The New York Giants sit at 3-1 after their 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The victory put the Giants in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. This marks the first time New York has been at the top of the division since 2015.
Now, the question is whether or not Big Blue can remain there for the rest of the season. The Giants have not won the NFC East since 2011, the year they won their last Super Bowl. After a 3-1 start to the 2026 season, there is optimism that New York can finally capture the division title fans have been waiting for.
The Giants Are Overcoming Major Injuries
Once quarterback Jaxson Dart went down for the season, the outlook for the Giants’ season drastically changed. Many expected them to struggle without their young, promising quarterback. Additionally, Dart’s injury is not the only significant one that has hit the team this season. The following week, star pass rusher Brian Burns suffered a torn ACL, abruptly ending his 2026 season.
The Giants lost two of their most important players on offense and defense for the season. Yet they still find themselves in first place. Veteran Jameis Winston has had to step in at quarterback. While the “Jameis Winston experience” is never perfect, he has done enough to help the Giants win games. Last week against the Cardinals, Winston threw two interceptions, but also threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Spreading the love, he connected with Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, and Theo Johnson for the scores.
The Giants’ defense has also stepped up. Against Arizona, they forced three interceptions, including a game-sealing pick-six from Deonte Banks. Banks also had four pass breakups and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. After struggling in his first three seasons, he looks like he is finally living up to the hype he had as a former first-round pick.
Additionally, rookie linebacker Arvell Reese is starting to show a lot of promise. In Week 4, Reese recorded nine tackles, three passes defended, and an interception. The performance earned him NFL Rookie of the Week honors. If the defense continues to show growth and Winston remains a serviceable starter, the Giants will have a chance to maintain their first-place standing. They have already shown that losing two of their biggest stars does not necessarily mean their season is over.
A Solid Chance at 4-1
Another reason for optimism is the favorable schedule the Giants have in the coming weeks. This Sunday, they will take on the Washington Commanders, who last in the division at 1-3. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is expected to start, but he is coming off a major injury, having dislocated his left elbow in Week 2 against the Cowboys. However, his return could give Washington a boost, and the Giants will need to be prepared for a challenging divisional matchup.
Daniels could be without his top two pass catchers in this matchup. Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs did not practice on Thursday, raising questions about their availability for Sunday. The Commanders as a whole are very beat up; they had 23 players on their Wednesday injury report. If Washington is missing key contributors, the Giants will have an opportunity to take advantage and improve to 4-1.
The Upcoming Schedule is Favorable
Then in Week 6, Big Blue will come back home to play the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are also 1-3 and coming off a 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Admittedly, sophomore quarterback Tyler Shough has had a strong start to the season. He is currently third in the NFL in passing yards. The Saints’ defense, however, isn’t as stout.
They are giving up 32 points per game, the most in the league; the Falcons ran for 205 yards against them last week. If the Giants can exploit those defensive weaknesses, they will have another opportunity to pick up a win.
Right before their Week 8 bye, the Giants will head to Houston to take on the Texans. Coming into the year, this was viewed as one of the tougher opponents on New York’s schedule. Surprisingly, they are off to a 0-4 start. Houston had one of the league’s best defenses in 2025, but that unit hasn’t been the same in 2026.
The Texans have allowed 27 points per game this season, compared with just 17 per game last year. Although Houston remains a potentially difficult opponent, its defensive struggles give the Giants a chance to pull off a road victory.
If the Giants can win two of these three games, they would enter their bye week with a 5-2 record. That would put them in a strong position in the NFC East heading into the second half of the season. Even a 4-3 record would leave New York above .500, but taking advantage of this stretch could help establish the Giants as legitimate contenders for the division title.
The Rest Of The Division Is Vulnerable
The last reason for optimism is that the other teams in the NFC East look very beatable. The Philadelphia Eagles are not the juggernaut team everyone thought they were before the season. They are 2-2 through four games and coming off a loss to the Rams. Philly had a ten-point lead with four minutes in the game, but couldn’t hold on. The week prior, they lost to the Bears with their third-string quarterback, Case Keenum.
Like the Giants, the Eagles are dealing with injuries to key players. Former Giant Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 and is considered “week to week”. Their top wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, missed their last game with a hamstring injury of his own and could miss some more time.
Additionally, Philly’s offensive line has also gone through some major changes. All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson just announced his retirement. That leaves a huge void on the right side of their line. Their top guard Landon Dickerson is on injured reserve with a bone bruise in his knee. Furthermore, the Eagles just traded away two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to the Ravens. With the Eagles not being the same dominant force, the Giants have a legit chance to overtake them as division champions.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are off to a 2-2 start to 2026, having just lost on Thursday to Tampa Bay and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. Their offense remains one of the most high-powered in the league, but the defense has not improved from last year. Even prior to their most recent game, Dallas has allowed the third-most total yards per game and the fifth-most points per game. If that unit doesn’t progress, it could hold the Cowboys back from making a run at the division or the playoffs.
Final Take
The Giants have a legitimate opportunity to win the NFC East for the first time since 2011. Despite losing Dart and Burns to season-ending injuries, New York has managed to start the season 3-1 and take sole possession of first place. Winston has kept the offense competitive, while young defensive players like Banks and Reese have stepped up.
With a favorable stretch of games ahead and the Eagles and Cowboys showing vulnerabilities, Big Blue has a chance to create some separation in the division.
However, the Giants cannot afford to become complacent. Winston will need to limit turnovers, the defense must continue to improve, and New York has to take advantage of its upcoming matchups. The Eagles and Cowboys still have enough talent to challenge for the division title, so the Giants’ early success does not guarantee anything.
If they can continue playing complementary football and capitalize on their rivals’ struggles, a division title could be within reach. For a team that has not won the NFC East in 15 years, that would be a major step forward under new head coach John Harbaugh.
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