The Eagles have spent years making life miserable for the Giants, but three weeks into this season, Philadelphia suddenly looks a lot more reachable than usual.
Both teams are sitting at 2-1, yet the records don’t tell the same story. The Giants just escaped Week 3 with an ugly win. The Eagles, meanwhile, were beaten 27-7 by the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, with Jalen Hurts outplayed by Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum, who made his first start in three seasons.
That loss fits a strange early-season pattern for Philadelphia. They were nearly upset by the 0-3 Tennessee Titans in Week 2 and almost got pushed to overtime by the Commanders in Week 1. The schedule doesn’t ease up, either, with the Rams coming up on Sunday.
For the Giants, there’s at least an excuse for their own uneven start: Jameis Winston has been awful since replacing Jaxson Dart.
Still, the bigger storyline in the division is that Philadelphia keeps handing out reasons to believe it can be challenged. It’s too early to call the Eagles a mess, but there’s real concern building. Nick Sirianni appears to be losing control of the operation a little more with each game, and the early returns suggest another offensive coordinator hire may have missed with Sean Mannion.
The offense has not looked right even with Hurts healthy. The run game has been flat, Barkley is being hit behind the line on nearly every touch, Landon Dickerson is regressing, and the absence of OL coach Jeff Stoutland is showing up more than expected. The defense, too, has slipped.
Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer said Monday was the Eagles’ worst offensive performance of the last four seasons by EPA per drive. On nine possessions, they turned it over three times, punted four times and managed only one touchdown.
That kind of outing points to a broader issue: teams are starting to figure them out. Philadelphia has long leaned on a conservative, run-heavy approach, but when that ground game stalls, the whole offense gets stuck in third-and-long. DeVonta Smith has been the only pass-catcher they can consistently count on in those spots.
Sirianni is taking plenty of heat, but Howie Roseman deserves his share of the blame for not solving the roster’s current problems.
This is still a talented team, and nobody is calling it bad. But the Eagles have looked lethargic when the run game disappears, and for a group with this much talent, the number of question marks is striking.
According to Chat Sports’ Chase Senior, since 2025 the Eagles have a 29% three-and-out rate, which ranks 32nd in the NFL. They’ve also had 80 drives without a first down and 131 rushes for 0 or negative yards, even with one of the best running backs of this generation leading the backfield.
For Giants fans, that’s the kind of stumble they’ve been waiting to see. Philadelphia doesn’t have to collapse for New York to matter in the division.
The Giants just need to stay close and handle their own business. If the Eagles keep leaving the door open, Big Blue may have a real shot to hang around longer than anyone expected.
In Other News...
Giants Just Sent A Clear Message About John Michael Schmitz
The Giants added another experienced interior option this week, signing Kendrick Green to the practice squad after bringing him in for a visit. Green gives the team some flexibility because he has played both center and guard, and he arrives after being released from injured reserve by the Browns.
The timing is hard to miss, with John Michael Schmitz struggling through the first three games and the Giants clearly looking for help inside. Even if Green is starting on the practice squad, the move signals that the team is not standing pat at a spot that has become worth monitoring closely. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Week 4 Problem That Could Derail Their Momentum
The Giants head into Week 4 with a chance to keep an encouraging start rolling, but the trip to face Arizona comes with the kind of injury and form questions that can quickly change the feel of a season. New York is 2-1, yet it has not escaped the early wear and tear, with Andrew Thomas among the key players dealing with injuries as the team tries to steady itself against a Cardinals group that has its own issues but has stayed relatively healthy overall.
Quarterback Jameis Winston adds another layer of concern for New York, given his recent struggles and the pressure that puts on the offense to avoid playing from behind. Arizona will be without starting cornerback Will Johnson, which opens a door for the Giants, but this still looks like the sort of game that can expose whether New Yorks early momentum is real or just a fast start that is vulnerable to the wrong matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Suddenly Has One Big Sunday Question
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was back on the practice field Thursday, albeit in a limited capacity, after sitting out Wednesday with a knee injury on the Giants Week 4 injury report. It was a small but meaningful step for a backfield that is suddenly worth watching closely as New York prepares for Arizona.
The return suggests Tracy is moving in the right direction, but it does not settle whether hell be ready to play Sunday. With Cam Skattebo also part of the equation, the Giants are sorting through their options at running back at a time when every practice rep matters, and the final answer may not come until later in the week. [Read more 🡒]