Giants' game-by-game predictions for 2026 season in first year under John Harbaugh

The New York Giants are a team on the rise in the eyes of many. Things began to transform for the team last season when Jaxson Dart was inserted as the team's starting quarterback and the hiring of John Harbaugh as the team's new head coach this offseason was a sign that this organization means business. 

The Giants have made the playoffs just once in the last decade and the team is 13-38 across the last three seasons. It was time for a culture change and if anyone can implement that in a positive way, it's Harbaugh, the long-time coach of the Baltimore Ravens. 

But how soon can he do that? 

The Giants will be a trendy dark-horse pick this season in a league where teams routinely go from worst to first in their divisions. The Philadelphia Eagles have won the division in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first team to win the division in back-to-back years since they did it back in 2003 and 2024. 

Giants' 2026 game-by-game predictions

Week 1: September 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys

What a way to open the season. The Giants will host the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and this will be a great chance to start the Harbaugh era out with a bang. The Cowboys are going to get a trendy NFC pick to compete this season as well, so they will be up for this one. 

A healthy Giants team with Dart, Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo get the Harbaugh era off to a good start with the game being played at MetLife Stadium being the key factor. 

Giants 20, Cowboys 17

Record: 1-0

Week 2: September 21 at Los Angeles Rams

The Giants go from a Sunday night game to a Monday night game. The Rams are going to be one of the best teams in the league this season and this young Giants team won't be ready for this kind of challenge just yet. 

Rams 27, Giants 16

Record: 1-1

Week 3: September 27 vs. Tennessee Titans

The Giants have their first game that isn't on primetime television and against a Titans team that is still looking to create an identity with new head coach Robert Saleh. This game will be more competitive than some might expect but the Giants get out with the win. 

Giants 19, Titans 17

Record: 2-1

Week 4: October 4 vs. Arizona Cardinals

This is where getting to play that last-place schedule can get teams off to a good start. The Cardinals appear to be one of the weaker teams in the league in 2026 with their new head coach Mike LaFleur and it's another game where the Giants get to play at home. That will be one of the biggest factors in the first quadrant of this season's schedule. 

Giants 20, Cardinals 10

Record: 3-1

Week 5: October 11 at Washington Commanders

This is definitely a winnable game for the Giants, but the Commanders are a solid opponent with Jayden Daniels at quarterback, particularly on the road. It could go either way but the Commanders kick a game-winning field goal with just seconds left to take the first matchup between the teams this season. 

Commanders 23, Giants 20

Record: 3-2

Week 6: October 11 vs. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are a team, like the Giants, that many expect to be much better this season. But this is a game where the Giants' defense uses the noise of the home crowd to its advantage and forces the young quarterback Tyler Shough into a couple of mistakes that swing the result in their favor. 

Giants 23, Saints 17

Record: 4-2

Week 7: October 25 at Houston Texans

This could be one of the biggest tests Dart faces this year as the Texans have arguably the best defense in the NFL. This one could be one of those 60-minute dogfights where in the end, the Texans' defense just makes it too difficult for the Giants to score many points. 

Texans 22, Giants 12

Record: 4-3

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Week 9: November 8 at Philadelphia Eagles

This is going to be one of the best games of the season. The Giants will be coming off their bye week and though they have to travel to Philly, this will be the third divisional matchup in a row for the Eagles, which comes right before their bye week. 

They're going to be ready for a break and the Giants will be able to take advantage of that to steal one on the road. 

Giants 26, Eagles 24

Record: 5-3

Week 10: November 12 vs. Washington Commanders

It's a short week coming off a hard-fought win over the Eagles, but it's a home game. The Giants get one back on the Commanders here after an earlier loss. 

Giants 21, Commanders 14

Record: 6-3

Week 11: November 22 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The nice thing about playing on a Thursday night is having 10 days to rest before the next game. The Giants will then play host to the Jaguars, who were terrific last season, but several analysts believe they will take a step back this season after what many feel was a rough offseason for the team.

This game between inter-conference opponents feels like it has the makings for a shootout. 

Giants 31, Jaguars 27

Record: 7-3 

Week 12: November 29 at Indianapolis Colts

This will be the Giants' last game against the AFC South this season, and it will be one that Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has circled on his calendar. This will be his chance for some revenge against the team that drafted him and then later released him. Will he be healthy at that stage of the season?

If he is, he gets that measure of revenge against his former squad. 

Colts 20, Giants 16

Record: 7-4

Week 13: December 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Any time you play the 49ers, the immediate question surrounds the health of their team. Kyle Shanahan seems to deal with more injuries than any coach in the league by a lot, but he always has his team disciplined and ready to play regardless. The Giants will take a loss in this game but it will be one of those defeats where they learn quite a bit about where they stand the rest of the way. 

49ers 24, Giants 17

Record: 7-5

Week 14: December 3 at Seattle Seahawks

This has turned into a tough stretch in the schedule for the G-Men. A trip to Lumen Field to face the defending champions doesn't help. 

Seahawks 27, Giants 17

Record: 7-6

Week 15: December 20 vs. Cleveland Browns

What was becoming such a promising season for the Giants has drastically turned following a three-game losing streak, but this matchup is just what the doctor ordered. 

Whether it's Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, or someone else at quarterback for the Browns, this is a game where the trio of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux takes over. The Giants register eight sacks in this game as they pound the Browns, a team Harbaugh knows a lot about beating.

Giants 23, Browns 9

Record: 8-6

Week 16: December 28 at Detroit Lions

The Giants get their second game of the season on Monday Night Football and it could easily be a playoff-like atmosphere in the Motor City. The Lions will be hungry for a win here and the Giants will find out again that they are just a notch below some of the top-flight NFC teams. 

Lions 30, Giants 22

Record: 8-7

Week 17: January 3 at Dallas Cowboys

Just after the New Year, it's a Week 1 rematch in a game where playoff positioning at this stage of the season will be very important. The health of these two teams and whether or not there is anything to play for will make a big difference in this one, but assuming playoff spots could be on the line for both teams, the Giants come up short of the season sweep over the Cowboys. 

Cowboys 24, Giants 21

Record: 8-8

Week 18: Date/Time TBD vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Giants get to finish the season at home and have a chance to sweep the Eagles, something they have not done since 2007. Whether or not nine wins gets the Giants into the playoffs would be questionable, but they play spirited ball in this game to show that not only was Harbaugh the right choice as the team's head coach, but that the future is incredibly bright. 

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The Giants score a late touchdown and Harbaugh rolls the dice on a two-point conversion that pays off. 

Giants 25, Eagles 24

Final record: 9-8

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