Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 9
Joe Milton will make his first appearance as an Eagle and his first NFL start on Sunday. Can he snap the Birds' six-game losing skid?
It’s Joe Milton time for the Eagles, a reality that was well beyond the realm of consideration as recently as three weeks ago — when the 26-year-old quarterback was still a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
Milton, signed off the Dallas practice squad on Oct. 16, will replace the benched Tanner McKee for Sunday’s meeting at the Linc against the New York Giants (1 p.m., Fox 29). In what will be his first start in the NFL and his first appearance as an Eagle, the Birds will hope the strong-armed Milton has the magic elixir to stop the team’s six-game losing streak, its longest since 2012.
The Inquirer’s Eagles writers sized up the matchup and have made their predictions:
Jeff Neiburg
Will Milton provide the spark the Eagles need on offense?
It’s certainly possible.
At the very least, going to Milton is a sign the Eagles are willing to try something, anything, to get this offense moving in the right direction.
But while Milton adds another element with his ability to scramble, and has a big arm, he did start the season on the Cowboys’ practice squad.
He’s also now in charge of an offense that is allowing a 42.6% pressure rate, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL. Perhaps he will be able to escape pressure more effectively than McKee, and that’s notable, but the Eagles’ offensive issues aren’t just allowing pressures.
DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are tracking toward being out again this week. Saquon Barkley returned to practice, but even if he plays, he’s likely on a snap restriction.
Can Milton score enough points with this personnel to win a key divisional game? I’m skeptical.
The Giants aren’t very good, but they’re certainly playing well enough to beat this Eagles team. J.J. McCarthy has provided a spark, and this offense has plenty of talent to give the Eagles fits on defense.
The Giants are coming off a bye week. The Eagles need theirs.
Prediction: Giants 27, Eagles 20
Ryan Novozinsky
The Giants are a better football team than the Eagles. It feels like a lifetime ago since this was the case, but that’s where we are in 2026.
The Eagles (2-6) enter this game averaging just 17.1 points per game, the fewest for any Eagles team since 2012. They’re 29th in the league in scoring (137 points) and are averaging a league-worst 265.3 yards per game.
Their defense hasn’t been much better, coughing up an average of 26.6 points amid their six-game losing streak and seemingly forgetting how to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
It’s been rough.
Meanwhile in East Rutherford, everything is on the rise. John Harbaugh flipped the Giants (4-2-1) from leaguewide laughingstocks into NFC East favorites. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has the Midas touch, turning draft busts into possible stars (see: cornerback Deonte Banks). Heck, even McCarthy is thriving with Big Blue.
After years of Giants fans hoping to lose the Eagles matchups to get the higher draft pick, the roles are now reversed.
But the Birds aren’t waving the white flag, as evidenced by the quarterback change to spark the offense. But, is Milton good enough to spark an Eagles turnaround? Almost certainly not.
It might be entertaining. But not entertaining enough to beat this Giants club.
Prediction: Giants 31, Eagles 14
Olivia Reiner
Hey, this Eagles game has some juice!
Amid their six-game losing streak, the Eagles are turning to Milton to start at quarterback against the Giants. Has McKee been great these last few games? No. Has anyone been great on this banged-up Eagles offense? No. Is sticking a new quarterback into a floundering offense the easiest change to make at this point in the season? Probably.
While I thought the Eagles might have turned to Milton after the bye week and given McKee one more opportunity, I understand why they made the switch. Milton, 26, figures to give them a better chance to keep plays alive against pressure, which the Eagles protection unit has been susceptible to allowing. He has a big arm, which could help generate explosives, although the Eagles have been struggling in that department in the absence of Smith and Wicks.
But the Eagles need to show some growth all around, not just at the quarterback position. Wilson, the former Eagles secondary coach and now the Giants defensive coordinator, has their defense playing well. McCarthy has given the Giants new life on offense. If Cam Skattebo (hamstring) can’t go, the Eagles will catch a break in the run game, especially considering they’ve allowed over 100 rushing yards in each game this season.
The Giants may not be Super Bowl contenders, but they’re the current favorites in the NFC East. The Eagles haven’t shown that they deserve to be in the fight for the division.
Prediction: Giants 27, Eagles 20
The Eagles have problems. Eight games into the season, that much is sure. But which ones are symptomatic, versus the ones that are systemic? From the head coach to the personnel, from coordinators to the front office, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and David Murphy scrutinize the micro issues that point to some of the larger dilemmas the Eagles now face: should they start to pack it in, and who will be held accountable for the team’s shortcomings? Listen here.
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