The New York Giants will open their 2026 season at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, with kickoff set for Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The NFC East rivalry will put the teams in Week 1 for the first time since 2023.
It is a familiar stage for two teams that have often been used to set the tone for the division. The Giants and Cowboys split their two meetings last season, with Dallas winning 40-37 in overtime at AT&T Stadium in Week 2 before New York answered with a 34-17 victory in the finale at MetLife Stadium.
That second game offered a glimpse of why the Giants' opener carries extra weight. Jaxson Dart accounted for 262 total yards against Dallas, throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 32 more in the 34-17 win. For a Giants team whose schedule is still only partially known, the first announced game gives the season an immediate test against the franchise's most familiar opponent.
The matchup also fits a pattern that has shaped this rivalry for years. The Giants and Cowboys opened the season against each other in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, making this the latest chapter in a stretch of repeat early-season meetings between NFC East rivals. The rest of the Giants' 2026 schedule is set to be released on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
For now, the calendar is clear on the one game that matters most to start: the Giants get Dallas at MetLife Stadium under the lights, and everything that follows will be measured against that opening night.
