While the Philadelphia Eagles have secured consecutive NFC East championships, the competitive landscape within the division could be getting significantly stronger.
Much has been made of the recent improvements made by the Dallas Cowboys, including the arrival of former Eagles coach Christian Parker to spearhead the defense in Big D.
Meanwhile, another heated rival is also poised to make more noise in 2026, as the New York Giants welcome a clean slate with the arrival of new head coach John Harbaugh, a return to health for key playmakers, and a host of other roster moves.
New York Giants might be a problem for the Eagles in 2026
Speaking on The Herd, Fox Sports Analyst Greg Olsen expressed optimism in what New York's been up to this off-season, as he envisions a much-improved Giants team potentially disrupting Philadelphia's designs on making it three NFC East titles in a row:
"If you look back on last year's team, the way they lost some of those games, the endings of those games, the management, the bad breaks," Olsen said. "We talked before about how you have a magical run? There is an element of luck. There is an element of certain games just bouncing your way, and some years it seems like you get all the breaks and you win all those close games.
"They've got to keep Jaxson Dart healthy, figure out how to run him," he said. "I love their draft. I love the pieces they added. I think their defense is better than they performed last year. If they can get that thing straight, I think the talent there is better than the outcome."
"I think they'll win 10 games," he said. "Can they win the division? I still think Philly's really good. I think Dallas is going to bounce back, so it's still a tough division...but the Giants, to me, feel a little bit like I felt about the Bears going into last season."
Regarding their overall health, Olsen cited Dart, and of course, the duo of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo will also need to be firing on all cylinders for Big Blue to really click offensively. It's a promising young group, further strengthened by free agent tight end Isaiah Likely and rookie wideout Malachi Fields.
Defensively, the secondary looks strengthened, while the additions of linebackers Tremaine Edmunds (FA) and first-round sensation Arvell Reese help comprise a tough front seven, and Dexter Lawrence on the inside. Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibadeux, and Abdul Carter return as a fierce group of pass rushers, leaving the New York defense with a decorated group of disruptors.
As Olsen noted, bad breaks and questionable in-game management haunted the Giants in 2025. With the arrival of Harbaugh and a healthier, deeper roster, the Giants will be in a position to finish down the stretch of tight contests.
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Having already split their two matchups with New York last season, the Eagles will once again have their hands full with Big Blue in 2026. And with Super Bowl aspirations, Philadelphia must first deal with divisional foes who are chomping at the bit to dethrone the NFC East champs.
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