Giants Might Actually Be the Best Team in the NFC East

Entering the 2026 NFL campaign, everyone knew the New York Giants would be a better football team than the season prior. But while there were a few who thought the Giants could potentially make the playoffs, most felt they were still a year away.

Then, Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. That seemed to put New York's playoff hopes on ice, and Brian Burns' ACL tear the following week was the cherry on top.

But suddenly, the Giants find themselves at 3-1 heading into their Week 5 matchup with the Washington Commanders, and they are in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who were the odds-on favorites to win the division heading into the year, are in shambles. Jalen Hurts looks lost, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley are both dealing with injuries, Lane Johnson retired and the Eagles, for some reason, traded center Cam Jurgens.

The Dallas Cowboys — whom the Giants defeated in the season opener — just lost to a previously 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team without Baker Mayfield on Thursday night (at home, mind you) and are definitely headed in the wrong direction.

The Commanders are 1-3 and were without Jayden Daniels the last couple of weeks due to a dislocated elbow. Daniels is returning for the Giants matchup this Sunday, but he will likely be without wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has become a walking injury concern.

Is it possible that even with Darts and Burns on the shelf that New York could be the best team in this division?

We shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves yet, because the Giants' last two wins came against lousy teams at MetLife Stadium. New York's schedule gets much tougher during the second half of the year, so the jury is still largely out.

But it might only take nine wins to capture the NFC East title.

None of the other teams in this division look good. At all. The Eagles still haven't recovered from last year's malaise. The Cowboys are inches away from a coaching change. The Commanders just aren't incredibly talented.

Not that the Giants are world beaters with Jameis Winston under center, but they look like the most well-coached club in the division, and they just might be the toughest.

Just about everyone had Big Blue left for dead when Dart went down in that fateful Monday night game in Los Angeles. But things have certainly taken a wild turn.