The New York Giants face a challenging schedule in 2026, ranked as the ninth-hardest in the NFL. With new head coach John Harbaugh and fresh talent, they aim for unexpected upsets this season.
Key points
New York Giants have the ninth-hardest schedule in the NFL for 2026
John Harbaugh is the new head coach of the Giants
The team signed multiple free agents this offseason
Giants aim to bounce back from a poor 2025 season
Mentioned in this story
John Harbaugh
New York Giants
3 games where New York Giants could pull off a sneaky upset
The New York Giants will have one of the hardest schedules in the NFL for a second consecutive season in 2026.
New York owns the ninth-hardest schedule in the league this year, based on strength of schedule. The Giants were nevertheless able to reload both on and off the field this offseason, signing a host of free-agent talent while also hiring former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh enters his first season as the Giants' head coach with high expectations, and Big Blue appears poised to bounce back from a disastrous 2025 campaign.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21 at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET
Q&A
What is the strength of schedule for the New York Giants in 2026?
The New York Giants have the ninth-hardest schedule in the NFL for the 2026 season.
Who is the new head coach of the New York Giants?
John Harbaugh is the new head coach of the New York Giants for the 2026 season.
What changes did the New York Giants make during the offseason?
The Giants signed several free-agent players and hired John Harbaugh as their head coach to improve their performance.
How did the New York Giants perform in the 2025 season?
The New York Giants had a disastrous campaign in the 2025 season, prompting significant changes for 2026.
The Giants will face an immediate test in Week 2 when they travel to face the Rams. New York will head to the West Coast to take on arguably the top team in football, and a victory in Los Angeles would send a major message to the rest of the league.
The Giants’ revamped secondary will have its hands full against Puka Nacua and the rest of the Rams’ receiving corps. Still, New York’s blend of young and veteran talent could prove enough to knock off Los Angeles.
Both the Giants and Texans boast some of the top defensive units in the NFL entering the 2026 season. Quarterback Jaxson Dart and the rest of New York’s offense will need to play smart and fast, while the Giants’ offensive line will face its stiffest test against star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and company.
New York has the firepower on both sides of the ball to defeat Houston on the road, but the Giants must keep mistakes to a minimum.
The Giants will travel to Lumen Field to face the defending Super Bowl champions. Widely regarded as one of the toughest environments in the NFL, Lumen Field will present a major challenge against a Seahawks team that is stacked with talent at nearly every position.
A road win in Seattle would firmly place the Giants in playoff conversation, especially considering the Seahawks lost just two home games in 2025.
