NFL announces Cowboys-Giants matchup for first Sunday night game of season

New York Giants Dallas Cowboys January 4, 2026
New York Giants Dallas Cowboys January 4, 2026 Adam Hunger / CTK / AP

The NFL announced that the Dallas Cowboys will travel to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Giants for the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season on September 13th.

It'll be John Harbaugh's first primetime game as the head coach of the Giants, and the eighth time since 2012 that both teams faced each other to start a season.

Dallas finished last season with a 7-9-1 record, going 1-1 against the Giants (4-13) in their two matchups during the regular season. 

The big game between the two teams from last year came in Week 2, when the game was decided in overtime after both teams combined for 984 yards, 26 penalties, eight touchdowns, seven field goals, three sacks each, and only one turnover each.

New York will be heading into the game with a complete overhaul of the roster. Not only is Harbaugh the new head coach after spending 18 years in the same position with the Baltimore Ravens, but he also brought over big names from the 410 as well. 

Tight end Isaiah Likely, three-time All-Pro fullback Pat Ricard, All-Pro punter Jordan Stout, right guard Daniel Faalele, and defensive back Ar'Darius Washington all followed Harbs to the Big Apple. 

The team also drafted edge rusher Arvell Reese (No. 5) and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (No. 10) with their first two picks in this year's NFL Draft, the latter of which they received from the Cincinnati Bengals after trading defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

New York also brought in former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the same position, while Dennard Wilson is coming over from the Tennessee Titans as their new defensive coordinator. 

In other Cowboys scheduling news, the team will also be facing the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving this upcoming season. 

It'll be the first time the two teams have faced each other on the American holiday since 2014 and only the third time ever (1989) - Eagles winning both matches by a combined score of 60-10. 

Philly won the NFC South division last year with an 11-6 record, finishing the 2025 season as the only team between them, the Cowboys, Giants, and Washington Commanders with a winning record. 

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