Giants Roll Past Cowboys 28-20 On Sunday Night Football

Jaxson Dart Shines in Harbaugh’s New York Debut

The New York Giants opened a new era in impressive fashion Sunday night, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 behind a poised performance from quarterback Jaxson Dart and a balanced offensive attack. In Jim Harbaugh’s first game as the Giants’ head coach, New York repeatedly made the plays it needed on both sides of the ball.

Dart connected with Isaiah Likely for two touchdowns, Devin Singletary for another and helped keep Dallas’ defense off balance with his legs. It was only one game, but for a Giants team looking to turn the page, the victory offered plenty of reasons for optimism.

Jaxson Dart Leads Giants to Impressive Opening Win

Dart looked confident and composed throughout his first game of the season, making one smart decision after another while avoiding the unnecessary hits that punctuated his rookie year. The Giants quarterback completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and added 54 yards rushing.

He mixed well-timed scrambles with designed runs, using slides and a dive to protect himself while still keeping the Cowboys defense guessing. His connection with Likely was particularly effective. Likely, who followed Harbaugh to New York after playing in Baltimore, caught all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

The performance continued a strong training-camp connection between the tight end and Dart, with Likely consistently serving as the quarterback’s top option. Devin Singletary also caught a touchdown pass as the Giants built enough offensive consistency to stay in control.

Malik Nabers Returns to Action

The Giants also welcomed back wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was playing for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in his right knee 350 days earlier.

Nabers immediately provided another important weapon for Dart, finishing with six receptions for 69 yards. His return gives New York another major piece to work with as the offense continues to develop around its young quarterback.

Cam Skattebo Makes Impact in Return From Injury

Cam Skattebo also made his presence felt in his first game back after missing more than 10 months following a gruesome right ankle injury that included a broken fibula and dislocation. The running back carried 18 times for 81 yards and scored the Giants’ first touchdown of the season.

Skattebo’s return was highlighted by his signature celebration. After previously getting into trouble for performing a backflip earlier this summer, he brought the celebration back after breaking into the end zone untouched.

His physical running style gave New York another dimension and helped the Giants maintain pressure on Dallas throughout the game.

Cowboys Struggle With Penalties and Missed Opportunities

Dak Prescott played a solid game for Dallas but was hurt by a costly interception just before halftime. Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards and threw touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb and Javonte Williams. Williams also scored a rushing touchdown as the Cowboys kept themselves within striking distance.

Dallas, however, repeatedly hurt itself with penalties. The Cowboys committed eight penalties for 85 yards, in addition to an early intentional delay-of-game penalty. A taunting penalty on Williams following his touchdown pushed the ensuing extra point attempt farther back, and Brandon Aubrey missed it.

Donovan Ezeiruaku was also flagged for face masking just before the two-minute warning. Dallas benefited from several defensive pass-interference calls that extended drives, but its inability to consistently stop New York ultimately proved costly.

Dallas Defense Still Has Plenty to Prove

The Cowboys entered the season hoping a new defensive coordinator and additional talent would help fix a unit that allowed an NFL-worst 30.1 points per game last season. That improvement was difficult to see Sunday night.

The Giants scored 28 points and consistently found ways to move the ball, particularly through Dart’s combination of passing and rushing ability. While it was only the first game of the season, Dallas’ defense still showed many of the problems that plagued the unit a year ago.

Giants Survive Four Fumbles

New York nearly made things more difficult for itself with four fumbles, but the Giants lost only one. Tyrone Tracy lost a fumble after also putting the ball on the ground during the preseason. He also missed a block that resulted in Dart taking a hit, putting him in Harbaugh’s doghouse.

The Giants recovered the other three fumbles. Fullback Patrick Ricard recovered Likely’s fumble in the first quarter, guard Jon Runyan recovered Dart’s fumble in the second and Skattebo recovered his own fumble in the fourth. Despite the miscues, New York consistently avoided the kind of turnovers that could have allowed Dallas to take control.

Harbaugh Honors New York on 9/11 Anniversary

The Giants’ season opener also carried special significance as the organization honored victims of the Sept. 11 attacks 25 years later during a pregame ceremony.

Harbaugh paid tribute from the sideline throughout the night, wearing an NYPD hat during the first half before switching to an FDNY cap in the second half. The symbolic gesture added another meaningful element to an evening in which the Giants officially began a new chapter.

Giants Begin New Era With Statement Victory

There is still a long season ahead, but the Giants could hardly have asked for a better start to the Harbaugh era. Dart looked mature and in control. Likely immediately established himself as a trusted target. Nabers returned to the field and Skattebo provided a physical presence in the running game.

Meanwhile, New York’s ability to overcome four fumbles and maintain its composure showed resilience. For Dallas, the 28-20 loss highlighted familiar problems with penalties, defensive inconsistency and missed opportunities. For the Giants, it was the opposite: a promising opening statement and a glimpse of what this new era could become.

Who They Play Next Sunday

The Cowboys will return home next Sunday to host the Washington Commanders. The Giants will hit the road for their next game, traveling to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, Sept. 21.