All the statistics that paint a gloomy picture for the Giants can now be categorized under the title “BJH.”
That stands for Before John Harbaugh.
Maybe you’ve heard that the Giants had dropped eight consecutive Week 1 primetime games against the Cowboys since 1986. There’s also the fact they hadn’t boasted a winning record in 51 games and 1,331 days. Or that they were 1-14 in their last 15 encounters with Dak Prescott. And, of course, they’ve opened the season with a loss in eight of the last nine years. Plus, they haven’t won a home opener since 2010.
But all those past disappointments were forgotten during an electrifying Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. The imperfect yet determined Giants battled through four fumbles (which included one lost), rushed for 166 yards, and guided Jaxson Dart to distribute the ball adeptly to his dynamic teammates Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely, claiming a 28-20 victory in Harbaugh’s first game at the helm.
“We have guys in here that expect to win,” Nabers remarked after playing his first game since September 28, 2025. “During the walk-through, I looked in everybody’s eyes … and I could tell they were ready to play. Everyone was on the same page, eager to give it our all and win.”
Of course, Harbaugh and this young team, still learning how to win, were expected to falter with a fourth-quarter lead.
Yet, it turns out that combining the 18 double-digit second-half leads Harbaugh squandered during his 18 years with the Ravens — a record unmatched since at least 1991 — along with the Giants’ five failed fourth-quarter leads last season resulted in a pretty strong performance.
“We were really feeling the energy from the fans,” edge rusher Brian Burns shared. “It fueled us.”
The Giants spent the last 110 seconds in victory formation, a revitalized fan base waving white towels and joyfully recalling that you can get stuck in traffic when you don’t leave at the end of the third quarter.
“None of us were tired,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor pointed out. “By the end of the fourth quarter, their team was huddling up. When you see them do that, you know you’re wearing them down. They rotated their D-line so many times, they were really breaking down.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy orchestrated plays to give Dart (23-for-29 for 230 yards and three touchdowns) so many easy throws all night — and it was especially evident during a 65-yard drive that extended the Giants’ lead to 28-14 with 7:25 remaining.
Nagy ran what appeared to be the same play repeatedly — a simple pass to third-string running back Devin Singletary in the left flat — and remarkably, it worked four times in a span of five plays. Ultimately, after a fumble by both Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., the ball found its way into Singletary’s hands, and he rushed it into the end zone from eight yards out.
With a bevy of emotional pregame 9/11 tributes, the return of Odell Beckham Jr. (after his trade in 2019), along with Nabers and Skattebo returning from injuries during pregame introductions, the home crowd radiated energy, especially in the first quarter.
“More wins are on the horizon,” Likely confidently stated.
The excitement surged again on a fourth-and-1 as Prescott, attempting to draw an offsides penalty with a hard count, found himself shut down — resulting in a quick three-and-out, a nod to the improved Giants defense under new coordinator Dennard Wilson, even without a sack from its touted pass rush.
The Giants’ two touchdown drives in the first half were completely different. The first was a methodical 10-play drive covering 83 yards that consumed over six minutes. With fullback Patrick Ricard leading the charge, the Giants executed seven runs, including a 22-yard RPO from Dart, followed by a 15-yard roughing penalty against the Cowboys, culminating in Skattebo’s easy three-yard touchdown.
Skattebo, making his return to regular-season play after a severe injury last October, celebrated with a handstand followed by a backflip.
In that first quarter, the Giants doubled the Cowboys in yardage (82-41) and held a 7-2 advantage in first downs, signaling an immediate shift from their previous season’s humiliating 40-0 loss at home.
The second touchdown, giving them a 14-7 lead at halftime, took place during a quick two-minute drill. Dart completed five out of six passes to four different targets for 60 yards in just 29 seconds, highlighting his precision and poise.
Likely ended the night with eight catches (on eight targets) for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Nabers made six catches for 69 yards. Skattebo contributed with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had voiced concerns before the game about whether his team could compete physically, saying, “Can we block them up?” Well, it turns out they could — but the bigger issue lay on the other side of the field.
The Giants’ offensive line performed admirably, enabling Dart and their rushing attack to convert 9 out of 10 third downs and control the clock in the final five minutes.
“We could have played another two or three quarters,” Eluemunor expressed. “They were ready to call it a night.”
