The Dallas Cowboys travel to MetLife Stadium for Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants in one of the NFL's most storied rivalries. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb remain the cornerstones of a Cowboys offense that can put up points quickly. Micah Parsons leads one of the most feared pass-rushing units in football, capable of wrecking an offensive game plan on its own.
| Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Staubach | Cowboys | One of Cowboys's top players heading into Cowboys's Week 1 matchup |
| Troy Aikman | Cowboys | One of Cowboys's top players heading into Cowboys's Week 1 matchup |
| Dak Prescott | Cowboys | One of Cowboys's top players heading into Cowboys's Week 1 matchup |
| Eli Manning | Giants | Key player for Giants that the Cowboys defense will need to contain |
| Michael Strahan | Giants | Key player for Giants that the Cowboys defense will need to contain |
This is a prime time rivalry game, and the Cowboys know how to perform on the big stage. Dallas has NFC East title aspirations entering 2026, and a road win against the Giants in the SNF opener would be exactly the kind of statement result that fuels confidence for the rest of the season. For Cowboys fans, Sunday Night Football against New York is always appointment viewing -- and this one has all the extra juice of a division opener.
| Storyline | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Cowboys offense, Week 1 debut | First look at how the unit performs under 2026 roster and coaching changes |
| Giants defense | The first test for Cowboys skill players coming out of the preseason |
| Turnover margin | Week 1 games are often decided by turnovers before teams find their rhythm |
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