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The John Harbaugh era in New York couldn't have scripted a more perfect opening act. In front of a raucous, sellout crowd at MetLife Stadium, the Giants physically dominated the Dallas Cowboys en route to a 28-20 victory on Sunday Night Football, delivering their new head coach a debut win he ranked as the best of his 205 career victories.

Harbaugh, who spent 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, had promised to build a team in his own image—physical, disciplined, and relentless. For at least one night, his vision was realized to near perfection.

A Ground-and-Pound Identity

The Giants' blueprint was evident from their opening drive. A methodical 10-play, 83-yard march set the tone for the evening, capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Cam Skattebo, who punctuated the score with his signature backflip. Skattebo, returning from a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2025 season, rumbled for 81 yards on 18 carries, leading a rushing attack that outgained Dallas 165 to 69.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart, making his first career opening-day start, was masterful in managing the offense. The second-year signal-caller completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, adding 54 yards on the ground with timely, intelligent scrambles that avoided the punishing hits that marred his rookie campaign.

Likely Emerges as Dart's Security Blanket

Tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore, was Dart's favorite target throughout training camp—and that chemistry translated seamlessly when the lights came on. Likely hauled in all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns, including a crucial 15-yard score just before halftime and a two-yard grab that extended the Giants' lead to 21-7 in the third quarter.

"I think the identity of a team starts at the top," Dart said after the game. "It starts with how [Harbaugh] conducted himself, with how he's created a tough team. We want to take that on our shoulders, and we bought into what his plan is".

Situational Mastery

Perhaps the most telling difference from Giants teams of recent memory came in the game's critical moments. After Dallas tied the score at 7-7 late in the first half, the Giants' offense fumbled on consecutive plays. In years past, such miscues would have spelled disaster. Instead, safety Jevon Holland intercepted Dak Prescott with 49 seconds remaining, and Dart marched the offense down the field for Likely's first touchdown grab, taking a 14-7 lead into the locker room.

The second half was a masterclass in clock management. New York's first two possessions of the third quarter consumed over eight minutes each, both ending in touchdowns—a 15-yard strike to Likely and a nine-yard swing pass to Devin Singletary. When the Cowboys drew within eight points late in the fourth, the Giants simply ran out the final 5:16, never giving Prescott the ball back.

Dallas Self-Destructs

For Dallas, the evening was a lesson in squandered opportunities. The Cowboys committed eight penalties for 85 yards, including a costly taunting call on Javonte Williams that pushed back an extra-point attempt, resulting in Brandon Aubrey's miss. Prescott finished 22-of-34 for 175 yards with two touchdowns and a critical interception.

"Overall as a football team, we were pretty poor," Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted afterward. "That's certainly not our standard. This is a humbling business, and we got humbled".

A Message Sent

With the win, the Giants secured their first season-opening victory since 2022 and their first home Week 1 win since 2010. More importantly, they announced to the NFC East that the Harbaugh era represents a seismic shift in the division's hierarchy.

In the jubilant locker room afterward, owner John Mara presented Harbaugh with a game ball commemorating his first win as Giants head coach. Harbaugh's parents, Jack and Jackie, who had arrived Friday to witness their son's debut, were there to celebrate.

For a franchise that has endured a decade of mediocrity, the night felt like more than just one win. It felt like the beginning of something.

The Giants travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams on Monday Night Football in Week 2, looking to build on their momentum. Dallas hosts Washington next Sunday.

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