The Dallas Cowboys will open the 2026 NFL season on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 against the New York Giants.
The league announced that news on Monday, and it's not shocking, despite last season's records.
The Cowboys were the better of the two teams, at 7-9-1. The Giants were 4-13.
It doesn't matter, though.
This is how it works for the Cowboys.
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Why are the Cowboys on Week 1 Sunday Night Football?
The Cowboys are still a marquee brand.
They're known as "America's Team" for a reason, even if it annoys anyone who isn't a Dallas fan.
This is how Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer explained it in a post on X after the schedule announcement on Monday:
The Cowboys went 7-9-1 last year. Doesn't matter.
They're still the NFL's biggest brand ...
• They've opened the season at 1 p.m. ET just once over the last 25 years (2002-26).
• Over the last 17, they've opened on NBC—either in the Kickoff game or SNF opener—12 times.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 11, 2026
For whatever it's worth, both the Cowboys and Giants will have hope that 2026 can be better. Dallas has added to its defense to supplement its high-powered offense, while New York is hoping Jaxson Dart can lead them to big things in his second season.
But yeah, there's always a chance these teams underwhelm after their season opener in primetime.
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