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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Eagles

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Here are 10 things to watch in the Week 9 matchup between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field (1 p.m. ET).

On the road to Philly

The Giants emerge from their bye in first place of the NFC East with an opportunity to strengthen their lead over the next seven days. Sunday marks the first of back-to-back games against NFC East opponents. After traveling down I-95 for this weekend's matchup against the Eagles, the Giants will take on the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.

A win in Philadelphia would keep the Giants undefeated in divisional play with three more games against the NFC East left on the schedule. On top of that, a win this weekend would provide the Giants with their first victory in Philadelphia in over 13 years. The franchise's losing streak at Lincoln Financial Field, along with the Eagles' current six-game losing streak, has no bearing on Sunday's matchup, according to coach John Harbaugh, who is preparing his team for a tough game against the back-to-back division champions.

"Rival in the division, longtime rival," Harbaugh said about the Eagles at the start of the week. "Was a part of this way back as an assistant coach in Philadelphia and now to be on the other side of it, playing the vaunted Giants against the vaunted Eagles, it's really exciting and we're looking forward to it. A lot of respect for that team, that organization, everything about them. We understand, defending champs in the division, recent world champs, all those kinds of things. We're looking forward to our opportunity."

History vs. Eagles

In regular-season play, the teams have met 182 times. The all-time series is led by the Eagles, 87-93-2. In their most recent meeting, the Eagles defeated the Giants, 38-20, at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 8 of the 2025 season. The Giants split the season series with the Eagles last season.

The Giants are looking for their first win against the Eagles on the road since the 2013 season (10/27/2013).

View photos of the Giants on the practice field as they prepare for their Week 9 matchup against the Eagles.

Injury Report

Giants

Final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.

Eagles

Final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.

McCarthy's second start for Big Blue

J.J. McCarthy looked impressive in his first start with the Giants back in Week 7. Going up against a tough Texans defense, McCarthy completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4 percent) for 252 yards, which earned him a passer rating of 99.1. At just 23 years old, not only is McCarthy the NFL's youngest starting quarterback, but this performance in Houston also made him the youngest Giants QB since 1954 to throw for 250+ yards and complete 70+ percent of his passes.

Since stepping onto the field in the fourth quarter against the Saints, McCarthy has shown no hesitation to take shots downfield. The 23-year-old has completed 12 of 22 passes of 10+ air yards downfield for 392 yards and a touchdown across his two games with the Giants. His completion percentage of 63.6 percent on such passes would rank as the second-highest in the NFL behind only Joe Burrow (69.8 percent).

With another few weeks in the system now under his belt, McCarthy will look to continue his strong play this weekend in a matchup that bodes well for the young QB. The Eagles rank 24th in passing yards and 20th in passing touchdowns allowed this season, and have surrendered 850 downfield passing yards during their six-game losing streak, the second-most in the NFL over that six-week span. They have also given up seven touchdowns on throws 10+ yards downfield, which is tied with six other teams as the most in the league since Week 3.

Nabers named NFC Offensive Player of the Month

Across four games in October, Nabers totaled 36 receptions for 509 yards and two touchdowns. The 36 receptions were the second most in the league from Weeks 4-7, while his eight receptions of 25+ yards and his 22 first downs via the pass led the NFL. He registered 100+ receiving yards in all four games, which tied him for the longest active streak in the league and marked the second-longest streak in Giants history.

Nabers' outstanding performance led to him being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month. He became the first Giant to win the award since Eli Manning in 2008 and the first wide receiver in franchise history to earn the honor.

Since McCarthy took over at QB, Nabers has caught 11 of 14 targets for 206 yards across 45 routes, resulting in an average of 4.6 yards per route run. To put that in perspective, Seattle's Jaxson Smith-Njigba ranks first among 95 wide receivers with at least 100 routes run with 3.8 yards per route this season. Heading into Week 9, the Eagles rank in the bottom three of the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns allowed to wide receivers this year.

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Controlling the ground game

With McCarthy under center in Houston, the Giants had their best rushing performance of the season. Cam Skattebo ran for a career-high 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, good for an average of 7.3 yards per carry,  and was one of four Giants to score a rushing touchdown against a stingy Texans run defense, joining Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and Jameis Winston. As a team, the Giants recorded 34 rush attempts for 188 yards (5.5 avg.) and the four scores. It was the first time the Giants had four different players score a rushing touchdown in the same game since 1950, and it came against a Texans defense that had allowed five rushing touchdowns combined in the first six games of the season.

The backfield is going to look different this weekend, though. Tracy has since been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while Skattebo missed the first few practices of the week due to a hamstring injury of his own. Whoever is active on Sunday will have a great opportunity to keep it rolling against an Eagles defense that ranks 28th in rushing yards and 23rd in rushing touchdowns allowed. Philadelphia is the only team in the NFL to allow 100+ rushing yards in all eight games to start the season.

The Giants defense will be tasked with slowing down a familiar face. After being held out of the end zone in the first three games of the season, Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 that sidelined him for the next two weeks. The veteran has been limited over the last two games since returning, but even at less than 100 percent, he has still totaled 125 yards and two touchdowns with a 4.6 average yards per carry. In three games against the Giants over the last two seasons, Barkley has averaged nearly 9.0 yards per carry with a total of 384 yards and two touchdowns on the ground along with another touchdown through the air.

Eagles to keep an eye on

QB Joe Milton – Milton is set to make his first NFL start. The third-year quarterback has appeared in five games since entering the NFL in 2024, completing 69.8 percent of his passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with another 66 yards and touchdown on the ground. Milton has averaged 10.2 air yards per attempts across his 53 career passes, the second-most among QBs with 50+ oases since 2024.

RB Saquon Barkley – While playing at less than 100 percent in recent weeks, Barkley has still displayed his classic explosiveness that has made him one of the league's top backs. Despite dealing with hamstring and back injuries over the last two games, Barkley has averaged 4.6 yards per carry while finding the end zone twice and totaling 125 yards from scrimmage. In three games against the Giants over the last two seasons, Barkley has averaged nearly 9.0 yards per carry.

DL Jalen Carter – Through the first eight games of the season, Carter is on pace to set new career-highs in several categories. His three forced fumbles is already a new personal best, while his four sacks on the season puts him on pace to break his previous high mark of six sacks set as a rookie back in 2023. Carter has struggled in some areas during the 2026 campaign, but the fourth-year lineman has still shown the ability to wreck games.

CB Quinyon Mitchell – It's been an up-and-down season for Mitchell, who started off the year not allowing 30 or more receiving yards in any of the Eagles' first four games. In the four games since, he's allowed less than 38 yards just once and has a passer rating against of over 100 in two of the four outings. In last week's loss to the Commanders, he allowed three receptions for 65 yards and finished with a passer rating against of 104.2.

Stats to know

QB J.J. McCarthy has completed 14 of 22 downfield passes (10+ air yards) for 392 yards and a touchdown across two combined games with the Giants this season, resulting in a 63.6% completion percentage that would rank second-highest in the NFL behind only Joe Burrow (69.8%). The Eagles' defense has allowed 850 downfield passing yards during their current six-game losing streak dating back to Week 3, the second-most in the NFL over that span behind only the Ravens (889). They have also allowed seven such touchdowns since Week 3, tied with six other defenses for the most in the NFL.

WR Malik Nabers has caught 11 of 14 targets for 206 yards across 45 routes run when J.J. McCarthy has been on the field at quarterback for the Giants this season, resulting in an average of 4.6 yards per route run. For context, Jaxon Smith-Njigba ranks first among 95 wide receivers to have run at least 100 routes with 3.8 yards per route this season.

OLB Abdul Carter has recorded a 2.46-second average time to pressure this season, the second-quickest mark among 85 edge defenders with at least 10 pressures. In four full games without Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens, the Eagles have allowed a 2.40-second average time to pressure, the quickest mark in the NFL.

CB Deonte Banks and CB Greg Newsome have recorded the second-highest (48.6%) and fourth-highest (46.7%) tight-window target rates among 85 outside cornerbacks to have been targeted at least 15 times in coverage, respectively. This has led to the Giants defense generating the second-highest tight window target rate of any team in the league at 21.5 percent.

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

Ways to watch

TV

Channel: FOX

Announcers:  Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (color analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)

Postgame: Giants Postgame Live presented by Hackensack Meridian Health hosted by Michelle Gingras immediately following the game on MSG Networks, The DAZN App, YouTube, Giants.com, Giants App, Giants TV

STREAM

This week's game can be streamed on NFL+.

RADIO

Channel: WFAN 101.9FM / 66AM

Announcers:  Bob Papa (Play-By-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber,  Paul Dottino

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 am, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point presented by Earth Treasures Fine Jewelers

What's next?

The Giants will be faced with a quick turnaround in Week 10 as the Commanders are set to come to MetLife Stadium for a primetime matchup on Thursday Night Football. The two teams first faced off in Week 5, with the contest ending in a 27-27 tie. The Commanders, fresh off their victory over the Eagles in Week 8, will take on the Rams at home this weekend.

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The Giants Foundation 5K & Kids Run

Bring your friends, family and neighbors out to run The Giants Foundation 5K Presented by Quest® on Sunday, November 8th and finish in the end zone at MetLife Stadium!

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