The Dallas Cowboys will face the New York Giants in the first Sunday night game of the 2026 NFL season on 13 September, the league announced on Monday. The NFC East rivals will meet at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the eighth time in 15 years the two teams have opened the season against each other.
The full 2026 schedule will be released on Thursday, with other games revealed in the coming days. The Cowboys, often referred to as 'America's Team,' are a consistent national television draw, while the Giants are expected to attract prime-time attention with Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh making his debut and quarterback Jaxson Dart entering his second season after an eventful rookie year.
The game could also feature the first meaningful contest between quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Dak Prescott, provided both are healthy. While they faced each other in the season finale on 4 January, both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention by then.
Additionally, the matchup may showcase the NFL debuts of former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, selected fifth overall, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, taken 11th overall. The game also confirms that neither Dallas nor New York will travel to Seattle for the season-opening Wednesday night game on 9 September, where the defending champion Seahawks will unveil their Super Bowl banner.
