The Aporia · What’s behind 11 of the NFL’s biggest surprises: comeback QBs, mystery selloff and yes, the Giants

The article highlights several surprising performances in the NFL during the early part of the season, focusing on quarterbacks and head coaches leading unexpectedly successful teams. It mentions Kirk Cousins, Deshaun Watson, and Jameis Winston as key players behind three teams that are performing better than expected at 3-1 despite their past struggles or negative reputations. Additionally, it draws attention to first-time head coaches Todd Monken, John Harbaugh, and Klint Kubiak for similarly surprising results with their respective teams.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

The NFL is experiencing several unexpected turnarounds this season, with three teams standing out at an impressive 3-1 record despite having key players or coaches who faced significant challenges previously. For instance, Kirk Cousins, who had a career-high 25 interceptions in 2020, is leading one of these surprising squads for the Washington Commanders this season. Similarly, Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston are quarterbacks on teams performing better than expected, despite recent controversies or lackluster performances. Additionally, coaching changes have contributed to unexpected success; Todd Monken, at 63 years old, is one of the oldest first-time NFL head coaches ever hired, while John Harbaugh is trying to regain his Super Bowl-winning form after being abruptly fired from Baltimore Ravens, and Klint Kubiak has faced instability with frequent organizational changes over the past five seasons.

Written for “NFL Surprises” on 2026-10-09, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 NFL Surprises

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John Harbaugh’s Giants changes are taking hold where it counts different event · 95%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 5 📰 publisher trust 67

“The articles discuss general changes under John Harbaugh's leadership and do not refer to a single specific incident or game.”

New York Post · 8614 article(s) · 28 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 28 correction(s)

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Ryan Dunleavy

44 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 Will he be ready to supplant Jake Haener as No. 2 behind Jameis Winston in time for Sunday’s game against the Commanders?

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Giants already giving J.J. McCarthy an ‘A-plus’ in one area

🔮 But I would guess that Abdul relishes that.

2026-10-08 · assertive framing · Abdul Carter’s Giants job is only getting harder — and he aced his first test

🔮 And he can’t guarantee that will be the case — not because of the shoulder that he banged up landing after a contested catch against the Cardinals but because of the knee that underwent reconstructive surgery in September 2025.

2026-10-08 · assertive framing · Malik Nabers is a Giants Week 5 question mark after missing practice

🔮 Jake Haener was signed Wednesday to the active roster, NFL Network first reported, where he will join starter Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Giants sign Jake Haener to active roster in curious QB move after J.J. McCarthy trade

🔮 Harbaugh, with assists from the scouting department and special teams coordinator Chris Horton, might have found the third long-term kicker solution of his 28-year NFL coaching career now that rookie Dominic Zvada is off to a 9-for-9 start on field goals and 5-for-5 on PATs.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Dominic Zvada’s perfect Giants start could be their ticket off the kicker carousel

🔮 John Harbaugh might need to get his T-shirt designer on the phone again.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Giants using their underdog ‘humbling’ as fuel for pivotal Commanders clash

🔮 Charlie Jones will fill Berrios’ multiple roles.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Braxton Berrios undergoes season-ending surgery in surprise Giants blow

🔮 tRY IT NOWBecause McCarthy is on the 53-man roster, the Giants could have made McCarthy inactive and still used him as the emergency third-stringer if the starter and backup (Jameis Winston and Jake Haener) are ruled out.

2026-10-04 · mixed framing · J.J. McCarthy active for Giants vs. Cardinals in Week 4 surprise

🔮 Thomas (groin) practiced in a limited capacity after sitting out the previous two days, while center John Michael Schmitz (personal reasons) was absent and replaced by Bryan Hudson during the media viewing period. Access the Giants like never before Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers. tRY IT NOWSchmitz is expected to rejoin teammates in time for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.

2026-10-03 · assertive framing · Giants looking close to full strength for Week 4 against Cardinals

🔮 Cam Skattebo isn’t out to prove that the Giants didn’t need Love in a head-to-head matchup of the running back that they are featuring and the one they likely would have drafted had he been available two picks later.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Giants’ Cam Skattebo focused on his game with Jeremiyah Love coming to town

Also by Ryan Dunleavy

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Abdul Carter’s Giants job is only getting harder — and he aced his first test

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 44 articles by Ryan Dunleavy →

NFL Super Bowl

NFL ORG · 3× Deshaun Watson PERSON · 1× Jameis Winston PERSON · 1× John Harbaugh PERSON · 1× Kirk Cousins PERSON · 1× Klint Kubiak PERSON · 1× Todd Monken PERSON · 1×

One is a sexagenarian among the handful of oldest first-time NFL head coaches ever hired, one is trying to rediscover his Super Bowl-winning touch after an unceremonious firing and one has been with five different organizations in the past five seasons. And yet Todd Monken, John Harbaugh and Klint Kubiak, respectively, are the coaches of surprise 3-1 teams.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-09

2026-10-09 · New York Post

What’s behind 11 of the NFL’s biggest surprises: comeback QBs, mystery selloff and yes, the Giants · assertive framing

One led the NFL in interceptions two years ago, one is only on his team’s roster because of the implications of the worst contract in NFL history and one had eight wins over the previous six seasons. asserted

one → lead → seasons

One is a sexagenarian among the handful of oldest first-time NFL head coaches ever hired, one is trying to rediscover his Super Bowl-winning touch after an unceremonious firing and one has been with five different organizations in the past five seasons. And yet Todd Monken, John Harbaugh and Klint Kubiak, respectively, are the coaches of surprise 3-1 teams. asserted

Monken → hire → teams

What’s behind 11 of the NFL’s biggest surprises: comeback QBs, mystery selloff and yes, the Giants

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