Eighty-five percent is a hefty vote of confidence for a team that has managed only seven wins over the past two seasons. But that’s where Giants fans are landing before camp, with a large slice of the fan base expecting at least a .500 finish in the NFC East.
There’s a case for the optimism. John Harbaugh arrived with a clear, grown-up plan from day one, Jaxson Dart gives the offense a real focal point, and the defense has enough top-end talent to look like a different unit if the coaching is sharper.
Still, the warning label is easy to spot. The Giants haven’t won the division since 2011, and FanDuel has them at +550, the worst odds in the NFC East.
Hoping for better is one thing. Acting like the toughest part is already behind them is how September gets ugly fast.
That 85% figure doesn’t mean fans are dreaming about a Super Bowl. It means they want the Giants to stop being an automatic win for division rivals. It’s a modest bar, but it carries real weight.
Harbaugh’s stated aim is the division, and there’s nothing wrong with a coach saying it out loud. The more immediate test is simpler: the Giants have to stop getting pushed around by the Eagles, Cowboys, and Commanders.
There are signs that a better version is possible. Dart put up rookie numbers that put him in some notable company, including a passer rating above 90 with a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he became the first rookie quarterback with a rushing touchdown in five straight games.
The defense should also benefit from better coaching. The cornerback group has more competition, and the defensive front still has recognizable names despite the turnover. The offensive line isn’t flawless, but the whole operation should look more organized than the mess Giants fans saw over the last two seasons.
None of that means the NFC East is going to hand the Giants anything. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Commanders all have issues of their own: Philadelphia moved A.J. Brown, Dallas needs help on defense, and Washington still has to keep Jayden Daniels upright.
That’s why the real standard here isn’t domination. The Giants just need to be tougher to play, cleaner when games tighten up, and steady enough that Dart isn’t forced into hero ball every fourth quarter.
Fans are buying the first step early. Now Harbaugh and Dart have to make it look like something more than hope.
In Other News...
Giants Fans Just Got More Validation On The Dexter Lawrence Trade
The Dexter Lawrence trade already looked like the kind of move that would be debated all season, and a fresh ESPN ranking only adds to the sense that Giants fans were justified in questioning it. Lawrence still checked in among the leagues best defensive tackles, but after sitting at the top of the position a year ago, the drop serves as a reminder that New York was dealing with a player whose production remained strong even as the energy around him seemed to fade.
For the Giants, the bigger question is whether moving on was the right call as they try to stay in the mix in the NFC East. Lawrence now gets a reset with the Bengals, while New York is left to see if the trade helps it balance the roster in the long run, with the return package becoming part of the larger argument about whether the front office sold high or simply moved on at the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Finally Gave Jaxson Dart The Veteran Help This Offense Needed
The Giants spent the offseason trying to make life easier for Jaxson Dart, and the front office backed that up by adding a few proven veterans who should give the offense more balance. Patrick Ricard brings a bruising presence to the run game, Darnell Mooney adds another receiver with familiarity in Matt Nagys system, and both moves point to a unit that should be less dependent on young players carrying the load right away.
Isaiah Likely is the name that could change the conversation most, even if the full shape of his role still has to play out. With Ricard and Likely both coming from Baltimore and Mooney arriving from a previous stop with Nagy, the Giants are clearly leaning on players who already know how to fit into established systems, and the bigger question now is how quickly all of that translates into real help for Dart and an offense that needed it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Already Be Eyeing Their Next Left Guard Fix
The Giants have spent enough time dealing with the left side of their line to know how quickly a future hole can become a present concern, and that is why the 2027 outlook at guard is already worth watching. Jon Runyan Jr. is headed toward free agency after the 2026 season, so any long-term planning at the position has to start well before then, especially with the front office always looking for linemen who can hold up in both the run game and pass protection.
One name that fits the early conversation is Minnesotas Greg Johnson, a massive blocker at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds who has also been asked to handle emergency snaps at both tackle spots. He brings the kind of athleticism, power and competitive edge that can make a line coach take notice, though his tape still shows the usual developmental questions around technique and consistency. For the Giants, the appeal is obvious, even if the full answer on how he might fit remains a little ahead of schedule. [Read more 🡒]