The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will renew one of the NFL’s most familiar NFC East rivalries when they meet on September 13, 2026. The Giants will host Dallas at MetLife Stadium in the opening week of the 2026 regular season, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The matchup has also been selected as the first Sunday Night Football game of the new NFL season.
There are no official match player statistics yet because the game has not been played. ESPN’s game page currently lists both teams at 0–0 and provides the matchup, injury information and pre-game coverage rather than a completed box score. Therefore, any passing, rushing, receiving or defensive numbers attributed to this specific game would be unverified at this stage.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants |
| Date | September 13, 2026 |
| Week | Week 1 |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium |
| Location | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Kickoff | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| Network | NBC |
| Game Status | Scheduled |
Dallas Cowboys Key Players
Dallas enters the matchup with several important offensive pieces who could shape the game. The Cowboys’ quarterback situation and offensive skill group will receive significant attention, while the team continues preparing its final roster before the regular season begins. ESPN’s current Cowboys coverage confirms that Dallas opens its 2026 campaign against the Giants.
The Cowboys also made roster decisions before the season opener. ESPN reported on August 30 that Dallas waived running back Jaydon Blue after he entered training camp as a potential No. 2 option. Malik Davis won that position battle, while Israel Abanikanda remained in the running-back group. These roster developments are relevant when evaluating Dallas’ offensive personnel before the Giants game.
New York Giants Key Players
The Giants will have home-field advantage in the Week 1 rivalry game, but their player availability is an important storyline. ESPN currently lists wide receiver Malik Nabers as questionable for September 13 as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered the previous season. Nabers has progressed to full practices but had not committed to playing in the opener when ESPN reported on September 2.
Other Giants players also appear on the current injury report. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. and tight end Theo Johnson are listed as questionable, while cornerback Korie Black is on injured reserve and Calvin Austin III is also listed on injured reserve. Their statuses can change before kickoff, so these should not be treated as final Week 1 availability decisions.
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Player Stats
These statistics cannot be completed until the game is played. A proper match-player-stats article should use the official post-game box score for every category instead of preseason projections or expected performances. This is especially important for quarterback passing totals, running-back carries, receiver targets and defensive statistics.
Once the game is complete, this table can include the leading players from both teams along with their exact attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions, receptions and other official statistics. Until then, “not available” is the only accurate entry for game-specific statistics.
Quarterback Performance
Quarterback statistics will be among the most important numbers in the final breakdown. The completed article should report each quarterback’s completions, attempts, passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, sacks and passer rating. Those figures will help explain which offense controlled the game and where the decisive advantage developed.
It would be misleading to assign projected numbers to either team before kickoff. The ESPN matchup page currently provides pre-game coverage and lists Dallas against New York for September 13, but it does not yet contain a completed box score. After the game, the quarterback section can be updated with verified statistics and important passing plays.
Rushing and Receiving Leaders
The running game and receiving production will also determine how the final matchup is remembered. The completed player-stats report should identify the leading rusher for each team, including carries, rushing yards, average and touchdowns. It should also list the leading receivers with targets, catches, receiving yards and scores.
These numbers are not available yet because there has been no regular-season snap between the two teams in this matchup. Preseason statistics cannot be presented as September 13 game statistics. The final article should therefore distinguish clearly between preseason performance, season expectations and official Week 1 production.
Team Statistics
Team statistics provide the broader picture behind individual player performances. They show whether a team controlled possession, converted third downs, protected the football and consistently moved the chains. Those figures will become available in the official post-game box score.
For now, neither Dallas nor New York has a Week 1 statistical line because the matchup remains scheduled rather than completed. The NFL’s official game page confirms the September 13 date and lists the game as an upcoming contest.
Key Matchup to Watch
One of the biggest pre-game storylines is the Giants’ receiving group, particularly Malik Nabers. ESPN reported that Nabers was feeling good ahead of the opener but remained noncommittal about playing. His eventual status could significantly affect New York’s offensive approach against Dallas.
The Cowboys will also enter the matchup with questions surrounding their final offensive personnel. Dallas recently waived Jaydon Blue and kept Malik Davis in the running-back competition, illustrating how the roster continued to take shape shortly before Week 1. These developments make the final active rosters important to the eventual player-stat analysis.
What the Final Box Score Should Include
After the game, the most important player-stat categories will include quarterback passing, running-back rushing, wide-receiver receiving and defensive production. The final report should also include sacks, interceptions, fumbles, tackles and other major defensive plays when those statistics are officially recorded.
The team comparison should then show total yards, first downs, rushing and passing production, third-down efficiency, red-zone results, turnovers, penalties and possession time. Those numbers will provide the statistical explanation behind the final result rather than relying only on the scoreboard.
Final Match Summary
The Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants matchup is scheduled for September 13, 2026, at MetLife Stadium. It will open the Cowboys’ regular season and serve as the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 NFL season. The NFL lists the contest for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
At present, however, there is no final score or official player-stat line to analyze. Both teams remain at 0–0 on the ESPN matchup page, and the game-specific passing, rushing, receiving and defensive numbers will only become available after kickoff. A complete statistical breakdown should therefore be updated after the game using the official box score.
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