The New York Giants desperately needed a winning head coach, and they got that in John Harbaugh. That was step one. The next steps for Harbaugh was to build his coaching staff. For offensive coordinator, Harbaugh chose Matt Nagy, which was met with mixed reviews. He was the former head coach of the Chicago Bears and offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. While he did lead the Bears to the playoffs twice in his four year tenure, and won two Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs, he was far from the most exciting coaching option.
Nagy had the chance to prove his critics wrong in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Let's be real, the spotlight was on him if the offense didn't produce in primetime on Sunday. Instead of faltering, Nagy thrived and was in his bag.
The Giants defeated the Cowboys 28-20 to start the season off with a 1-0 record. That is all thanks to Nagy's game plan against the Cowboys defense, coached by new coordinator Christian Parker.
Matt Nagy coached circles around Christian Parker in Giants' win over Cowboys in Week 1
It was evident this offseason that the Giants were going to prioritize establishing the running game when on offense. That's why they signed fullback Patrick Ricard and drafted Francis Mauigoa in the first round to move him to guard. With a great running game, it will exhaust the opposing defense and open things up in the passing game.
On 37 carries, the Giants ran for 165 yards, with Cam Skattebo leading the way with 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Quarterback Jaxson Dart picked up 54 yards on 11 carries. The Giants offense had 29 first downs, 11 of which were on the run.
Due to the effectiveness of the running game, that opened the door for some breaks in defensive coverage downfield. That is what led to the Giants' second touchdown drive of the game, as Dart connected with Darnell Mooney and then Isaiah Likely in the end zone for his first of two touchdowns in the game.
But let's not forget the drive that put the Giants up 28-14 in the second half. Nagy noticed a weakness in the Cowboys defense, as they didn't cover the flat along the left side of the field. It left running back Devin Singletary wide open multiple times, and Nagy kept calling the play. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That resulted in Singletary scoring a nine-yard touchdown reception.
Oh, then there's the new third down strategy of throwing the ball to Likely, as it worked out flawlessly. It's a player they have been desperately missing over the years.
The Giants not only sent a statement across the league for their offense, but also that the Cowboys may not be the locks to contend for a Super Bowl like many had expected etnering the season. The defense looks to be a problem for Dallas.
Giatns now have their mode of attack on offense set for season
Entering this season, we knew the Giants were going to be better than they were in the previous three years of the Brian Daboll era. But no one could have foreseen the Giants winning in dominant fashion. Not only that, but also closing out the game instead of collapsing like they did numerous times lat season.
The strategy that Nagy and senior offensive assistant Greg Roman, who specializes in the running game, showed that they will run the ball at will to exhaust any defense they are facing. They have the blocking. They have the backs that can pick up the extra yards in Skattebo and Singletary. Plus, they have a go-to option on third down in Likely.
It certainly helps that Dart showed comfortability in Nagy's offensive scheme, minimized the mistakes, and wasn't completely wreckless trying to force plays. Dart completed 23-of-29 pass attempts for 230 yards and three touchdowns. As a result, the Giants shocked the world to start off 1-0 for the first time since 2022.
So far, so good for Nagy. If he keeps it up, he may not be in New Jersey for long, as a head coaching opportunity will undoubtedly pull Nagy away.
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