The full 2026 NFL schedule release is days away, but NBC Sports has already released a big piece of information. The longtime broadcast partner has unveiled the first Sunday Night Football matchup of the season.
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According to a May 11 announcement, the New York Giants will host NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2026 season. This game will take place on Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET. NBC will air the primetime matchup.
This continues a recent trend for the NFL. The Giants and Cowboys have faced off in the opening week of the season eight times in the past 15 seasons.
One particular example is the 2019 season. The Cowboys hosted the Giants on Sept. 8, 2019. Eli Manning threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, but the Giants lost 35-17.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott accounted for four touchdowns. He tossed one each to Randall Cobb, Jason Witten, Amari Cooper and Blake Jarwin. Running back Ezekiel Elliott added a rushing touchdown.
This season's Sunday Night Football matchup will feature Prescott back under center for the Cowboys as he tries to keep the offensive production from last season. The Giants will have Jaxson Dart, who enters his second season in the NFL.
Dart missed the first matchup between the NFC East rivals last season, a 40-37 Cowboys win in overtime. Russell Wilson led the Giants that day. Dart played the Cowboys for the first time in January 2026 as he threw for two touchdowns during a 34-17 win.
Dart vs. Prescott will not be the only storyline in play. This Sunday Night Football matchup will also feature two new coaches. Christian Parker will take over the Cowboys defense after the unit ranked 30th overall last season. Former Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh will make his official debut as head coach of the Giants.
The full NFL schedule release will take place on Thursday, May 14. NFL.com and NFL+ will provide coverage as fans find out when and where their favorite teams will play each week of the 2026 season.
