John Harbaugh's first game as Giants coach comes against the same team New York just embarrassed to end 2025 — and Dallas has a whole offseason of motivation to make sure it doesn't happen twice.
Bush’s PicksPicks madeJul 7, 1:08 PM CT
-151DALNYG+134
-117DAL -2.5NYG +2.5+103
-114Over 47.5Under 47.5-102
Best BetCowboys -151
Dak Prescott is the more proven commodity than Jaxson Dart, who's still adjusting to a brand-new scheme under a first-year OC, and that gap shows up early in the season more than late. The market has Dallas as a solid favorite here, and that price is fair given the Cowboys' edge at quarterback even with a retooled Giants receiver room.
Cowboys
+Dak Prescott far more experienced than Dart
+Defense retooled with Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson
+11-1 in recent season openers vs Giants
−Allowed most points in franchise history in 2025
−Traded away Micah Parsons last offseason
−Back-to-back losing seasons, 7-9-1 finish
Giants
+New coach John Harbaugh brings proven track record
+Won last 2 games of 2025, including vs Dallas
+Added OBJ, JuJu, Berrios to offset Nabers absence
−Malik Nabers' Week 1 availability unresolved
−Dart still adjusting to new offense, OC
−Finished 4-13, worst record in the division
Dak Prescott spent his career beating up on the Giants — 14 straight wins over them at one point — until New York snapped the streak with a 34-17 blowout in last January's finale, a game Prescott didn't even finish. Now the rematch opens the 2026 season, and it's a very different Giants team walking into it. John Harbaugh, hired away from Baltimore after 18 seasons with the Ravens, gets his first game as Giants head coach against the same quarterback he used to torment as a division rival. Jaxson Dart, who threw 2 touchdowns in that Week 18 win, is trying to prove January wasn't a fluke while learning a new offense from OC Matt Nagy.
The Giants spent the offseason hedging against uncertainty at receiver. Malik Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus back in Week 4 last year, needed a second cleanup procedure on that knee this spring, and his Week 1 availability is genuinely unresolved. That's why New York went out and added Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios — insurance in case Dart's top target isn't ready for the opener. Dallas, meanwhile, is leaning on a retooled defense, adding pieces like Rashan Gary and Jalen Thompson after allowing more points than any team in franchise history a season ago.
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DAL Cowboys
NYG Giants
It sets up a real confidence gap at the two most important positions. Prescott dealt with knee soreness at minicamp, but Schottenheimer wasn't sweating it entering camp, and Dallas is otherwise the more proven outfit under center. New York's counter is momentum and a new voice in the building — the Giants won their final 2 games of 2025, including that finale over Dallas, and Harbaugh's track record buys real belief in East Rutherford even with a young quarterback still adjusting to a new scheme.
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Recent form.
History leans hard toward Dallas in this exact spot — the Cowboys have won 11 of the last 12 season openers between these two — but recent history says the opposite. This is the same Cowboys defense the Giants just torched on their way out of 2025, and Dallas traded away Micah Parsons last year, leaving even more for a shaky unit to answer for in September.
Dallas Cowboys
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
New York Giants
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Whichever version of the Giants shows up, Harbaugh's debut alone makes this appointment viewing on a Sunday night, and Dallas has too much to prove after back-to-back losing seasons to treat this like just another opener.
