Dak, Cowboys vs. Dart, Giants Revealed for 1st Sunday Night Football Game of 2026 NFL Schedule

NBC's Sunday Night Football will spotlight a division rivalry to kick off the 2026 NFL season.

The New York Giants announced they'll host the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 in the SNF slot:

Dallas and New York split their 2025 season series.

Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott combined to throw for 811 yards in Week 2 as Brandon Aubrey's 46-yard field goal lifted the Cowboys to a 40-37 overtime victory.

▶️ Full Giants-Cowboys Recap

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The Giants got their revenge in Week 18, though the Cowboys had packed it in already after being eliminated from playoff contention. Joe Milton III replaced Prescott midway through the contest. On the other side, Jaxson Dart capped off a strong rookie campaign by throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

The stakes are high any time Dallas and New York cross paths, but neither team looks like a surefire contender heading into the new season.

Acquiring Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers and taking Caleb Downs in the first round of the 2026 draft should help what was a porous Cowboys defense. Still, the team was 17th in Bleacher Report's post-draft power rankings.

Likewise, New York is probably a year away from the playoffs despite hiring John Harbaugh. The defensive line is worse without Dexter Lawrence in the middle, and the jury is out on whether Dart is the long-term solution under center.

A battle like this will nonetheless be ripe for Week 1 overreactions. The sky will be falling for whoever loses, while the winning fanbase will talk themselves into their favorite team mounting a postseason challenge.