Sunday Night Football starts with an NFC East matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Both are coming off disappointing seasons, with Dallas posting a 7-9-1 record and New York struggling at 4-13.
The Giants brought in an entirely new coaching staff, but I don’t think that will lead to a quick turnaround. Head coach John Harbaugh leads the way, with Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator and Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator.
Arguably the biggest key for the Cowboys is continuity. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer returns with the play-calling duties. Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson all return as the key pieces of the offense.
Dallas’ only real concern is Tyler Smith. He was recently placed on IR, and it’s going to be a major blow to their offensive line. Still, I project this group to find plenty of success.
The Cowboys ended 2025 averaging 0.421 points per play. This ranked ninth in the NFL. They also ranked fifth in the league in points (27.7) per game due to their pace.
There’s very little reason to believe this offense is going to take a major step back. The offensive line should hold up well enough, and they have one of the best groups of skill position players in the NFL.
On the other side, the Giants ranked 27th in the NFL in points allowed (0.417) per play in 2025. They also gave up 25.8 points per game last season.
This is an entirely new staff, so there are going to be major changes. It’s difficult to fix a team in one offseason, though. It’s also important to note that the Baltimore Ravens, where Harbaugh came from, were an average defense in 2025, regardless.
Furthermore, Wilson came from the Tennessee Titans, who allowed the fifth-most points (28.1) per game last season. He’ll be calling the defensive plays for New York in 2026.
The Cowboys starters found a ton of success against the Giants in 2025, and although plenty has changed, I don’t believe that aspect will. Dallas should feature one of the best offenses in the NFL once again in 2026, and New York isn’t likely to feature the defense that can slow them down.
Where to Bet: Dallas Cowboys over 25.5 team total | -113 at FanDuel Sportsbook
2026 NFL Season Betting Record: 0-2
