The atmosphere of MetLife Stadium said it all on Sunday night. The New York Giants' fanbase was hungry for a winner, and when they got one, they couldn't hold back their excitement.
Naturally, a statement win over a division rival on national television in Week 1 is going to produce some overreactions. It might be the purest overreaction-inducing combination possible.
But we're not counting out some of the instant takeaways from this game. The Giants showed plenty of changes that could stick throughout the season.
Buy: The Isaiah Likely breakout has arrived
When the Giants needed a play, they looked to Likely. The big tight end converted on four third downs in this game, helping the G-Men to their 9 of 11 conversion rate on the day.
His final stat line of eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns is absurd, but he wasn't just used as a receiver. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy used Likely as a lead blocker on multiple occasions, including Jaxson Dart's long run on the first drive of the game. If he can be an effective blocker and a dangerous receiver, he may never come off the field.
Likely was Dart's top target throughout training camp and the preseason, so this performance shouldn't come as a surprise. We're not expecting two touchdowns each week from the tight end, but his role in this offense isn't going anywhere.
Buy: Jaxson Dart is a changed man
He slides! Well, sometimes he slides. The second-year QB is still prone to taking a few too many hits, but his real progress came as a passer.
Dart stayed calm in the pocket and was able to deliver accurate passes under pressure. His command before the snap was dramatically better than it was in his rookie season. He looked like a veteran, and it was only his first game in Nagy's system. He silenced nearly every critique that came his way over the offseason.
By most metrics, Dart was the best quarterback in the NFL in Week 1. He may not keep that up, but he already looks significantly better than he did last year.
Buy: The John Harbaugh effect is already in action
Long, physical practices can get ignored in the offseason, but they show up when the games begin. John Harbaugh's grueling offseason schedule gave the Giants a clear advantage over the Dallas Cowboys, especially in the trenches. Big Blue was the more physical team from start to finish in this one.
There are still some areas that need touching up (the G-Men were penalized ten times for 114 total yards), but Harbaugh's hard-nosed style of football is easy to see.
For the first time in far too long, the Giants have a baseline of physicality and competence.
Ignore: The run defense is suddenly elite
New York held Dallas to just 69 rushing yards on the day, an average of 3.8 yards per carry. The defensive front seven, and especially the linebackers, were consistently getting into the backfield to make plays.
The run defense is obviously better, but it might come down to earth a bit in the weeks to come. The Cowboys were missing All-Pro guard Tyler Smith for this game, limiting their ability to create space on inside runs. Against a more put-together offensive line, New York's defensive front might struggle a bit more.
We don't expect the Giants to hold every opponent under 70 rushing yards, but if they can at least be an average run defense, the team will be set up for success.
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