The New York Giants’ Rise in the NFC

The New York Giants are definitely becoming a team worth watching in the NFC. It might seem surprising, especially given their losses, like that of Jaxson Dart and key pass rusher Brian Burns. Yet, coach John Harbaugh has somehow transformed the team into a contender with noticeable confidence, placing them at the top of the NFC East and giving them a view over their competition.

Now, it’s true that two of their three victories have come against the Cardinals and Titans— which may raise some eyebrows. However, historically, the Giants have struggled to finish these kinds of games, particularly when dealing with significant injuries. Strangely, we haven’t even seen this team at its absolute best yet, and they’re still keeping their winning record intact after a month into the season. They’ve certainly earned some recognition, jumping into the Top 15 in our Power Rankings as we head into Week 5.

Here’s a rundown of our rankings for all 32 teams, along with their previous positions and any changes since Week 4.

Biggest Rise: New York Giants (+10)

The Giants are definitely passing the eye test right now. Interestingly, it’s not about their gameplay being particularly beautiful—often it’s not—but more about the spirit the team shows on the sidelines. One major achievement from Harbaugh has been the improvement of the locker room culture, instilling a belief in the players that they can emerge victorious in any matchup, almost like being led by a more serious version of Ted Lasso.

Biggest Fall: Detroit Lions (-6) and Washington Commanders (-6)

The Lions’ defense has been, well, quite poor. Sure, they faced Bryce Young on Sunday Night Football, who’s been performing exceptionally, but the Panthers were also missing four offensive linemen as well as their second and third receivers (Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette). With just one reliable receiver, the Panthers managed to exploit the Detroit secondary using the run-pass option, laying out a strategy for others to examine. It’s becoming increasingly tough to see how the Lions can keep pace with the Bears in the NFC North.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are undergoing some much-needed recalibration. We were optimistic about Washington making a comeback in 2026, but, honestly, there’s little to suggest they deserve that confidence right now. They seem to be regressing against inferior teams— and injuries are starting to pile up. It’s disappointing, as it looks like another lost season is on the horizon for them.

Team to Watch: Atlanta Falcons (No. 21)

That rough defeat against the Panthers in Week 2 may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Falcons. They appear to have restructured since that divisional setback, showcasing a much stronger all-around defense, even without their top pass rushers. Their offense has been effective, relying on Bijan Robinson to push them through tough spots. There’s a lot to appreciate about this squad, despite some uncertainty at the quarterback position. Overall, the Falcons are emerging as a potential competitor in the NFC South and could even elevate their status within the league.