Cowboys-Giants Kick Off 2026 Sunday Night Football Slate on NBC

The NFL’s premier prime-time package returns Sept. 13 with an NFC East rivalry game, as the Dallas Cowboys visit MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to face the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET, with coverage airing on NBC and streaming via Peacock and Fubo.

A Tale of Two Rebuilds

The matchup carries an unusually high profile for Week 1. Dallas enters the season viewed as a legitimate NFC contender, anchored by an offense built around quarterback Dak Prescott. The bigger question sits on the other side of the ball, where new defensive coordinator Christian Parker takes over a unit that struggled last season. He’ll work with a remodeled group featuring safety Caleb Downs and veteran pass rushers Von Miller and Rashan Gary.

New York, meanwhile, opens the John Harbaugh era. The franchise has compiled a 55-109-1 record since 2016, and the organization brought in the longtime Ravens head coach to reverse course. Harbaugh’s roster additions include receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who returns to the team that drafted him before trading him to Cleveland. Defensively, the Giants boast a deep pass-rush rotation led by Brian Burns, 2025 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, and top pick Arvell Reese.

Dallas, for its part, is chasing franchise history: the Cowboys haven’t reached the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, the longest such drought in the conference.

Where to Watch

• Matchup: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, MetLife Stadium
• Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 13
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock and Fubo

The broadcast lands within Comcast’s portfolio, which operates both NBC and the Peacock streaming service. Shares of Comcast (CMCSA) recently traded at $25.20, up 0.6% from the previous close of $25.05, giving the media and telecommunications giant a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion. Prime-time NFL rights remain a cornerstone of the company’s Media segment, and the traditional first “Sunday Night Football” slot is typically among the season’s most-watched broadcasts.

USA TODAY Sports’ expert panel unanimously picked Dallas to win the road contest, though the game instead serves as the first real gauge of whether the Giants’ makeover can quickly close the gap in a division the Cowboys hope to dominate.

What to watch

• Nielsen ratings for the Week 1 “Sunday Night Football” broadcast, a key metric for NBC and Peacock ad sales
• Early-season performance of the Cowboys’ remodeled defense under Christian Parker
• Whether the Giants’ revamped pass rush can pressure Dak Prescott
• NFC East standings after Week 1, with both clubs framing the season around ending long droughts

Source: original release