Can the 2026 Giants Keep Winning as Their Schedule Begins to Harden after Week Five?

The New York Giants have given fans plenty of reason to be happy since the season started. The Giants lead the NFC East with a 3-1 record and look like a team that could sneak into the playoffs when the time comes. All this, though, comes before their 2026 schedule gets tougher. The G-men will have to prove their record isn't just due to favorable matchups and that they can beat the best teams. Under newly appointed head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants have shown growth in numerous ways. After opening the season with a huge 28-20 win over their rival Dallas Cowboys, the Giants got demolished the next week by the Los Angeles Rams. The team bounced back with back-to-back wins over the Titans and Cardinals.

These wins seem great, but through the first four games of the season, they have yet to beat a team over .500 and narrowly beat two of the worst teams in the NFL, the Cardinals and Titans. Many question marks surround New York's start, especially with starting quarterback Jaxson Dart out for the year. Backup Jameis Winston has shown he can make plays, but his inconsistency won't work against better teams. The upcoming schedule will allow New York to show they belong. The Giants will take on the Commanders this Sunday before returning to MetLife to face the Saints. The true tests will start after their week eight bye, when they face the Eagles, Jaguars, Colts, 49ers, Lions, and the defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks. Those six games will be crucial to determining the Giants' season.

If the Giants want any chance at getting through this tough second half of their schedule, they will need to figure out what they are gonna do at quarterback. If Winston continues his inconsistent play, coach John Harbaugh may be forced to give the role to 23-year-old quarterback JJ McCarthy to give the Giants a shot at making a serious playoff push. Offensively, New York will also need to establish the run game and get playmakers like Cam Skattebo and Najee Harris more involved. After a stellar rookie season cut short, Skattebo has not had a rush over 13 yards this season. If the run game keeps struggling, it's hard to see this team succeed in the long run. Ultimately, the G-Men have put themselves in a great spot through four games, but their future matchups will show the type of team they really are. Harbaugh has done his job well so far; the next test is turning up-and-down play into consistent hard-nosed football.