The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants kick off the "Sunday Night Football" schedule on Sept. 13.
The vibe around the NFC East is certainly a bit different entering 2026, thanks to the state of a few of its members. The Cowboys are bona fide NFC contenders entering 2026. With a loaded offensive attack, Dak Prescott and Co. have plenty of firepower to shoot out with the best in the NFL.
Dallas' bugaboo, its defense, will have a different look this season, though. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker looks to change his unit's fortunes from last season, and he has safety Caleb Downs and pass rushers Von Miller and Rashan Gary with which to do it.
The New York Giants also have a new look, and it comes from behind the bench. Head coach John Harbaugh
is tasked with turning around an organization that's been among the league's worst over the last decade. It's a mix of old and new, as Harbaugh also brings wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to "Big Blue," years after his trade from New York to Cleveland.
It's the first test of Harbaugh and the Giants in their new era. What better way than to gauge his team's mettle in a "SNF" matchup against a bitter division rival?
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights, analysis and more from the Week 1 "SNF" game below. All times are Eastern.
How to watch Giants vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football
- Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock | Fubo
The Giants and Cowboys are set to meet in the first "SNF" game of the 2026 NFL season on Sunday night. The game has a customary kickoff time of 8:20 p.m. ET.
The Cowboys travel to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the matchup.
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Giants vs. Cowboys Sunday Night Football preview
It's the dawn of a new era for the New York Giants, and the continuation of a drought for the Dallas Cowboys. Which team will make the most of it?
The Giants brought in John Harbaugh this offseason, hiring one of the league's elite coaches to help restore the glow of one of the league's premier franchises. Since 2016, the Giants have posted a record of 55-109-1 (.336 winning percentage).
"Big Blue" looks to usher in a new era tonight, and they'll look to its new-look defense to lead the way. With top pick Arvell Reese and a pass rush that features 2025 Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brian Burns and 2025 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, the Giants could boast one of the league's most improved units.
The Cowboys are hoping that's not the case, especially since their explosive offense is one of the best in the NFL. A fully-formed unit, Dallas is looking to break the NFC's longest championship game drought; the Cowboys haven't been to the doorstep of a Super Bowl since the 1995 season.
Giants vs. Cowboys live updates
Giants vs Cowboys picks, prediction
04:01 PM ET, September 13 2026, Joe RiveraUSA TODAY Sports' expert panel is in agreement that the Dallas Cowboys will pick up the road win on Sunday night.
- Jarrett Bell: 30-24, Cowboys
- Nick Brinkerhoff: 31-24, Cowboys
- Chris Bumbaca: 33-27, Cowboys
- Nate Davis: 29-23, Cowboys
- Adam Kaufman: 31-24, Cowboys
- Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 31-20, Cowboys
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants vs Cowboys live updates: Where to watch, predictions for Sunday Night Football
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