Welcome to Week 9 of the 2026 regular season as the Eagles and Giants meet for the first time this year on a Sunday that combines a great NFC East rivalry, a Kelly Green jersey afternoon, and a tribute to 50 seasons of Merrill Reese greatness.

Oh, and the Eagles really need a win in this one and have made a decision at the game's most important position to try to do just that. The storylines, please ...

1. Up steps Joe Milton at quarterback

He has been an Eagle for three weeks and now it is his time to take control of this offense. Joe Milton makes his first NFL start on Sunday. He has a big arm, can move, has been around the league, and has picked up what he needs to know quickly.

Joe Milton is the guy. The decision came from Head Coach Nick Sirianni, who explained why on Friday.

"Obviously, he's talented and he's been here for a couple weeks now," Sirianni said. "Very talented arm, very talented athlete, can process and make decisions out there. Just a lot of good qualities that he has. I like his confidence and everything that he brings, and it's been fun getting to know him and working with him."

2. What will Milton see from the Giants?

This is a strong defense with an aggressive front and a back end that is active. New York has invested a lot in the line of scrimmage and the pass rush and it's paying off with a defense that ranks third in the NFL against the pass (allowing just 184.9 yards per game) and ninth in total yards (313.0). Former Eagles Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson is the coordinator and he wants pressure up front and sticky coverage on the back end. The Eagles won't have DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks at wide receiver, so Milton will have to build chemistry with Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore. Establishing the running game will be important. Involving the tight ends will help. New York is playing solid football and is coming off its bye week.

3. J.J. McCarthy fits at QB for New York

A lot of people expected the Giants to take a huge hit when starting quarterback Jaxson Dart was lost for the season with a knee injury, but New York traded for McCarthy in a deal with Minnesota and he has played well. He passed for 243 yards in the fourth quarter of a win over New Orleans and then started and defeated Houston on the road. New York has scored 27 or more points in four straight games. Wide receiver Malik Nabers, the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, has four straight 100-yard receiving games. Tight end Isaiah Likely is a weapon. The running game came alive against Houston with 188 yards and four touchdowns, although running back Cam Skattebo missed practice all week with a hamstring injury. This offensive line is the best it has been in years.

4. Who is playing for Philadelphia?

Running back Saquon Barkley is on track to play as the Eagles look to get the running game in gear. Elijah Mitchell did some good things last week at Washington. The offensive line continues to build continuity. Lemon has been more and more productive as a go-to receiver. Dallas Goedert is always a threat at tight end. The defense won't have linebacker Jihaad Campbell, but Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. has shown what he can do.

5. This game is big in the NFC East

This is the final game for the Eagles before the bye week and it's crucial. It is the third straight game within the division, one the Giants lead with a 4-2-1 record. The Eagles are looking to get back in the win column and establish themselves in the division heading into the second half of the season.

6. Any other storylines?

There are always the numbers that matter – turnover battle, red zone, penalties, special teams hidden yardage – and don't change week to week. Philadelphia has won 13 straight games (including playoffs) against the Giants dating back to the 2014 campaign. Former Eagles Special Teams Coordinator and Secondary Coach John Harbaugh has had early success with the Giants, as expected. New York is physical, fired up, and confident. The Eagles need to play 60 minutes of good football to win this game.