The Giants opened the 2026 NFL season the way every frustrated fan base wants to start: with a win, a clean offensive performance, and a quarterback who looked in control.
New York beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in Week 1, and Jaxson Dart was a big reason why. He finished 23-of-29 for 230 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while taking just two sacks for a loss of one yard. Cam Skattebo added 18 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, Dart ran 11 times for 54 yards, Malik Nabers caught six of nine targets for 69 yards, and Isaiah Likely hauled in all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
That kind of start is exactly what Giants fans were hoping to see under John Harbaugh. But ESPN analyst Ben Solak wasn’t ready to crown the offense after one week.
Solak said he thinks the Giants offense may have “already peaked” in Week 1, pairing that view with his own bold take about the Baltimore Ravens offense. He was impressed by Dart and the offensive line, but the opponent mattered to him.
“I thought Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart looked quite sharp and the offensive line looked ferocious, but I'd like to see them in a game in which the opposing defense has a bit more spine," Solak writes.
His point is simple: if the Cowboys’ defense doesn’t inspire much confidence, then a strong showing against it only tells part of the story. That’s why he’s not fully buying in yet.
Week 2 will bring a tougher test against the Los Angeles Rams. After that, the Giants’ schedule softens with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints lined up next. That stretch could make the offense look even better.
But Solak also pointed to a tougher run waiting later, with the Houston Texans, a bye week, and then the Philadelphia Eagles from Weeks 7 through 9. That’s where he thinks the Giants could come back down a bit.
For now, the Giants have the kind of start they badly needed. Whether this offense has truly arrived, or just flashed early against a shaky defense, is the question hanging over the next few weeks.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Backfield Problems
The Cowboys added another name to a backfield that has been searching for answers, signing Tyler Goodson off the Falcons practice squad and putting him directly on the 53-man roster. It is a small move on paper, but one that says plenty about where Dallas is right now: the team wants more help behind Javonte Williams and is willing to keep reshuffling the bottom of the depth chart until it finds some stability.
To create the opening, Dallas released veteran Israel Abanikanda, though he may circle back to the practice squad if he clears the necessary steps. Goodson is expected to split backup duties behind Williams, which keeps the Cowboys running back picture very much in flux even after another transaction aimed at settling it. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Flournoy May Be Driving A Cowboys Problem Fans Noticed Fast
Ryan Flournoys Week 1 debut against the Giants offered the Cowboys a quick look at where the margins can tighten in this offense. He finished with two catches for 22 yards on five targets, but the bigger concern was the little things around the passing game, especially his blocking, which left him with a low grade in that area. For a receiver trying to carve out a role, that kind of start can matter just as much as the box score.
Dallas does not need every receiver to be a featured threat, but it does need the supporting pieces to hold up if the offense is going to function smoothly. Flournoys early struggles suggest there is still work to do before he becomes a reliable part of that mix, though Week 1 is also the kind of sample where improvement can come quickly. If his play sharpens, especially in the run-and-pass game details, it could help the Cowboys offense look a lot more efficient in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Still Know Which No. 72 Was Truly Unforgettable
No. 72 has belonged to more than one memorable Cowboy over the years, but the number still brings most fans back to Ed Too Tall Jones. Before he became a franchise fixture on the edge, Jones arrived with a rare athletic background, starred at Tennessee State, and went on to become a top draft pick whose size and versatility made him a problem for opposing offenses almost from the start.
His career left a long imprint in Dallas, from Pro Bowl recognition to Super Bowl trips, and even a brief detour into boxing only added to the legend. Travis Frederick deserves his place in the conversation too, with Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors helping make him one of the best centers the team has had, but his career was cut short by Guillain-Barr syndrome, which only sharpens the sense that No. 72 has been worn by a few standouts without ever quite dislodging Jones from the top spot. [Read more 🡒]