The New York Giants will begin a new era under John Harbaugh in primetime Sunday night as they welcome the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys to MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
New York finished just 4-13 last season, but its record doesn’t entirely reflect the progress the offense made after Jaxson Dart took over at quarterback. The rookie started 12 games and accounted for 24 touchdowns, throwing for 2,272 yards and 15 scores while adding 487 rushing yards and a franchise-record nine rushing touchdowns for a quarterback.
The difference was also visible on the scoreboard. New York averaged 23.5 points across Dart’s 12 starts after averaging 17.3 through its first three games. The Giants eventually closed the season with consecutive 34-point victories, including a 34-17 win over Dallas in Week 18 in which Dart completed 22 of 32 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Harbaugh has since reshaped the roster around his young quarterback. Isaiah Likely and Patrick Ricard followed him from Baltimore, Odell Beckham Jr. returned to New York and veteran RB Najee Harris joined a crowded backfield that already features Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr.. The Giants also strengthened their defense with veterans including DJ Reader, Tremaine Edmunds, Greg Newsome II and Jevon Holland.
Dallas enters 2026 trying to turn one of the league’s most productive offenses into more wins after finishing 7-9-1 last season. Dak Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens giving the Cowboys one of the NFL‘s most dangerous receiving duos.
The Cowboys will have to protect Prescott without three-time Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who underwent thumb surgery and will miss the beginning of the season. That could become particularly important against a formidable Giants front featuring Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
New York could also be getting two major pieces back for the opener. Malik Nabers and left tackle Andrew Thomas were full participants in practice Wednesday and Thursday as they work their way back from knee injuries.
The NFC East rivals split their two meetings last season, with Dallas surviving a 40-37 overtime game at home in September before New York answered with its 34-17 victory at MetLife Stadium in January.
Cowboys vs. Giants Odds Today
Dallas heads into Sunday night as a short road favorite at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Moneyline: Cowboys -160, Giants +135
- Spread: Cowboys -3 (-110), Giants +3 (-110)
- Total: Over 48 (-110), Under 48 (-110)
Referenced odds are subject to change.
Cowboys vs. Giants Best Bet
Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub can help you dig deeper into team performance, matchup data and betting trends before locking in any wagers. For Sunday night’s NFC East matchup, we’re backing the home underdog:
Giants +3 (-110): New York’s 4-13 finish makes it easy to understand why Dallas is favored, but the Giants that finished last season looked considerably different from the team that began it.
Dart was at the center of that change. The Giants averaged 23.5 points across his 12 starts, and his ability to create with both his arm and legs gave the offense a dimension it had been missing. He finished his rookie year with 24 total touchdowns against only five interceptions and helped New York close the season with back-to-back wins in which it scored 34 points each time.
There are also reasons to believe the supporting cast around Dart is stronger entering Year 2. Harbaugh has added more size and versatility to the offense, while Nabers and Thomas have both been full practice participants leading into the opener. On the other side of the ball, New York added several veterans to a defense that already had Burns, Carter and Thibodeaux coming off the edge.
That pass rush could make an immediate impact. Dallas will be without Smith at left guard following thumb surgery, creating a significant absence along the interior of the offensive line against a Giants defense built to pressure the quarterback.
With Dart entering his second season, Harbaugh making his Giants debut and New York catching three points at home, the Giants +3 is our best bet for Sunday night.
- Best Bet: Giants +3 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet players are all over America’s Team ahead of the first Sunday Night Football game of 2026:
- Moneyline: Dallas is backed by 74.1% of moneyline tickets and 75.1% of the handle.
- Spread: Cowboys -3 has collected 68.4% of spread bets, with its share climbing to 79.3% of the money wagered.
- Total: Over 48 is receiving 54.3% of all wagers and a 62.7% share of the handle.
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for DAL-NYG
The most popular player props are centered heavily around the Dallas offense, with three different Cowboys among the four most-bet anytime touchdown scorers:
- Javonte Williams – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- CeeDee Lamb – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- George Pickens – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Cam Skattebo – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Dak Prescott – Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns
Cowboys vs. Giants Game Info
- š Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- š Date: Sunday, September 13
- ā° Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
- šŗš» TV/Streaming: NBC and Peacock
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