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Fact or Fiction: Sunday Night Football Edition

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The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

The veteran newcomer you're most interested to see make his Giants debut is tight end Isaiah Likely.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I want to see cornerback Greg Newsome II. Based on the offseason, it appears there's a chance he is going to have a significant role in the secondary. The Cowboys roll out one of the top receiver duos in the NFL in Week 1, and he is going to have to cover either CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens when they are both lined up outside. I want to see what that and the rotation in the secondary.

Dan Salomone: Fact – The Giants have just four wide receivers on the active roster, with Braxton Berrios waiting to be elevated from the practice squad to be the fifth option and punt returner. Part of the reason is what they can get from their tight ends, starting with Likely.

"The four-receiver thing, for us, we have a lot of confidence in those guys," offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. "I'll start there with the wide receivers, and they've done a great job. I think, collectively, when you look at who we are as an offense, we do several different personnels, which is no secret. People know that. So, I think that's one of the strengths that we'll have, is being able to be multiple in personnels. And that's always been something that all of us have done. So, what we've done is we've challenged these receivers, these tight ends, the fullbacks, to know everything. And so, as a coach, what that does is it allows you to be multiple, and then it's our job on game day to be able to really just make adjustments to what we see and let these guys play fast."

Matt Citak: Fiction – I have been vocal about my belief in Likely as a breakout player this season, as I believe he will serve as one of the focal points of the passing game. But the veteran newcomer I'm most interested to see on Sunday is Tremaine Edmunds. The linebacker did not play during the preseason, so the primetime matchup against the Cowboys will be the first time he officially steps onto the field as a Giant. Edmunds and Arvell Reese should combine to form the most athletic linebacker duo the Giants have had in a long time, but more on that in a minute.

The rookie you're most interested to see make his NFL debut is linebacker Arvell Reese.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – This is a bit matchup specific to the Cowboys, but Sisi Mauigoa is going to have to block both Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark at different times during the game. Both are powerful, athletic and disruptive in the run and pass games. It will not just be the first challenge of his NFL career but also one of the biggest in his entire rookie season. For the record, however, I am extremely excited to see Arvell Reese attack the line of scrimmage and try to slow down the Cowboys run game.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – I'll go with Reese's college rival and kicker, Dominic Zvada. The undrafted rookie won a kicking competition over the offseason that at one point included a former All-Pro. The All-American and Big Ten Kicker of the Year from Michigan sealed the job with a full rehearsal in the preseason finale, but now the kicks really count. Along the same lines, fans will enjoy watching Jordan Stout, who was the best punter in the game last season with the Ravens. He will serve as the veteran bridge between Zvada and long snapper Ben Mann, another undrafted rookie.

"Dom just showed consistency from the day he walked in," assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. "There's just been a lot of consistency, and going out there, and kicks being made, right? We started with the process. Again, we broke down everything, how he kicked, how he wanted the ball. We talked to Jordan a lot about, like, let's fine-tune these things to help him, to give him the best chance. Really, to give both guys the best opportunity, but since he's walked in this building, he's been very consistent."

Matt Citak: Fact – I'm piggybacking off my last answer here. Reese was the first player selected among the team's seven-person draft class, and despite just turning 21 years old, he already looks like he belongs. His performance throughout the summer was impressive, and the combination of him and Edmunds will provide the Giants with two sideline-to-sideline linebackers who are both capable of making just about any play. Reese flashed his versatility throughout the summer as he made plays in coverage, against the run, and as a pass rusher. Sunday's game will be the first time Dennard Wilson gets to truly open up his rookie Swiss army knife, and I can't wait to see how he is deployed.

View photos of the New York Giants' 2026 roster as it currently stands.

Running back Cam Skattebo will score the first points of the Giants' season.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I always go with the field with a question like this, especially when the Giants brought in a 230-pound battering ram of a fullback in Patrick Ricard, who might be used in short yardage situations. With the uncertainty the Cowboys still have at inside linebacker, I would look towards Isaiah Likely somewhere in the middle of the field.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Overshadowed last season was the historic nature of the Giants' ground game. They rushed for 22 touchdowns, the third-most in franchise history. It would have been more if Skattebo's season wasn't limited to just eight games.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Given the emphasis all offseason on being a more physical team, it would be fitting for Patrick Ricard to clear the way for Skattebo to get into the end zone for the team's first touchdown of the season. But I'm a sucker for a good narrative, and I can't imagine one that would cause a louder ruckus from the Big Blue faithful than Odell Beckham Jr. scoring the first points of the season in his first game back with the franchise.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns will have the first sack of the Giants' season.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I'm all in on Abdul Carter having a breakout season, so I think it is going to be him. I think the Giants get him on backup T.J. Bass or right tackle Terence Steele early in the game and he beats them quickly at the line for a sack of Dak Prescott. His quickness and explosiveness are something to behold and the Cowboys could struggle dealing with it.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Burns exploded for a career-high 16.5 sacks last season, but he has also been Mr. Consistent. He is one of eight players ever to record at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first seven seasons.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Based on what I've been saying for months, I would be remiss if I didn't go with Abdul Carter for the Giants' first sack of the season. After an up-and-down rookie campaign that saw him start to really get going towards the end of the year, Carter enters his second NFL season primed for a breakout. The strength of the Cowboys offensive line is in the interior, but that group took a blow with the injury to Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith. The Giants are going to register more than one sack of Dak Prescott in the season opener, but the first one will belong to Carter.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field as they prepare for this week's season opener against the Cowboys.

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