The Dallas Cowboys now know two key matchups from their 2026 schedule ahead of the NFL’s full release on Thursday. They will open the season on the road against the New York Giants in the premier Sunday night slot, and later host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day.
The Week 1 showdown is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, marking the 13th time these NFC East rivals have met in a season opener. The Cowboys have won 11 of those previous encounters. The Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and Eagles will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 26 on Fox.
The Giants enter a new chapter under head coach John Harbaugh, who joined the franchise after 18 seasons leading the Baltimore Ravens. New York finished 4-13 last season, which led to the dismissal of Brian Daboll in November and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka serving as interim head coach. Harbaugh is building around young quarterback Jaxson Dart, a 2025 draft pick, after the team started veteran Russell Wilson last season before turning to Dart three games in.
The Eagles aim to reclaim the form that earned them a Super Bowl victory two seasons ago. They went 11-6 and won the NFC East last year, but were eliminated in the wild-card round by the San Francisco 49ers. Philadelphia’s last Thanksgiving game was in 2015, and their most recent visit to Dallas on Turkey Day came in 2014, a 33-10 Eagles win led by Chip Kelly and quarterback Mark Sanchez. The only other Thanksgiving meeting between these teams was the infamous 1989 “Bounty Bowl,” where the Eagles shut out the Cowboys 27-0, and Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson alleged a bounty on his kicker.
The 2026 Thanksgiving matchup gains extra intrigue as Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker spent the previous two seasons on Philadelphia’s staff. The Eagles and Cowboys split their regular-season series in 2025, with each team winning on the road.
In Dallas, second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys made notable additions in last month’s draft, including defensive back Caleb Downs, defensive end Malachi Lawrence, and linebacker Jaishawn Barham. The team finished 7-9-1 last season, with the defense struggling after trading Micah Parsons. On offense, wide receiver George Pickens signed his franchise tag in April, and questions remain regarding a potential long-term deal. For now, Pickens continues to pair with quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb.