There’s no easing into the 2026 NFL season for the Cowboys and Giants. They’ll open Sunday night under the lights at MetLife Stadium, with the entire country watching one of the league’s oldest rivalries.

Dallas and New York know each other well, but this isn't the same Giants team that lost 13 games last season. The Cowboys are trying to prove they can finally turn their talent into a playoff run, and the Giants are beginning the John Harbaugh era and hoping it brings a much-needed change in direction.

Cowboys-Giants Rivalry Gets A Primetime Reset

The NFL doesn’t have to think too hard about putting the Cowboys in front of the whole country. Dallas is still one of the league’s biggest draws, and a road game against the Giants checks all the usual boxes: two huge fan bases, a real rivalry, and plenty of new faces to show on the sidelines.

This’ll be the ninth primetime season opener between these teams, which is more than any other matchup in league history. There’ll be some extra meaning at MetLife Stadium, too, with the Giants planning a tribute to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11th.

The rivalry hasn’t exactly been a back-and-forth affair lately. Dallas has won 16 of the last 18 meetings, and Dak Prescott's 14-3 against the Giants as a starter. New York did get the most recent win, though, beating Dallas 34-17 in Week 18 last season and snapping the Cowboys’ nine-game winning streak in the series.

That win didn’t change much for either team. Dallas finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year, while New York went 4-13 and brought in Harbaugh to try to pull the franchise out of another reset.

Both teams could use a strong start and a reason to think this season might finally go a little differently.

Can New York’s Pass Rush Wreck Dallas’ Best Advantage?

The Cowboys already know where they want to go with this offense. Dak Prescott led the NFL with 404 completions last season and finished third with 4,552 passing yards. He also tossed 30 touchdown passes, which ranked fourth. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens combined for 2,506 receiving yards, the second-best total by any receiving duo in the league — and that was with Pickens missing time.

That’s the matchup Dallas will want to lean on Sunday night. The Giants added Greg Newsome II to a cornerback room that also has Paulson Adebo and Deonte Banks, but asking any secondary to cover Lamb and Pickens all night without much help is a pretty tough way to open the season.

New York’s best answer is to make sure Prescott never gets comfortable. Brian Burns is coming off a career-high 16.5 sacks, Abdul Carter showed late last season that he can take over stretches of a game, and Kayvon Thibodeaux gives the Giants a third edge rusher Dallas can’t afford to ignore.

Tyler Smith’s Injury Could Tilt The Battle

Dallas will have to deal with that front without three-time Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith, who had thumb surgery and will miss at least four games. T.J. Bass is stepping in, and he didn’t give up a sack while allowing eight pressures on 198 pass-blocking snaps last season. That’s a pretty good starting point, but there’s a big difference between filling in here and there and opening the season against this Giants pass rush.

The Cowboys can make Bass’ job easier by giving Javonte Williams plenty of work. Williams ran for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, but New York has beefed up the middle of their defense with DJ Reader and Tremaine Edmunds. The Giants aren’t going to just hand over easy rushing yards. Dallas doesn’t need to run wild, but they do need enough balance to keep Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux from pinning their ears back on every passing down.

If Prescott has time, Dallas should be able to make plays on the outside. But if the Giants’ front takes over, the Cowboys could spend the night watching their biggest advantage disappear.

Jaxson Dart Faces A Rebuilt Cowboys Defense

No team gave up more points than the Cowboys last season. Dallas allowed 30.1 per game, the worst mark in franchise history, and that made it nearly impossible for even a pretty good offense to keep the season on track.

Now that defense belongs to 34-year-old coordinator Christian Parker, and it’s been rebuilt with some serious talent. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark give Dallas a stronger presence inside, Rashan Gary and Von Miller add juice off the edge, and rookie Caleb Downs gives Parker a versatile piece to move around in the secondary.

The first test won’t be easy. Jaxson Dart accounted for 24 touchdowns in 12 starts as a rookie, including nine rushing scores. His ability to make plays with his legs gives the Giants another way to stress a defense. But John Harbaugh's also going to need to make sure his young quarterback isn’t taking unnecessary punishment.

Cam Skattebo’s return should help take some of that pressure off Dart. The physical second-year back missed the last nine games of 2025 with a broken right fibula, but he still finished with 617 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. Dallas has to slow down New York’s run game first. If they can’t, Gary and Miller could spend the night chasing Dart around.

Then there’s Malik Nabers, who’s always capable of changing the whole game. He’s averaged 117 receiving yards in three games against Dallas and went off for nine catches, 167 yards, and two touchdowns in last season’s overtime loss. Nabers practiced fully this week as he works his way back from ACL surgery, but his status is still up in the air heading into the weekend.

Cowboys Or Giants: Who Owns The Opening Statement?

The Giants are tougher, more physical and a lot more interesting than they were a year ago. Harbaugh should have them ready to play, and that pass rush could make Tyler Smith’s absence a real problem for Dallas.

Still, the Cowboys have the more reliable quarterback and the better matchup on the outside. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can put a ton of stress on New York’s rebuilt secondary, and Prescott has usually found a way to beat the Giants.

This should be close, and I wouldn’t be surprised if New York makes Dallas sweat all night. But Prescott makes one more big play than Dart when it matters most.

Prediction: Cowboys 30, Giants 21

Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are set to kick off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

All stats courtesy of Fantasy Points Data. 

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