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At this point, outside of the Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, it’s safe to say that the Dallas Cowboys taking on the New York Giants in the Meadowlands on Sunday Night Football is the most anticipated Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season.
Why that?
Earlier this week, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh said at a town hall event that accumulating good practices will get them “one more step toward being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.”
Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb quoted an Instagram post by Harbaugh saying that line by writing, “lol that’s cute.”
Of late, the Cowboys have dominated the Giants, winning nine straight against their NFC East rival and 16 of 17 before losing on the road to New York in Week 18 last season, 34-17.
As for its second 2025 matchup, Dallas and New York combined for one of the season’s most dramatic games as it featured seven lead changes and ended with the Cowboys winning 40-37 on a walk-off, 46-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey — who made a 64-yard field goal to force overtime — as time expired in overtime. However, both teams missed the playoffs, with the Cowboys finishing 7-9-1 and the Giants 4-13.
In 12 career games against the Giants, Lamb, a five-time Pro Bowler, has amassed 71 receptions for 975 yards and four touchdowns. Lamb’s reception and receiving yardage totals against New York are career highs for him against any opponent.
The two teams will meet in Dallas on Jan. 3, which can be seen on FOX and the FOX Sports app at 1 p.m. ET.
