Cowboys vs. Giants prediction, odds, time: 2026 NFL Week 1 'Sunday Night Football' picks from advanced model — SkimNews
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- John Harbaugh makes his New York Giants head-coaching debut when they open their 2026 schedule against the NFC East-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET from MetLife Stadium.
- The New York Giants finished 2025 at 4-13 and fourth in the NFC East under a new coaching staff, while the Dallas Cowboys went 7-9-1 for second place — Dallas is seeking its first postseason in three seasons and New York hasn't made the playoffs since 2022.
- Malik Nabers (knee) is active after being listed as a game-time decision, per the source, though the article does not specify his projected workload.
- The Cowboys are 3-point favorites over the Giants with an over/under of 47.5; Dallas averaged 27.7 points per game last season (7th in the NFL), while the Giants allowed 25.8 PPG (28th) and Dallas allowed 30.1 PPG (30th).
- SportsLine's model projects 55 combined points — going Over 47.5 — with Dak Prescott projected for more than 265 passing yards and two touchdowns and Jaxson Dart projected for over 230 yards and two scores after 10,000 simulations.
- SportsLine's model enters the 2026 season on a 53-37 run on top-rated NFL picks dating back to 2024 and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception, per the source.
Why it matters: Both teams are desperate: Dallas is chasing its first playoff berth in three years, and New York is trying to end a postseason drought that stretches to 2022 — making this NFC East opener an early litmus test for two rebuilding franchises, while the model sees a shootout given both defenses ranked in the league's bottom five in points allowed last season.
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