The Giants are back on the practice field, and the mood around the team is a lot different than it was a week ago. After Sunday night’s 28-20 win over the Cowboys, there’s real buzz building around an offense that looked far more imposing than expected.
A big reason for that optimism is Jaxson Dart. The quarterback handled the moment well against Dallas, stacking together smart throws, taking easy gains when they were there, and using his legs in a way that kept the Cowboys off balance. One projection model that had not been sold on Dart before the season said his poise and accuracy in prime time made it rethink that stance.
The same model also came away impressed with the Giants in the trenches. New York’s offensive line controlled the Cowboys’ front from start to finish, and the numbers backed up what showed on the field: 0.7 EPA per dropback and a 51 percent success rate on the ground. That performance pushed the model to lift the Giants’ playoff odds from 14 percent before Week 1 to 33 percent today.
Francis Mauigoa was a major part of that showing in his NFL debut. According to Next Gen Stats, he didn’t allow a single pressure on 36 pass blocks, and he added a 75% run block win rate in the victory at MetLife Stadium. PFF also had Mauigoa turning in a strong first outing, with an 82.4% PFF pass-block win rate.
His play drew praise from Patrick Ricard on Tuesday. “Seeing him running to the ball, seeing him finish blocks, try to put guys in the dirt, that’s what you want for offensive linemen - especially at guard,” Giants fullback Patrick Ricard said Tuesday of Mauigoa.
“To see that for the first game, it’s really encouraging. You want offensive linemen to set the tone for the whole offense.
Me, seeing that, it makes me want to be doing that every play.”
PFF’s 2026 offensive line rankings slotted the Giants at No. 22, while noting that right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was their best pass-blocker against Dallas. Eluemunor posted an 83.4 PFF pass-blocking grade and didn’t allow a pressure, while Mauigoa also kept the pocket clean.
Elsewhere, the reaction to the Giants’ fast start has been loud. One longtime rival of John Harbaugh said before his debut as Giants head coach that the turnaround would come quickly, adding, “I think that the fix there is going to be quicker than maybe outsiders might realize. I’m not putting them in the Super Bowl, but I certainly expect those guys to be competitive and be competitive almost instantly.”
Yahoo Sports framed the opening win as a huge lift for a franchise that had won just 13 games over the previous three seasons combined, while also warning that Dallas - and especially its overmatched defense - helped make New York look this good. Still, the piece said Sunday night felt like an epiphany for a team that hasn’t reached the playoffs since the 2022 season.
There’s also more praise circulating from Micah Parsons, who gave the Giants and Dart their flowers. And with a Monday night road game against the Rams up next, the next step in this story is coming fast.
In Other News...
Giants Already Face Questions About Their Malachi Fields Decision
The Giants entered Week 1 already carrying a little draft-day intrigue with rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields, and his first NFL outing only sharpened it. New York traded up to take Fields ahead of Caleb Douglas, who went right after him, and the early comparison was hard to miss once the games started. Fields had a modest debut and was not a primary part of the Giants passing attack, which left his first showing feeling more like a starting point than a statement.
Douglas, meanwhile, stepped into a major role for Miami and immediately looked the part. The Dolphins made him a key receiver in their opener, and he answered with a franchise-record performance for receiving yards in his debut. For the Giants, that kind of contrast does not settle anything this early, but it does give the Fields decision a bit more weight after just one week. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Cornerback Situation
The Giants are adding another name to the cornerback mix, signing former Broncos defensive back Jaden Robinson to the practice squad and bringing him back together with defensive backs coach Addison Lynch. It is a small move on paper, but one that fits the larger picture around a secondary that has already drawn scrutiny for both health and performance coming out of Week 1.
Robinson has yet to play a regular-season NFL snap, so this is more about insurance and familiarity than an immediate fix. Still, the timing says plenty about where the Giants see the position group right now, and it suggests they are keeping the door open for added depth if the situation in the secondary keeps moving in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Rams Game Plan
With the Rams on deck in Week 2, the Giants made a roster tweak that says plenty about how they expect to attack the matchup. New York promoted defensive lineman Josh Tupou from the practice squad and sent wide receiver Dalen Cambre back down, a move that adds another body up front as the team prepares for a Los Angeles rushing attack.
Tupou, signed earlier in the offseason, also brings a familiar connection to the coaching side after previously spending time with head coach John Harbaugh in Baltimore. For the Giants, the shuffle is less about offense and more about making sure the defensive line is ready for a game that figures to be fought in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]