The Dallas Cowboys now know who they will face to begin the 2026 NFL season.
The NFL announced on Monday that the Cowboys will open the regular season against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, at 7:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
The matchup will mark the 13th season opener between the longtime NFC East rivals and the first time the teams have faced each other in the season opener since 2023. Dallas has historically dominated those season-opening meetings, winning 11 of the previous 12 games against New York.
The game will also introduce a new era for the Giants under veteran head coach John Harbaugh, who took over the franchise in January after spending 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he won Super Bowl XLVII.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys enter year two under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who posted a 7-9-1 record in his first season leading Dallas in 2025.
Cowboys vs. Giants Rivalry Adds New Chapter in 2026
The Cowboys and Giants remain one of the NFL’s most recognizable rivalries, and the 2026 opener will add another chapter to the NFC East matchup.
Dallas currently leads the all-time series 78-48-2 across 128 meetings dating back to 1960. The Cowboys have also won 16 of the last 18 games against New York.
The rivalry has consistently drawn major television audiences over the years. One of the most-watched regular-season games in NFL history came during the teams’ Thanksgiving matchup in 2022, when Dallas defeated New York 28-20.
The teams split their two meetings during the 2025 season. Dallas earned a 40-37 overtime victory over the Giants in Week 2 before New York closed the season with a 34-17 win over the Cowboys in the finale.
The Giants are hoping Harbaugh can help reverse recent struggles. New York has finished last in the NFC East in back-to-back seasons and has reached the postseason only once since 2016.
Over the last five seasons, the Giants have gone just 1-9 against Dallas.
Cowboys Made Major Defensive Changes During NFL Offseason
Dallas spent much of the offseason reshaping its roster after a disappointing 2025 campaign, particularly on defense.
The Cowboys hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator and made several additions on that side of the ball through free agency, trades, and the NFL Draft.
Among the players returning to Dallas after their previous contracts expired are Javonte Williams, George Pickens, Sam Williams, Brandon Aubrey, Josh Butler, T. J. Bass, Reddy Steward, and Princeton Fant.
Dallas also added several new names during free agency, including Jalen Thompson, P. J. Locke, Rashan Gary, Sam Howell, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Bullard, Cobie Durant, Matt Hennessy, Corey Ballentine, Derion Kendrick, Tyrus Wheat, and Otito Ogbonnia.
The Cowboys also acquired Dee Winters during the draft through a trade.
Cowboys Draft Class Headlines Busy NFL Offseason
Dallas continued its roster overhaul during the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys selected Caleb Downs out of Ohio State and Malachi Lawrence from UCF in the first round.
The rest of the draft class included Jaishawn Barham from Michigan, Drew Shelton from Penn State, Devin Moore from Florida, LT Overton from Alabama, and Anthony Smith from East Carolina.
Dallas already knows one other major game on its 2026 schedule. The Cowboys are set to face the Ravens in Week 3 during the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The complete 2026 NFL schedule for the Cowboys and the rest of the league will be released on Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m. ET.
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