The New York Giants must change this familiar story.
We now know who the New York Giants will be facing in their 2026 season opener, as they will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night football.
It marks the eighth time since 2012 that the Giants will face the Cowboys in Week 1, and they have gone just 1-6 in the seven prior meetings.
In fact, Dallas has completely owned New York for the better part of the last decade, having won 16 of the last 18 meetings dating back to 2017.
There was a time when the Giants actually had the Cowboys' number, but that was many years ago. The script has completely flipped, and now, it's up to New York to re-flip it under new head coach John Harbaugh.
Make no mistake: the Giants absolutely must send a message to Dallas on Sept. 13 in order to start proving that they mean business in this new era.
Not only did New York hire Harbaugh, but it made some significant moves in free agency, signing pieces like tight end Isaiah Likely and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds as well as scoring talented players like Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa in the NFL Draft.
New York Giants coach John Harbaugh. Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images.The Giants showed progression last season even though they went 4-13. They were very competitive against strong competition, and a legitimate argument can be made that they should have won seven or eight games.
Well, now, it's time for Big Blue to actually prove it, and the club's season opener against one of its fiercest rivals will be a big litmus test.
Will the result of the Cowboys matchup determine where the Giants go in 2026? No, but if they lose to Dallas once again, it will be discouraging ... especially if New York gets routed, which has happened versus the Cowboys far too many times.
Yes, the Giants did beat Dallas in their season finale last year, but that was with Dak Prescott throwing just 11 passes before being replaced by Joe Milton. The Cowboys had nothing to play for in the affair, so it's hard to really say that New York ended its skid against Dallas back in January.
Now, if the G-Men are able to top Prescott and Co. in September? Then that's another story, and it will be an indication that maybe, just maybe, things really are looking up for a Giants franchise that has made just two playoff appearances since 2012.
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