Where Do the New York Giants Stand in the NFC East Going Into 2024?

As a result of the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles’ losses during the Wild Card weekend, the four NFC East teams—the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants being the other two—are officially done for the foreseeable future. Despite having a dismal and injury-plagued season, the Giants finished 6-11, although they did manage a 3-3 record versus division opponents. But two of those victories came against the Commanders, who, while they’re still getting used to life under new owner Josh Harris, finished fourth in the division. After upset defeating the Eagles to win the division, the Cowboys gave their usual one-and-done performance in the postseason, raising concerns about the futures of head coach Dak Prescott, the quarterback, and coach Mike McCarthy. Furthermore, there are even more concerns about head coach Nick Sirianni’s ability to guide the Eagles back to the promised land after their Week 18 loss to the Giants.

Thanks to the Wild Card weekend losses suffered by the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, the four NFC East teams—Washington Commanders and New York Giants, of course, being the other two– are officially done until next season. The Giants, who finished 6-11 in an injury-filled and disappointing campaign, managed to go 3-3 against division opponents. However, two of those wins came against the Commanders, who finished fourth in the division as they undergo their acclimation period under new owner Josh Harris. The Cowboys, who unseated the Eagles as Division champions, made their predictable one-and-done showing in the postseason, with questions swirling regarding the futures of head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott. And the Eagles, who lost to the Giants in Week 18, face even bigger questions regarding head coach Nick Sirianni’s suitability to lead the team back to the promised land.

Let’s take a closer look at the NFC East even though the Giants were unable to catch up to the Eagles and Cowboys, who together defeated the Giants in three division games by a minimum of two scores.

COWBOYS IN DALLAS | 12-5

In what many believe was a make-or-break year for head coach Mike McCarthy, who took over the play calling, the Cowboys made a quick cameo appearance in the postseason before suffering their first loss of the year at home at the hands of a Green Bay Packers team the Giants had defeated earlier in the season.

And just as everything seems to be bigger in Texas, so are the rumors about owner Jerry Jones’s next move. With Bill Belichick available for hire, landing the future Hall of Fame head coach would be a huge boom for Jones. But don’t expect that to happen unless Jones is willing to relinquish control of the general manager duties he seems to hold dear. The bigger question for the Cowboys is quarterback Dak Prescott, who seems to come up short in big spots, as he did against the Packers in the Wild Card round. The Cowboys must decide whether to run it back again with Prescott, who has another year on his contract that includes a $5 million roster bonus or go in another direction.

With Dallas sitting 24th in the draft order, their chances of landing a top quarterback prospect aren’t promising, but no written rule says a franchise quarterback must be a first-rounder. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 11-6 Don’t look now, but there’s trouble brewing in the Eagles’ nest. The Eagles, who at one point were 10-1 and looked unstoppable, dropped five of their last six games, putting them in the Wild Card round. But more importantly, the rose seems to be off the bloom for head coach Nick Sirianni, who among the biggest questions he faced coming into 2023 was how the Eagles would fare with two new coordinators. The answer is not very good. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai was replaced as playcaller by Matt Patricia. In three of those five losses the Eagles suffered from Week 13 onward, they were blown out by at least two scores, including the Week 18 beatdown by the Giants.

There have also been questions regarding whether Sirianni lost the locker room due to reported grumbling from star receiver A.J. Brown. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was reportedly set to meet with Sirianni on Wednesday to discuss the team’s direction. Still, some of the blame for the Eagles’ historic collapse should be placed on general manager Howie Roseman, who ran it back with aging cornerbacks, didn’t address the linebacker spot, and lacked depth at safety. NEW YORK GIANTS | 6-11 This was not the kind of season the Giants, who a year prior came off a 9-7-1 season and their first postseason appearance since 2016, expected. Injuries to left tackle Andrew Thomas, quarterback Daniel Jones, tight end Darren Waller, and running back Saquon Barkley cost each player multiple games at varying points in the season, but there were even bigger problems for second-year head coach Brian Daboll. For one, the offensive line was historically atrocious, having allowed 85 sacks, the second most in league history since sacks were tracked as a stat. Yes, injuries played a part in forcing at least seven different lineups, but the lack of development among the backups is one of many reasons why offensive line coach Bobby Johnson was fired. The rest of the offense was nothing to write home about, either. Jones didn’t look like the 2022 version who earned that new four-year, $160 million contract. He put forth just one solid half of football, in Week 2 against the Cardinals) to his name. Otherwise, with Jones at the helm, the Giants were blown out of the water by their opponents in five of the six games he started.

Though it wasn’t the team’s largest issue, both special teams and defense had inconsistent play. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey was fired as a result, while defensive coordinator Wink Martindale quit after Daboll fired his two top coaches, Drew and Kevin Wilkins. Quarterback is the Giants’ biggest question going ahead. Jones has had two neck injuries in the past three years in addition to his ACL tear, which he is currently healing from. At least two clubs ahead of New York, who is ranked sixth in the selection order, require a quarterback. Will general manager Joe Schoen attempt to sign Eli Manning in a big contract akin to what Ernie Accorsi did in 2004? Commanders of Washington | 4–13 The transfer of ownership was having a rough time figuring out what it had and didn’t have, so one could almost excuse the Commanders for the season they gave it.

In order to bring the team out of its dark phase, the Commanders have already updated its general manager position, recruiting former 49ers executive Adam Peters (who was also given consideration for the Giants general manager position). After firing Ron Rivera, Washington will also search for a new head coach. Rumor has it that they are thinking of upgrading at quarterback in order to replace the unreliable Sam Howell. Washington, which hasn’t had a winning season in seven years, has numerous needs in all areas, including the roster, coaching, and scouting. While not everything will be resolved in a single off-season, it will be intriguing to watch how Peters handles one of the NFC’s largest rebuilds. END IDEAS In order to guarantee that the NFC East is well-represented deep into the playoffs the following season, the division may see up to three new head coaches (Cowboys, Washington, Eagles), possibly three new starting quarterbacks (Giants, Cowboys, Washington), and a great deal more turnover.

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