112 yards later, the Giants finally have their No. 1 receiver back

Six catches. 112 yards. His first touchdown of the season. Malik Nabers gave the Giants the kind of receiving performance they have been waiting for in Sunday's 36-24 win over Arizona.

The touchdown was especially important. Arvell Reese's third-quarter interception gave New York the ball at the Cardinals' 26, and Jameis Winston found Nabers for a 25-yard score. It turned a defensive takeaway into a lead. Nabers also made a 39-yard catch on third down earlier in the game, winning a jump ball that kept another drive alive.

Giants need Nabers as more than a target count

When Nabers gets the ball downfield, the offense looks different. A six-catch day can be ordinary for a receiver with his role; 112 yards and two chunk plays are not. Those plays change how a defense can handle the rest of the lineup, especially on the downs when New York has to throw.

Winston spread the ball around Sunday. Isaiah Likely caught seven passes for 66 yards, and Theo Johnson scored on his only target. The offense works better when Nabers can command attention without being the only option. The Giants can still make their top receiver the player opponents have to account for first without treating everyone else as an afterthought.

I would be careful about declaring the offense fixed after one afternoon. New York scored 36 points, but the final six came on Deonte Banks' interception return. The real encouragement is more specific: Nabers created yards and finished a scoring chance, two things the Giants cannot afford to leave out of their passing game.

New York has also found early reliability from Isaiah Likely . If opponents start leaning coverage toward Nabers again, that second option should get useful chances. If they do not, the Giants should keep testing them deep.