The scoreboard may have read Minnesota Vikings 13, New York Giants 10, but for Giants head coach John Harbaugh, Saturday’s preseason opener at MetLife Stadium was never really about the final score.
It was about getting his team into a game.
For the first time, Harbaugh got to watch his Giants compete against an opponent other than themselves. After weeks of practices, meetings and installation, the Giants finally had an opportunity to see how their new system, new coaching staff and revamped roster would respond when the lights came on.
And Harbaugh came away with plenty to evaluate.
“Okay, I appreciate everybody being here. Opener, first opportunity to see us in a game as opposed to a practice. It was good to see.”
That may have been the most important takeaway from Harbaugh’s opening assessment.
The Giants weren’t perfect. In fact, there was plenty that needs to be cleaned up. But the first preseason game was designed to provide information, and Harbaugh believes his team got plenty of it.
“Going to be a lot of great things to look at and work on, get better at, a lot of great things that we…”
That unfinished thought from Harbaugh summed up the afternoon.
There was good.
There was bad.
And, most importantly, there was film.
Dart Shows His Competitive Fire
The biggest storyline of the afternoon centered around second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart’s first preseason appearance included a frightening moment when he took a hard hit and was evaluated for a concussion. He returned shortly afterward and immediately made his presence felt, connecting with rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields on a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Dart finished the afternoon 3-of-4 for 26 yards and a touchdown, playing only a handful of series.
For Harbaugh, getting Dart into a live-game environment was part of the evaluation process.
The Giants don’t need Dart simply to look good in practice. They need him to operate the offense, recognize pressure, make decisions and handle the physical and mental demands of playing quarterback.
Saturday provided the first real glimpse of that.
And the connection with Fields offered another encouraging development.
Malachi Fields Makes His Case
If there was a rookie who immediately made his presence felt, it was Fields.
The third-round pick finished with three receptions for 34 yards and the touchdown, including the scoring connection with Dart.
For a Giants team entering camp with considerable competition at wide receiver, every opportunity matters.
Fields didn’t simply get on the field.
He made a play.
That is exactly what Harbaugh and the coaching staff want to see from young players during preseason.
The Defense Has Plenty to Clean Up
The Giants’ defense also showed flashes, but there were areas that clearly need attention.
Minnesota was able to run the football effectively, while the Giants’ defensive front was without several veterans who are expected to play significant roles during the regular season.
There were positives, however.
Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander recorded a sack, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss, while linebacker Arvell Reese continued to show the athleticism that has generated excitement throughout training camp.
For Dennard Wilson’s defense, the preseason is about discovering which young players can consistently execute within the system.
Saturday provided another round of answers.
Harbaugh’s Message Is Already Clear
Perhaps the most important thing about Harbaugh’s postgame comments wasn’t any individual player.
It was his approach.
There was no panic over a preseason loss.
There was no attempt to pretend everything was perfect.
And there was certainly no indication that the coaching staff viewed Saturday as anything more than the beginning of the evaluation process.
That’s important for a Giants team entering a completely different era.
Harbaugh has spent training camp emphasizing competition, physicality, accountability and attention to detail. Saturday was the first opportunity to see whether those characteristics would carry over from practice into a real game.
They did at times.
They also disappeared at times.
And that’s precisely why preseason exists.
The Beckham Factor
Saturday also marked the return of Odell Beckham Jr. to a Giants uniform.
The veteran wide receiver received a strong reception from the MetLife Stadium crowd when he entered the game and finished with two receptions for six yards.
But Beckham’s return wasn’t simply about nostalgia.
He is competing for a roster spot, and every preseason snap matters.
Harbaugh and the Giants coaching staff now have game film to evaluate Beckham’s conditioning, route running, blocking and ability to contribute within the offense.
The First Chapter Is Written
The Giants would obviously have preferred to open the Harbaugh era with a victory.
But preseason victories aren’t the objective.
Development is.
Evaluation is.
Finding the right 53 players is.
Saturday gave Harbaugh and his staff another opportunity to determine what this team can become.
And there were enough positive moments to build upon.
There were also enough mistakes to keep the coaching staff busy throughout the coming week.
That’s exactly what Harbaugh expected.
The Giants now move forward with a game under their belt, a growing collection of film and a much clearer understanding of what they need to improve.
The first chapter of the John Harbaugh era is officially in the books.
The real story is just beginning.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
