Rumors have been pouring in ahead of the official release of the 2026 NFL schedule. Fans will have to wait till Thursday to get the complete picture, but the league has confirmed one giant matchup.
The Dallas Cowboys will travel to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants on September 13. The NFC East rivals will lock horns in the first “Sunday Night Football” game of the 2026 NFL season.
NFL Schedule 2026: John Harbaugh Era Will Start Against the Cowboys
Besides taking on their divisional rivals, this game means something special for Giants fans. It’s the beginning of a new era under head coach John Harbaugh, who was hired in January after he spent 18 seasons leading the Baltimore Ravens.
Expectations are sky-high around the MetLife Stadium, but Harbaugh faces a stern test in his opening assignment.
The Cowboys have absolutely owned this matchup lately. They’ve won six of their last seven Week 1 games against New York. Over the past five seasons, the Giants are 1-9 against Dallas overall.
But Harbaugh does have a few reasons for optimism. Dallas finished dead last in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric last season, and MetLife Stadium should be rocking behind the new Giants head coach in Week 1.
This won’t be the first time these two have met to open a season. It will actually be the eighth time in the last 15 seasons that the NFC East rivals have squared off in Week 1.
As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo pointed out, “this will be the eighth time in the last 15 seasons the Giants and Cowboys will square off Week 1.”
It’s become something of an unofficial tradition, even if the game is usually played in Dallas. This time, New York gets the home crowd.
Week 1. Primetime. Home. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ev7q4poK5V
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 11, 2026
Speaking of home, the Giants didn’t actually request to host. The matchup was assigned to them, but there’s a good reason the league wanted them at MetLife.
The Giants are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their Super Bowl 21 championship team this year. That’s a worthy occasion, and prime time on opening night is a pretty solid backdrop for it.
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For the Cowboys, this is their second straight season opening in a marquee spot. Last year, they kicked things off in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
Now it’s a road trip to New Jersey under the lights. Dallas also has a busy schedule shaping up. They’re set to face the Ravens in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3 and will host their traditional Thanksgiving game later in the season.
As for the Giants, the stakes couldn’t feel higher. They’ve finished last in the NFC East in back-to-back seasons. They’ve made the playoffs just once since 2016. The fanbase is hungry for a turnaround, and Harbaugh is the guy they’re betting on to deliver it.
Sunday Night Football in Week 1 is exactly the kind of stage that can set a tone for an entire season. Win, and suddenly the conversation around this Giants team completely shifts. Lose, and the noise gets louder fast. That’s just the reality of prime time.
The full 2026 NFL schedule is expected to drop on Thursday. The league has also said it plans to reveal all international game matchups on Wednesday, with a few other games likely leaking out beforehand to build anticipation.
