​The Eagles enter the season as the favorites to win the NFC East for a third straight year, a feat not accomplished since the Eagles won four consecutive NFC East titles from 2001 to 2004. They should have little trouble repeating, but they could face a genuine challenge from a franchise that has steadily improved in recent years: the New York Giants, who split their series with Philadelphia last season. It may seem odd to highlight the Giants given they finished 4-13, the second-worst record in the NFC behind the 3-14 Arizona Cardinals. Still, a closer look reveals why they could be a problem.
There are a few encouraging signals for New York. The Giants lost two games in overtime last year, one in which Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 64-yard game-tying field goal at the end of regulation, and another in Denver where New York squandered a 19-0 lead in the fourth quarter. They also dropped four games by four points or fewer, two of which came against the NFC North champion Chicago Bears and the AFC West champion Denver Broncos. It’s a fan-friendly, increasingly competitive squad that has grown tougher to beat.
Add into the mix the appointment of Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh, who spent 18 seasons guiding Baltimore, compiling a 180-113 record with only three losing seasons and a 13-11 postseason mark. The Giants have not enjoyed sustained success in recent years, with just one winning season (9-7-1 in 2022) in the last nine, and they haven’t won the NFC East since 2011, the year they captured the Super Bowl. Harbaugh brings championship pedigree and a culture-change mindset that a franchise hungry for a difference-maker clearly needed.
On the defensive side, the Giants boast a young core, with players such as Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, a group capable of posing consistent challenges for the Eagles for years to come. Offensively, however, much will hinge on the health and consistency of quarterback Jaxson Dart. He’s a dynamic playmaker—exciting and capable of big games—but his tendency to take risks has also made him prone to injuries. An equally important question for New York is Malik Nabers’ health. The rookie wide receiver suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in the fourth game last season against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished with 18 receptions on 35 targets for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers could be ready for Week 1, but even if not, he should be in action within the early portion of the season.
It’s hard to ignore that the Giants handed the Eagles a harsh defeat last season, throttling them 34-17 on national television in Week 6. Head-to-head, the matchup suggested the gap between the two teams wasn’t as wide as rankings might imply. In many ways, the Giants may be the most significant threat to the Eagles’ bid for a third straight division title.
Will they pull it off? Probably not. Still, the gulf between these two franchises has narrowed considerably over the past year. Harbaugh can still coach at a high level, and if Dart can stay healthy and productive, the Giants’ offense could become a legitimate threat. If Nabers returns to form quickly, that adds another dimension for New York. The Eagles will need to be ready for a tougher challenge than many anticipate, and they will also need to monitor the development of young players such as Cam Skattebo, who could contribute in meaningful ways. How the Eagles adjust under Sean Mannion remains to be seen, and that question alone could influence whether Philadelphia remains the clear favorite or faces a tougher path than expected.