giants.com

Cover 3: What to look for in the second half of the season

Author Image

JOHN-HARBAUGH-COVER-3

The Giants.com crew members share what to look for in the second half of the season as the team comes out of the bye week.

John Schmeelk: The Giants control their own destiny heading into the final 10 games as they seek to win their first division title since they went 9-7 in 2011 and won the Super Bowl. The way that becomes reality is for them to continue to play like they did against the Texans.

It was the cleanest football they have played all season. They did not fumble the ball. They had no turnovers. They committed only four penalties for 50 yards. There were no procedural penalties. There didn't seem to be many missed assignments. Everything appeared organized and buttoned up. They outgained the Texans by more than 200 yards. They looked like a fundamental football team.

That's not even touching the execution. The Giants won the game the way they want to win football games. They were physical. They ran the ball, stopped the run, and won in the trenches. They made explosive plays. They were the better team on third down. They looked like a team with an identity.

They will have to build on that identity moving forward because the schedule gets tougher. The Giants still haven't played a team this year that currently has a record better than .500. In the second half of the season, they have to deal with some of the league's best teams like the Jaguars, 49ers and Seahawks. They will take a firm grip on the NFC East if they can figure out a way to beat their next two opponents, the Eagles and Commanders.

Improving to 3-0-1 in the NFC East would give the Giants a stranglehold on the division with wins against all three NFC opponents so far this season. But if the Giants want to do that, they will have to continue to play as well as they did against the Texans before the bye.

DEONTE-BANKS

RB Devin Singletary (26)

S Jevón Holland

CB Deonte Banks (2)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), OL Marcus Mbow (71)

TE Isaiah Likely (9), RB Cam Skattebo (44)

Head Coach John Harbaugh

WR Malachi Fields (88)

RB Devin Singletary (26)

CB Greg Newsome II (20)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

WR Malik Nabers (1), TE Isaiah Likely (9)

QB Jameis Winston (19)

DL Shelby Harris (93), S Jevón Holland (8), CB Dru Phillips (22)

TE Isaiah Likely (9)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

QB Jameis Winston (19)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

TE Chris Manhertz (85)

LB Arvell Reese (52), OLB Abdul Carter (3)

LB Arvell Reese (52)

CB Greg Newsome II (20), S Jevón Holland (8), CB Deonte Banks (2), CB Dru Phillips (22)

CB Greg Newsome II (20), S Jevón Holland (8)

TE Isaiah Likely (9)

TE Isaiah Likely (9), RB Devin Singletary (26)

Head Coach John Harbaugh

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

QB Jaxson Dart (6), TE Theo Johnson (84)

QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Devin Singletary (26)

CB Greg Newsome II (20)

S Jevón Holland (8)

Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson

CB Deonte Banks (2)

Jevon Holland #8 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Jevon Holland #8 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Darnell Mooney #17 of the New York Giants and Devin Singletary #26 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Darnell Mooney #17 of the New York Giants and Devin Singletary #26 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

A detailed view of a New York Giants helmet ahead of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

A detailed view of a New York Giants helmet ahead of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Jevon Holland #8 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Jevon Holland #8 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Isaiah Likely #9 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Isaiah Likely #9 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Malachi Fields #88 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026.

(Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Malachi Fields #88 of the New York Giants during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 13, 2026. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

LS Ben Mann (58)

LB Arvell Reese (52)

Malachi Fields (88)

Read full news in source page