NFL Announces Cowboys-Giants Primetime Clash to Open 2026 Season

Cowboys at Giants set for 2026 season-opening Sunday night football

Harbaugh brings former Ravens players including Isaiah Likely and Pat Ricard to New York as the Giants overhaul the roster ahead of the Week 1 matchup.

After splitting 2025’s series 1-1, the Cowboys and Giants kick off 2026 in primetime with both teams bringing major offseason changes...

The NFL confirmed the Dallas Cowboys will head to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants in the opening Sunday Night Football matchup of the 2026 season on Sept. 13.

The game marks John Harbaugh’s first primetime appearance as Giants head coach, and it’s the eighth time since 2012 that the division rivals have opened a season against each other.

THE SNF WEEK 1 MATCHUP IS A GO. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2s1RDMkjXf

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) May 11, 2026

Dallas ended 2025 at 7-9-1 and split the season series with the Giants, who finished 4-13, winning one and losing one.

Their most memorable meeting came in Week 2, when it went to overtime in a wild shootout. The two teams combined for 984 yards, 26 penalties, eight touchdowns, seven field goals, three sacks each, and just one turnover apiece.

Prepare yourselves for a wild Sunday night showdown in Week 1 👀

NFL Schedule Release - Thursday at 8pm ET on ESPN/NFLN pic.twitter.com/idszSLzAXG 

— NFL (@NFL) May 11, 2026

The Giants are entering the season with a nearly rebuilt roster. After 18 years as head coach in Baltimore, John Harbaugh is now in charge in New York, and he brought several familiar faces from the Ravens with him.

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 made the move to the Big Apple with Harbaugh.

New York also used its first two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on edge rusher Arvell Reese at No. 5 and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10. Mauigoa came over from Cincinnati in the trade that sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals.

Arvell Reese was asked he wants to show his new Giants teammates:

"I want to show the team right away that I'm one of those guys who would rather be seen and not heard, especially as a rookie. I feel like that's what you've got to do." pic.twitter.com/V1yDTHAD6s

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) May 9, 2026

The Giants also hired former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to run the offense, and added Dennard Wilson from the Tennessee Titans as their new defensive coordinator.

On the Cowboys’ schedule, Dallas will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving this season.

It’s the first Thanksgiving meeting between the two since 2014 and only the third ever, with the other coming in 1989. Philadelphia has won both matchups by a combined score of 60-10.

Philly claimed the NFC South title last year at 11-6, and was the only team in the division with a winning record in 2025. That put them ahead of Dallas, New York, and Washington.

Thanksgiving Day plans are set 🦃

See you in Dallas, Week 12 at 4:30 PM on FOX@Ticketmaster | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/LU8Vugy0Bv

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 11, 2026