Giants Not Seen as a 'Real Threat' by 9 NFL Teams, Connor Hughes Says

1 day ago

3 min read

Updated: 13 hours ago

Published Oct 30, 2026, 10:16 AM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi

Key points

Connor Hughes said none of the 9 NFL teams he asked about the Giants saw them as "a real threat."
Hughes added that 4 of those teams still believe the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC East.
The 4-2-1 Giants lead the division by 1.5 games over 3-4 Dallas and return Nov. 8 at Philadelphia.

The Giants lead the NFC East, but the rest of the league isn't sold. Reporter Connor Hughes reached out to nine NFL teams about New York, and none of them view the Giants as a serious contender.

Hughes made the point on WFAN's Evan and Tiki show, as we shared on X Friday. "None of those teams that I talked to around the league thought the Giants were a real threat," he said.

He added that four of those teams still believe the Cowboys are the best team in the division.

That's a blunt read on a team that is 4-2-1 and will come out of its Week 8 bye in first place, per Giants.com. John Harbaugh has said his team can win this division.

Why the League Still Doubts the Giants

The skepticism isn't new. On Oct. 14, Hughes explained on the same show why oddsmakers still didn't believe in the first-place Giants.

Dallas was the betting favorite to win the division at +134 on Oct. 6, CBS Sports reported. The same piece called the Cowboys the most complete team in the NFC East at that point.

Hughes is also cautious about the trade market. He warned against giving up too much draft capital for a team that may not be a true Super Bowl contender, per the episode summary.

By the Numbers: The Giants and the NFC East Standings

Team	Record	Games back
Giants	4-2-1	—
Cowboys	3-4	1.5
Eagles	2-5	2.5
Commanders	1-4-1	2.5

Source: ESPN standings, as of Oct. 30, 2026.

Where the Giants and Cowboys Really Stand

The doubters have one number on their side. Dallas has outscored opponents by nine points, while New York is plus-two, per ESPN.

The Giants own the head-to-head result, though. They beat the Cowboys 28-20 at MetLife Stadium in Week 1, per ESPN's schedule page. The rematch is Jan. 3 in Dallas.

New York is also coming off a 27-21 overtime win at Houston. Hughes didn't name the nine teams he spoke with, and he didn't say which four picked Dallas.

The next test is Nov. 8 at Philadelphia, two days before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Hughes has also flagged Tony Pollard as a trade target to watch.

Our Take: The Giants Can Prove the League Wrong

I don't see it the way those nine teams do. I've said the Giants can win the division, and I wrote that this is the Giants' division, thanks to John Harbaugh.

The coaching is the reason. The Giants have the best coaching staff in the division, and I see that as a major advantage over Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington.

I've also called this the most winnable NFC East since 2020. The Giants are in first place, and the Eagles, Cowboys and Commanders have all been a mess.

That's why I'd push to add now. I still think they are making a trade, one that will have a real impact before Nov. 10.

Outside opinion doesn't decide the division, though. The games do, starting Nov. 8 in Philadelphia.

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