Giants Open Season Against Cowboys at MetLife With New Leadership in the Fold

The New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 8:20 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, kicking off the regular season in the league’s marquee Sunday night window. The game airs on NBC, the broadcast property of Comcast, whose shares closed at $24.59, down 0.24% from the prior close of $24.65, with a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.

Dallas enters as a 3-point favorite on the road, though the matchup carries plenty of storylines that cut across both sidelines.

A new voice in the Meadowlands

The Giants begin the season under John Harbaugh, who built a 7-1 record in home openers during his time in Baltimore. The team’s preparation through the offseason has drawn attention internally, with the focus now on whether that translates against a division rival.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart endured a demanding early training camp in a new offensive system against a stout defense, but he has reportedly settled in over the past two weeks. The staff wants to see him win from the pocket and execute routine plays consistently, not just highlight-reel throws. Wide receiver Malik Nabers remains the most dynamic playmaker on the roster.

Dallas’s counterpunch

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has largely dominated this matchup since entering the league, with his only losses to the Giants coming in 2016 under then-coach Ben McAdoo. His receiving duo of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb presents a challenge for any secondary in the league.

Defensively, Dallas has retooled up front with Rashan Gary and Quinnen Williams, while first-round rookie Caleb Downs gets his first chance to show why he was so highly regarded coming out of college.

Key matchup

The game could hinge on Giants outside linebacker Abdul Carter against Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton. Carter, entering his second season, closed his rookie year with 4.5 sacks over the final five games and is viewed as a candidate for a breakout campaign. Dallas has expressed confidence in Guyton, but the Giants will likely look to generate pressure on Prescott early and often.

One more subplot: Odell Beckham Jr.’s return to the Giants, a nostalgic thread in an already loaded season opener.

What to watch

• Whether Harbaugh’s strong home-opener history carries over in his Giants debut.
• Dart’s development in the pocket against a rebuilt Dallas front.
• Carter’s pass-rush production in his second-year opener.
• How Dallas’s new-look defense, including rookie Caleb Downs, performs in Week 1.

Source: original release