The Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to take on the New York Giants in the opening Sunday night matchup of the 2026 NFL season on September 13.
The league confirmed on Monday that these NFC East rivals will meet at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The full schedule is set to be released on Thursday, with additional games being unveiled over the coming days.
This marks the eighth occasion in the last 15 years that the Cowboys and Giants have begun their season against each other.
Dallas consistently draws a national television audience as "America's Team," while New York could see increased prime-time exposure with Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh taking the helm and quarterback Jaxson Dart entering his second year after an eventful rookie campaign. This will be Harbaugh's debut as Giants head coach.
If both players remain healthy, this game could represent the first meaningful contest between Dart and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Although they faced off in the season finale on January 4, both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention at that point.
The matchup may also feature the NFL debuts of two former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, selected with the fifth overall pick, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, drafted shortly after at number 11.
With Dallas visiting New York, neither team will travel to Seattle for the Wednesday night season opener on September 9, when the defending champion Seahawks raise their Super Bowl banner. The remaining possibilities for that game include Chicago, Arizona, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers, or a title-game rematch against New England.
