How to Watch Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants: NFL Week 1 2026 (Sunday Night Football)

Watch Info

• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Time: 8:20 PM ET
• TV Channel: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, NFL+
• Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game Preview

The NFL kicks off its Sunday Night Football schedule with a classic NFC East rivalry, as the Cowboys visit the Giants for the eighth time in the past 15 seasons to open a campaign. Both franchises enter 2026 with real reason for optimism after uneven 2025 seasons, and both bring fresh faces to the sideline — making this far more than a recycled scheduling tradition.

The two teams split their meetings last year: Dallas escaped with a wild 40-37 overtime win at AT&T Stadium in Week 2, before New York closed the season with a 34-17 win at MetLife behind Jaxson Dart's 262 total yards and two passing touchdowns. This time, the stakes feel considerably higher for both sides right out of the gate.

Dallas Cowboys News & Storylines

Dallas enters year two under head coach Brian Schottenheimer having overhauled its defense in an effort to become a legitimate threat to Philadelphia atop the NFC East. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who previously served as passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in Philadelphia, is transitioning the unit to a 3-4 base scheme. Quarterback Dak Prescott leads an offense featuring wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, while rookie safety Caleb Downs — drafted 11th overall out of Ohio State — adds an immediate playmaker to the back end of the new-look defense.

New York Giants News & Storylines

New York enters the season under new head coach John Harbaugh, who arrives after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl title with Baltimore, replacing Brian Daboll after a 2-8 start last year capped an underwhelming 20-40-1 stretch over three-plus seasons. Harbaugh has assembled a coaching staff with clear NFL pedigree: former Titans head coach Brian Callahan is on board as a QB-focused offensive voice with an emphasis on the run, Willie Taggart coaches running backs, Mike Bloomgren (by way of Cleveland) coaches the offensive line, and Dennis Johnson carries over from Baltimore to coach the defensive line.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart, coming off an eventful rookie season, is the centerpiece of the new offensive approach, and the Giants also add rookie linebacker Arvell Reese — the fifth overall pick out of Ohio State — to bolster a defense that will lean heavily on its pass rush to disrupt Dallas early.

Key Matchup to Watch

Dak Prescott against a New York pass rush that Harbaugh's staff has clearly prioritized building around, and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens against a revamped Giants secondary. On the other side, watch how Jaxson Dart handles Dallas's new 3-4 defensive look under Christian Parker in just his second full season as a starter.

What to Expect

With new coaching staffs, new defensive schemes, and a young quarterback on each side taking on a new-look opponent, expect a game with plenty of early feeling-out moments before either team fully establishes control. The primetime stage and rivalry intensity should still make for a compelling season-opening showcase.