The New York Giants began the John Harbaugh era with a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, ending a string of 51 games and 1,331 days without an above.500 record, according to the New York Post. The win came at MetLife Stadium, where the Giants had not won a Week 1 game since 2010. Harbaugh, who has 18 blown double-digit second-half leads in his 18-year career with the Ravens, saw his team overcome four fumbles, including one lost, and rush for 166 yards.

Offensive breakout and Jaxson Dart’s debut

Jaxson Dart, the Giants’ quarterback, threw for three touchdowns and contributed to a dynamic offense — Malik Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards, and Isaiah Likely caught two touchdowns, according to Giants.com. Dart became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at least three passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards, and a passer rating of 130. “I felt very comfortable,” Dart said. “I thought that we just did a really good job of staying in progress throughout the game.”

Malik Nabers, who missed nearly a year due to a torn ACL, returned in a big way, while “We have guys in here that expect to win,” Nabers said. “During the walk-through, I looked in everybody’s eyes … and I could tell they were ready to play.”

Defensive struggles and Harbaugh’s comments

Despite some defensive issues, the Cowboys couldn’t stop the Giants’ offense, as Dak Prescott completed two touchdown passes but was also intercepted once, according to MARCA. The Giants punted only once in the game and converted nine of 10 third downs; “We were out there feeling the fans,” edge rusher Brian Burns said. Harbaugh called the win “number one because it’s the one right now” and praised the team for “just trying to do the right thing every single day.”

Cam Skattebo, who returned after more than 10 months due to a broken leg and a dislocated ankle, scored the Giants’ first touchdown of the season and celebrated with his signature backflip. “That was really special,” Harbaugh said. “These guys, these players, these guys who’ve had belief from the beginning, who don’t bat an eye, who just try to do the right thing every single day.”

Broader NFL Week 1 highlights

On a broader NFL Week 1 front, the Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers 59-37, the highest-scoring game in their history, but Buffalo’s Josh Allen led his team to a 36-31 win over the Texans, and the Ravens defeated the Colts 41-23. The Steelers, with their new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, won 20-13 over the Falcons, but Detroit defeated the Saints 31-30 in overtime, and the Eagles beat the Commanders 24-22 after stopping a two-point conversion. The Super Bowl in 2027 will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.