'SNF' takeaways: Jaxson Dart shines in Giants' statement win over Cowboys

Skattebo finished with 81 yards and that one score, while wide receiver Malik Nabers returned from a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee with six catches for 69 yards. 

Granted, the game was not without multiple pass-interference penalties that contributed to the majority of Dallas' offensive success and a fumble just outside of the red zone in a tie game in the second quarter, but it was hard not to be impressed by the Giants' performance in Week 1.

Now, it is all about backing it up, limiting some of those costly penalties, and showing that Week 1 is only a sign of what is ahead for a highly entertaining Giants team.

Player of the game: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants

While this honor could easily go to TE Isaiah Likely in his Giants debut (eight catches, 78 yards, two TDs), Dart was phenomenal from start to finish against the Cowboys.

He was 23-of-29 for 230 yards and three TDs with an additional 11 carries for 54 yards on the ground. The most impressive drive of the game occurred when he led the Giants on a 12-play, 74-yard drive that took 8:01 off the game clock to begin the second half.

It was his second TD connection with Likely, but it extended the Giants' lead to 21-7 and kept the pressure on a Cowboys team that simply could not find a way to slow them down.

While Dart has been called out for his reckless running and concussion history early in his career, he simply had his way with the Cowboys and did what he wanted to through the air and with his legs.

It might just be Week 1, but Dart will be a problem for opposing defenses this season if he plays like that.

Cowboys have not fixed defensive issues

The Cowboys had the fifth-best scoring offense last season, but missed the playoffs with a defense that allowed the most points in the league. It is just one game, but the early returns suggest there is still a lot of improvement to be made.

Dallas gave up 394 yards, 29 first downs and allowed the Giants to convert nine of their 11 third downs, all while converting eight of their 11 on offense.

The Cowboys simply had no answers defensively for this Giants offense. Even when they were gifted an opportunity following the fumble recovery with the game tied at seven, the Dallas offense turned it back over to the Giants and gave up another TD prior to the half.

That sequence, which made it a two-TD lead for the Giants, summed up the night perfectly and showed that this Cowboys defense still has some work to do.

Quote of the night: "I thought I saw some bad defense out of the Cowboys last year; that sequence was as bad as it gets."

NBC Sports' color commentator Cris Collinsworth did not hide his thoughts after the Cowboys gave up this 29-second TD drive following the interception prior to the half.