The John Harbaugh era is underway.

Just like he did against the Bengals 18 years ago, Harbaugh began a new tenure as head coach by winning a divisional rivalry at home. This time, it was his Giants defeating the Cowboys, 28-20, on Sunday Night Football, a game in which the home team never trailed.

It marked Harbaugh's 194^th victory, including a Super Bowl title, but this ranks No. 1 because it's the one right now.

"My dad always says that," John Harbaugh said. "He'll say this in the car on the way home (tonight), he'll say, 'John, you've never had a better win than that.' He says it every time, you know, and I'm going to tell you, I think this time it might be true. But this was really special because these guys, these players, these guys who've had belief from the beginning, who don't bat an eye, who just try to do the right thing every single day."

THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN…

The Giants needed seven yards and Cam Skattebo gave them eight for the final first down after the two-minute warning. Jaxson Dart took over in the victory formation and kneeled three times to run out the clock. Not including the final sequence, the Giants converted nine of 10 third downs.

NOTABLE

Dart is the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at least three passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards, and a passer rating of 130.

QUOTABLE

"I felt very comfortable. I thought that we just did a really good job of staying in progress throughout the game, whether it was the run game, whether it was the pass game. Thought our O-line just played their ass off, and that just helped everything around. So, I'm really just happy with how the offense executed. I thought Nags (Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy) called an awesome game, and I thought the guys just played really, really hard. So, it made my job a lot easier, and guys all over the place made a ton of plays, so I'm excited about that." – Dart

GAME BALLS

Harbaugh handed out game balls to Dart, tight end Isaiah Likely (eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Giants' debut), Skattebo (18 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown), and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (team-high eight tackles).

Harbaugh received his own game ball from Giants president John Mara for his first win as the Giants' head coach, his 194^th overall.

"It meant a lot," Harbaugh said. "It meant so much. And the guys, you can see the respect the guys have for Mr. Mara. And when he steps into the middle of the circle there and said what he said, they, man, it gets quiet real fast. He's a presence. He's a titan in this industry. I'm very grateful that he's our owner."

Harbaugh then presented his father Jack with a special painted game ball from Jack's NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game as head coach of Western Kentucky.

STARTING OFFENSE

• TE Isaiah Likely
• LT Andrew Thomas
• LG Jon Runyan Jr.
• C John Michael Schmits
• RG Sisi Mauigoa
• RT Jermaine Eluemunor
• WR Malik Nabers
• WR Malachi Fields
• QB Jaxson Dart
• FB Patrick Ricard
• RB Cam Skattebo

STARTING DEFENSE

• OLB Brian Burns
• DL DJ Reader
• DL Shelby Harris
• OLB Abdul Carter
• LB Tremaine Edmunds
• LB Arvell Reese
• CB Greg Newsome II
• CB Dru Phillips
• CB Deonte Banks
• S Tyler Nubin
• S Jevón Holland

INJURY REPORT

Cornerback Greg Newsome II was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return.

INACTIVES

• RB Najee Harris
• S Jason Pinnock
• CB Nic Jones
• OL J.C. Davis
• TE Thomas Fidone II
• DL Bobby Jamison-Travis
• WR Dalen Cambre

The list did not include wide receiver Malik Nabers, who had six catches for 69 yards in his first game since suffering a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 28, 2025. Nabers practiced fully all week and was listed as questionable heading into Sunday night. Nabers, who broke the franchise's single-season reception record as a rookie, was the only Giants player with a game designation on the final injury report.

"I got a sense like about three hours before the game, maybe two and a half, somewhere in there, when he went out and tested it and he felt ready and that's when the decision was made," Harbaugh said. "It was his call. He had been cleared medically, but he had to feel right. He had to feel like he was ready to go and he could protect himself and perform the way he wanted, and he did. Malik played a great game. He played a heck of a game."

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

The Giants will look for a 2-0 start with another primetime game. They travel to Los Angeles in Week 2 for a Monday night matchup with the Rams, who fell to the 49ers, 27-7, on Thursday night in the NFL's first regular-season game played in Australia.