New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 9

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New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 9

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 9

Tyler Henry, Giants Wire · Giants Wire

Fri, November 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM UTC ·

2 min read

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The New York Giants will travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in the first of their two meetings this season.

New York is coming off their bye week after an overtime win over the Houston Texans in Week 7 that improved its record to 4-2-1. Philadelphia, by contrast, has lost six straight games, including a Week 8 defeat to the Washington Commanders.

Earlier this week, the Giants opened as slight road favorites against their NFC East rivals, the first time they have been favored in Philadelphia since 2009. They have not beaten the Eagles on the road since 2013, a streak they will look to end Sunday.

With the teams set to meet in Week 9, here are three reasons for optimism.

John Harbaugh coming off the bye

The Giants are coming off their first bye week under John Harbaugh, who carries a 15-3 record in games following a bye. The extra week gives New York additional time to prepare for the Eagles and get healthier. The coaching change has already been an advantage this season, and Harbaugh's history coming off the bye suggests that edge could be especially pronounced in this matchup.

Eagles' losing streak

After opening the season 2-0, the Eagles have dropped six consecutive games. A lengthy injury report headlined by Jalen Hurts has contributed to a difficult stretch that has left Philadelphia in the basement of the NFC East. During the skid, the Eagles have allowed more than 26 points per game, and they rank 30th in the league in scoring at just over 17 points per game. A team that has dominated the division in recent years has struggled throughout 2026.

Time of possession mismatch

New York's coaching staff has done a strong job controlling tempo this season. The Giants rank second in the league in time of possession, while the Eagles sit 29th. That mismatch should favor the Giants on Sunday.