The NFL has already set the stage for one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 season: the New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys in the first "Sunday Night Football" game of the year. The league made the announcement on Monday, confirming that the NFC East rivalry will kick off under the lights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 8:20 p.m. EDT on September 13. Fans can catch all the action on NBC, Peacock, and NFL+.
This primetime opener is more than just a game—it's a chance for the Giants to build on a rare bright spot in a historically lopsided rivalry. The Cowboys hold a commanding 78-48-2 edge in the all-time series, which dates back to 1960. However, the Giants managed to snap a nine-game losing streak to Dallas in their final meeting of the 2025-26 season, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this prime-time showdown.
The full 2026-27 NFL schedule drops this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network, ESPN2, the ESPN app, and NFL+. International games will be announced earlier that morning at 9 a.m. on "Good Morning America" via NFL Network. Several key matchups have already been locked in: the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will host the regular-season opener on September 9 in Seattle, while the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers the next day in Melbourne, Australia. Those games will air on NBC and Netflix, respectively. The Cowboys also have a Week 13 date set for September 27 against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, which will be broadcast on CBS.