The New York Giants opened the 2026 NFL season with a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, marking the first game under new head coach John Harbaugh. The win featured key offensive returns and an unconventional coaching moment that drew attention.
New York’s offense outplayed Dallas, with quarterback Jaxson Dart completing 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two scores. Running back Cam Skattebo, returning from a season-ending injury in 2025, added 81 rushing yards and a touchdown, including a celebratory cartwheel in the end zone.
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, who missed nearly all of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL, made his season debut with six receptions for 69 yards. Nabers revealed that Harbaugh tackled him during a walkthrough practice to test his readiness for contact. “Actually, Coach Harbaugh tackled me,” Nabers said. “He wanted to see if I could take a tackle.” Nabers confirmed he remained upright after the drill.
The Giants’ defense, which forced three-and-outs on Dallas’ opening drive, set the tone for the game. New York converted nine of 11 third downs, while the Cowboys managed eight of 11. The Giants’ bruising run game and disciplined play-calling frustrated Dallas’ revamped defense, which had been expected to improve under new leadership.
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin criticized Dallas’ performance, particularly the offense, which he described as “pedestrian.” “My biggest concern was not just the defense,” Irvin said on First Take. “It really was the offense. Because that’s where we knew we had something going. And that part didn’t show up.”
Nabers, the Giants’ 2024 first-round pick, had been uncertain about playing until shortly before kickoff. “The deciding factor was I just felt good,” he said. “I got a little chill through my body, and I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s time.’” His family did not attend the game, as Nabers wanted to avoid pressure in his return.
Harbaugh, who won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens, emphasized preparation and mental toughness in his first Giants press conference. “I fully expected the Giants to be what they are,” he said after the game. “I did not expect the Cowboys to be what they were last night.”
The Giants’ victory, achieved in a physical, methodical style, signaled a potential shift in the NFC East under Harbaugh’s leadership. Dallas, despite high preseason expectations, struggled with consistency on both sides of the ball in the season opener.