The Philadelphia Eagles should enter the 2026 season as the class of the NFC East. That much feels fair. A third straight division title is firmly in play, something no NFC East franchise has accomplished since Andy Reid’s Eagles ripped off four consecutive crowns from 2001 through 2004.
Philadelphia remains the standard until someone proves otherwise. That doesn’t mean the division will be comfortable or a ride they’ll take on some NFL version of cruise control.
The Dallas Cowboys are expected to improve, particularly on defense, thanks in part to their addition of Christian Parker. The Washington Commanders have made a habit of making life difficult for Philadelphia regardless of records or expectations. Then, there’s the most intriguing wild card of them all, the New York Giants.
Pro Football Focus names the Giants among the top worst-to-first candidates
It has been a long time since John Harbaugh worked under Andy Reid as a special teams coordinator, but his résumé since then speaks for itself. He has helped build one of the NFL’s most respected cultures in the Baltimore Ravens, and now, the expectation is that he brings much-needed stability to a Giants franchise desperate for relevance.
The question is simple. How quickly can he change things? Pro Football Focus appears to believe that there is a chance the turnaround could happen faster than many expect. In ranking the NFL’s worst-to-first candidates for the 2026 season, PFF placed the Giants third overall behind only the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions, but they also name New York’s biggest roadblocks: the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys
“The NFC East may be a gauntlet, but the Giants should still grow in John Harbaugh’s first season. On the heels of three straight seasons winning no more than six contests… New York hired the veteran Harbaugh to bring stability to the franchise. The former Ravens guide has no shortage of talent to work with on both sides of the ball… The Giants have the tough task of competing with the Eagles and Cowboys, who each look formidable going into this season, but if Jaxson Dart improves upon his 67.9 overall PFF grade, and if first-round picks Francis Mauigoa and Arvell Reese become instant playmakers, Harbaugh’s bunch could be feisty.”
There’s logic there, but let’s not get carried away. This isn’t a prediction that the Giants are about to snatch the division from Philadelphia’s hands. Frankly, that still feels unlikely. The Eagles are better, deeper, and far more proven. Still, Eagles fans probably shouldn’t dismiss their longtime rivals entirely. Season sweeps in the NFC East haven’t happened often as of late/
Harbaugh rarely oversees disorganized football teams. If New York becomes more disciplined, more physical, and more competent situationally, those twice-a-year meetings could become much more annoying than they’ve been recently. Philadelphia has owned this rivalry for long stretches. That doesn’t guarantee the next chapter looks the same. The Eagles should still be the team everyone in the NFC East is chasing, but the Giants may finally be worth taking a little more seriously.
The Giants don’t need to win the division to become a problem. All it takes is a more competent roster, steadier quarterback play, and the influence of a proven head coach to turn a once-comfortable matchup into something far less predictable. All it takes is an unexpected loss handed to a rival to upset the division’s order.
Philadelphia should still enter the season as the NFC East’s standard-bearer, but if John Harbaugh gets New York moving in the right direction faster than expected, the Eagles may discover that defending a division crown just became a little more complicated.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Giants named among the NFL’s top worst-to-first candidates for 2026