Likely, Swift and Henry lead Sunday’s NFL winners; injuries leave Monday questions

Isaiah Likely caught all eight of his targets in his Giants debut. Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes after replacing an injured Kyler Murray. D’Andre Swift and Derrick Henry each scored three times. Sunday’s first full NFL slate supplied several emphatic performances, but the winners arrive at Monday with different questions about how much carries forward.

For New York, the clearest evidence was possession. The Giants held the ball for 36:40 in their 28-20 win over Dallas, including the final 5:16. Likely’s two touchdown catches gave Jaxson Dart a dependable scoring connection, while Cam Skattebo ran 18 times for 81 yards and Malik Nabers returned with six catches for 69 yards.

Dallas scored on both second-half possessions and still could not close the gap. The Giants answered one Cowboys touchdown with Devin Singletary’s scoring catch, then denied Dallas another opportunity by finishing the game with the ball. That distinction matters: the offense produced late; the defense could not get it another possession.

Minnesota’s 39-22 win over Green Bay poses a different question. Wentz’s relief performance and Justin Jefferson’s contribution turned a quarterback injury into a comeback, but the result does not settle Murray’s availability after his concussion. Baltimore likewise won comfortably, 41-23 over Indianapolis, while losing receivers Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane during the game. A strong final score does not erase the next week’s roster decisions.

Three other winners demonstrated how quickly one play can determine the result. Philadelphia beat Washington 24-22 after stopping the late two-point attempt. Detroit survived New Orleans 31-30 in overtime with another conversion stop. Buffalo’s 36-31 win over Houston required Josh Allen’s late connection with Joshua Palmer and a defensive finish.

The larger margins came through different routes. Swift’s three touchdowns helped Chicago reach 59 points against Carolina; Trevor Lawrence found four touchdown targets in Jacksonville’s 34-10 win over Cleveland. Las Vegas leaned on Ashton Jeanty’s two scores in a 27-13 win over Miami.

Arizona combined offense with Simi Fehoko’s blocked punt to beat the Chargers 26-14.

Turnovers supplied another set of lessons. Cincinnati survived Tampa Bay 33-27 after four Buccaneers fumbles were lost. T.J. Watt’s interception return was decisive in Pittsburgh’s 20-13 win over Atlanta. The Jets opened with a 23-10 win at Tennessee, led by Geno Smith and Breece Hall.

New York leaves its opener with Likely and Nabers established as Dart’s busiest receiving options. Baltimore heads toward its home opener against New Orleans with two receivers hurt, and Minnesota awaits clarity on Murray after Wentz’s successful relief appearance. Those differences will shape the next games more than the size of Sunday’s winning margins.