From New York Giants On SI · · 3m
Isaiah Likely's Week 1 masterclass PFF somehow missed
The Giants' new tight end dominated in his debut, but the analytics outlet left him off its Team of the Week.
In brief
The Giants' new tight end dominated in his debut, but the analytics outlet left him off its Team of the Week. Isaiah Likely caught 8 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns in his Giants debut, outperforming the tight end PFF selected instead across nearly every meaningful stat. Originally reported by New York Giants On…
Giants beat Cowboys in primetime
New York's thrilling Week 1 victory over Dallas didn't rely on one player, but tight end Isaiah Likely deserved significant credit for the win.
Likely was the Giants' offseason prize
The tight end was the team's first major signing after hiring head coach John Harbaugh, brought in as a reliable target for second-year QB Jaxson Dart.
Eight catches, two touchdowns
Likely caught a team-leading 8 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns in the primetime win, helping the Giants build a lead the Cowboys couldn't overcome.
Giants fans excited about new weapon
After his dominant debut, Likely earned applause from New York fans who see him as an explosive contributor to their offense.
PFF left him off Team of Week
Pro Football Focus threw cold water on the celebration by leaving Likely off its inaugural NFL Team of the Week, choosing Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid instead.
No Giants on PFF's list
It was surprising that no Giants players made the analytics outlet's Team of the Week, especially given Likely's strong performance.
Kincaid had an impressive day
PFF's choice, Dalton Kincaid, caught 5 of 6 targets for 130 yards and 26.0 yards per catch in Buffalo's close road win over Houston.
Likely beat Kincaid in most stats
While Kincaid led in yardage, Likely outperformed him in nearly every other key statistic, with 8 targets, zero drops, and 2 touchdowns.
First TD came at perfect time
Likely's first touchdown came in the second quarter after Jevon Holland intercepted a Dak Prescott pass, giving the Giants momentum with a 15-yard catch.
Second TD extended the lead
On a 12-play, 74-yard drive that took over 8 minutes, Likely caught a 2-yard touchdown pass to extend the Giants' lead to 21-7.
Only tight end with two TDs
Likely was one of only two tight ends to score 2 touchdowns and the only player to catch all his contested catches, going 2-2 in that category.
Cowboys defense contained other weapons
Dallas did a good job limiting the Giants' other receivers, including Malik Nabers in his first game back from an ACL tear, who finished with 6 catches for 69 yards.
PFF's snub was a clear mistake
Likely's outstanding debut performance was wrongly disregarded by PFF, making his omission from Team of the Week a notable oversight.
The one thing
Isaiah Likely caught 8 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns in his Giants debut, outperforming the tight end PFF selected instead across nearly every meaningful stat.
