The New York Giants’ 2026 season kicks off on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. They’ll host a division rival, the Dallas Cowboys, in the opener. What should fans look for, and who should they watch in Giants vs. Cowboys?
The Giants are entering a new era under first-year head coach John Harbaugh. They are still, however, the underdogs in this matchup. As of Saturday night, the Cowboys are three-point favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook.
New York is 4-16 against Dallas over the last 10 years. In their last seven Week 1 meetings, the Cowboys lead 6-1. Not only are the sportsbooks on the side of America’s Team, but history is as well.
This week’s game will be the first time New York’s second-year QB Jaxson Dart truly faces off against Dallas veteran Dak Prescott. Russell Wilson was under center for the Giants in Week 2 last season. In each team’s season finale, Prescott saw limited playing time, due to Dallas already being eliminated from playoff contention.
The two teams split wins last season, but their respective QB1’s have yet to fully go head-to-head. This matchup will be a measuring stick of how Dart fares against division rivals in his sophomore year.
Aside from Dart, who is the biggest name to watch on Sunday night, there are plenty of players to keep an eye on. The first is running back Cam Skattebo. The Arizona State product is returning from a horrific ankle injury in October 2025.
Skattebo played limited snaps in New York’s preseason opener, recording four carries for 19 yards. Those two series he played in are his only in-game action in nearly a year. Week 1 will be the time for him to shake off some rust.
Another player to watch in Week 1 is Abdul Carter. The 2025 third overall pick started his rookie year in underwhelming fashion. Down the stretch, his production picked up. He ended the season with four sacks, 43 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss (TFLs), and two forced fumbles.
Of Carter’s four sacks last season, 3.5 of them came from Week 13 on. In a new system under defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, it’s time he shows that third-overall pick potential.
The Giants’ wide receiver room will also be a massive point of interest. Superstar Malik Nabers’ status is still unclear after tearing his ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season. That leaves the room to rookie Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Odell Beckham Jr.
New York’s veteran receiver, Darius Slayton, was released last week. If Nabers is out on Sunday night, expect the team to run plenty of 12 personnel with tight ends Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson.
The Giants’ defense was a train wreck in 2025. Former DC Shane Bowen was fired following a Week 12 loss to the Detroit Lions. This came after a six-game losing streak that eventually extended to nine games.
New York ranked 16th in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game (214.2), 31st in rush yards allowed per game (145.3), and 26th in points allowed per game (25.8). With a new coaching staff and Wilson stepping in at DC, they can’t afford to repeat that.
Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns make up what could be an elite pass-rush group. The Giants drafted Ohio State standout Arvell Reese at linebacker, along with free agent acquisition Tremaine Edmunds. To cap it off, they signed cornerback Greg Newsome and drafted Tennessee’s CB Colton Hood.
The defensive overhaul, along with a coaching change, will likely lead to growing pains. In their first meeting last season, the Giants allowed Dallas to score four touchdowns in a 40-37 loss. Shootout or not, if they allow that kind of scoring again, this defense is off to a bad start.
Dallas presented one of the NFL’s worst defenses last year. They ended the season ranked dead last in pass yards and points allowed per game (251.5 and 30.1, respectively), and 23rd in rush yards allowed per game (125.5). They saw the flaws and worked to address them.
With five of their seven draft picks, the Cowboys drafted defensive players. They selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs 11th overall, along with edge rusher Malachi Lawrence 23rd overall. Going back a little further, they acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Dallas traded a 2027 fourth-round pick for edge rusher Rashan Gary. They also signed free agent edge rusher Von Miller and safety P.J. Locke. This isn’t the same defense that let Russell Wilson score 37 points in Week 2 of the 2025 season.
The Cowboys already had one of the best offenses in the league last year. They ranked second in pass yards per game (266.3), ninth in rush yards per game (125.6), and seventh in points per game (27.7). An improved defense could turn them into a legitimate playoff contender.
New York’s schedule starts with back-to-back hurdles. After a Week 1 matchup against Dallas, they head to Los Angeles to face the Rams. They’ll then face the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints.
If Harbaugh’s Giants start the year off slow, they could see a record of 0-2. Following that, though, they have a chance to go on a four-win streak. An underdog win against a division rival in the season opener would light a fire this team hasn’t seen in a long time.
The Giants may be without Nabers in this matchup. He’s been a participant in practices, but his status is up in the air. If he does see the field on Sunday night, expect it to be under a limited snap count.
New York’s third-year running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is also banged up ahead of Sunday night. He’s dealing with a neck injury and may see limited snaps if he does take the field.
The Cowboys will be without three-time Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith for this game. He’s undergone thumb surgery and is set to miss four to six weeks.
The Giants are hoping for a massive turnaround in Harbaugh’s first year. Sunday Night Football will be an indicator of whether they’re on the right track. The Cowboys have led this rivalry for the last decade, and they’ve built an impressive team in 2026.
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