The New York Giants keep winning, and the betting market still isn’t buying in.
Through Week 8, the Giants sit ninth in the NFC standings by Super Bowl LXI odds at +6500, despite a 4-2-1 record that has them hanging onto their division. That puts them behind the Dallas Cowboys, who are 3-5 and listed at +5000, and well behind a Los Angeles Rams team sitting at .500 at +1100.
San Francisco leads the NFC pack at +580 with a 6-1 record, followed by the Chicago Bears at +950 and 6-2. Seattle and Los Angeles are next, then Detroit and Minnesota are tied at +1900. Green Bay checks in at +3000, Dallas at +5000, and only then do the Giants show up at +6500.
That gap is exactly what stands out. Dallas is still getting the benefit of the doubt even though the Giants have two fewer losses, plus the head-to-head edge.
New York also beat the Arizona Cardinals, while Dallas did not. The Rams, meanwhile, are being treated like a far more dangerous team than their record suggests, with an implied 8.33 percent chance to win the Lombardi Trophy compared with New York’s 1.52 percent.
It’s a strange place for the Giants to be, especially after what they’ve already survived. They’ve dealt with season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, pass rusher Brian Burns and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, yet they’re still in the mix.
Still, if New York wants the league to take them seriously, one good road win isn’t enough. The Giants need more results like their statement victory over the Houston Texans. And the schedule gives them a shot to keep changing the conversation, with games ahead against the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.
The trade deadline could matter too. New York is trying to add talent before Nov. 10, and Harbaugh has already said the club is “open for any call” (h/t ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). A move or two could help the Giants climb past teams like Dallas and maybe even the Rams if they keep stacking wins.
In Other News...
Isaiah Likely Has A Big Eagles Opportunity While Giants Weigh A Change
Isaiah Likelys first outing with J.J. McCarthy under center for the Giants was a quiet one, as he caught two of four targets for 12 yards and didnt get into the end zone. Still, the setup for the next game looks more favorable. New York is favored against the Eagles, and Philadelphias defense has had trouble with slot receivers, which could give Likely a cleaner path to a bigger role if the passing game finds a rhythm.
The wrinkle is that the Giants are also looking at ways to reshape the offense, and that could affect how much they lean on Likely going forward. If the roster changes they are considering come together, the attack could look different in a hurry, leaving his usage in a less certain place even as this matchup offers a chance to build on a slow start. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Could Still Add The One Upgrade This 6-2 Start Demands
The Giants 6-2 start has them sitting atop the NFC East, and it has also put them squarely in the middle of trade-season chatter. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have both connected New York to possible upgrades, with the front office believed to be at least exploring help at defensive tackle and running back as the November 10 deadline approaches.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Jonathan Taylor, a reminder that the Giants are not just protecting a good record but trying to see how far it can carry them. They have already checked on other targets and come away empty in some cases, which suggests the search is real, even if the exact move is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Theo Johnson Has A Giants Problem He Cant Ignore
The Giants have a tight end setup that already feels a little unusual, with Isaiah Likely being used mostly as a slot receiver while Theo Johnson handles the more traditional in-line role. For now, Johnson remains the player most tied to that job, but his uneven production and blocking issues have left the team with a question it cannot really ignore as it looks ahead.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports recently pointed to LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green as a possible future answer if Johnson does not take a clear step forward. Green brings the kind of size, speed and contested-catch ability that can make a passing game more dangerous, though he would still need to sharpen his run-blocking to fit what the Giants want from the position. [Read more 🡒]