t always looked pretty, but they’ve handled their business.
In Other News...
Giants Win Could Spark Bigger Fight Over Cam Skattebo Call
The Giants win over the Texans came with a play that is likely to linger well after the final whistle. Running back Cam Skattebo was penalized on a collision that drew an officiating flag, and the call quickly became part of the postgame conversation as New York left with the victory but not much satisfaction over how the moment was handled.
Head coach John Harbaugh did not hide his frustration with the leagues officiating or the way helmet-contact rules are being interpreted. With the Giants already navigating the aftermath of the penalty, the larger issue now is whether the team will push for more clarity from the NFL on what technique it actually wants coached, a question that could carry beyond one disputed snap. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthy Just Changed The Giants Offensive Conversation
J.J. McCarthys first start gave the Giants something they have been chasing for a while: a steadier, more expansive conversation about what the offense can become. In Houston, the rookie handled the moment with poise, worked through pressure and showed the arm talent that can change how a defense has to play him. The result was a 27-21 win over the Texans, but the bigger takeaway was how quickly he made the unit look more dangerous and more complete.
McCarthy was sacked three times, yet the rush never seemed to rattle his overall command of the game. Several of his key throws were the kind that make a coaching staff start rethinking what is on the table moving forward, especially after a performance that helped the Giants move the ball at a much higher level than usual. The question now is less about whether he belongs in the discussion and more about how far this version of the offense can go if he keeps building on it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Have A Familiar Deadline Option To Fix A Thin Rotation
With the Giants sitting at 4-2-1, the next few weeks are going to test how aggressively they want to chase a playoff spot while still protecting future draft capital. The trade deadline on Nov. 10 gives them a narrow window to address a thin defensive tackle rotation, and one familiar name has surfaced as a possible fit: Dalvin Tomlinson, who could give the front four some needed stability without forcing the team into a splashy move.
Tomlinson is the type of target that makes sense for a team trying to thread the needle. A low-cost deal would let the Giants bolster a position group that could use more depth, and his recent play suggests he still has something to offer inside. The question now is whether New York decides to lean into that kind of pragmatic help, or whether it prefers to hold its cards and see how far the current group can carry the defense. [Read more 🡒]