NFL schedule makers clearly consider curiosity within the Dallas Cowboys–New York Giants rivalry has been renewed, and for good cause.
The league is leaking some prime-time matchups forward of the schedule launch on Thursday (NFL Community/ESPN 2, 8 p.m. ET). On Monday, it introduced the Giants will host the Cowboys in Week 1 on “Sunday Evening Soccer” on Sept. 13 (NBC/Peacock, 8:20 p.m. ET).
It is the primary time the Giants and Cowboys have been slated for the Week 1 “SNF” slot for the reason that 2023 season. Dallas crushed New York 40-0 in that recreation. Not like that blowout, this matchup may very well be value tuning into.
Why the Giants-Cowboys rivalry immediately seems attention-grabbing once more
New York has gone 7-27 over the previous two seasons. The Giants’ hiring of latest head coach John Harbaugh, nevertheless, provides one thing the fan base desperately wants: hope.
Harbaugh grew to become the ultimate coaching free agent after the Baltimore Ravens fired him following an 8-9 season in 2025. In his first 17 seasons with the AFC North group, he was far more profitable, main it to a Tremendous Bowl title in 2012 and to 6 division titles.
In Baltimore, Harbaugh coached quarterback Lamar Jackson for eight seasons. He clearly believes Giants second-year QB Jaxson Dart can grow to be a star just like the four-time Professional Bowler. The twenty fifth decide of the 2025 NFL Draft was named an Offensive Rookie of the Yr finalist after logging 24 touchdowns (15 passing and 9 dashing) in 14 video games.
“One of many many nice issues about Jaxson Dart is he does so many issues so properly. He can stay in many alternative worlds,” Harbaugh said on the annual league conferences in Arizona in March. “I am undecided what he actually cannot do.”
The Cowboys, in the meantime, went 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for a second straight season in 2025. Nonetheless, Dallas may very well be poised to enhance after investing closely in its Thirty second-ranked scoring protection (30.1 factors per recreation) throughout the 2026 draft.
That included choosing security Caleb Downs with decide No. 11 after a commerce with the Miami Dolphins. The 2024 nationwide champion made a powerful impression throughout the first follow of rookie minicamp on Might 1.
“[Downs] is what we thought,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “The particular person, elite. The intelligence, elite.”
Dallas should not have to fret about its offense. If QB Dak Prescott stays wholesome, he ought to be in for one more productive 12 months. In 2025, he ranked third within the league in passing yards (4,552 in 17 video games), fourth in TD passes (30) and fifth in QBR (70.2).
The teaching and roster enhancements for each squads may have them in play for an NFC East title. ESPN’s Mike Clay predicted Dallas (10.1 projected wins) to complete second within the division and New York (7.4 projected wins) to position third in his annual projections information. With each golf equipment probably ascending, the Giants-Cowboys rivalry may as soon as once more grow to be appointment TV.
