A new voice in East Rutherford
John Harbaugh coaches his first regular-season game for the New York Giants on Sunday night. The Dallas Cowboys visit East Rutherford to provide the welcome.
Harbaugh arrives with a record against this opponent that travels well. He went 4-1 against Dallas while running the Baltimore Ravens. He also arrives without much sentiment about it.
“The Cowboys are the Cowboys. They’re talented, they’re tough,” Harbaugh said. “We played them a few times, I’ve seen them on tape, but nothing but respect for what they do. They do it their way and they’ve got a bunch of guys, fast football team that flies around.”
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The numbers favour Dallas, heavily
New York needs the fixture to change shape. Dallas has taken 16 of the last 18 meetings, including a run of nine straight wins that only ended in Week 18 last season, when the Giants won 34-17. That was their second victory in the series since 2016. Dak Prescott is 14-3 against them across his career.
Jaxson Dart does not sound worried. “Most rivalries I’ve totally dominated,” the second-year quarterback said. He ran for nine touchdowns on 86 carries as a rookie, and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has said he will not coach that instinct out of him, even after concussions became a talking point in 2025. Nagy worked with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and won a division title as head coach in Chicago. Harbaugh also brought tight end Isaiah Likely with him from Baltimore.
Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo have recovered from season-ending injuries and are pencilled in for real roles in the prime-time opener.
Dallas rebuilt the wrong half of its roster last year
The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 despite an offence that produced. George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb combined for 2,506 receiving yards, with Pickens taking nine of their 12 touchdown catches. The defence conceded a league-high 511 points, 35 touchdown passes and 125.5 rushing yards per game.
So the money went to that side of the ball. Quinnen Williams signed an extension, Dallas traded for Dee Winters and Rashan Gary, and used the 11th overall pick on safety Caleb Downs. Pickens waits on a long-term deal and plays out a prove-it season.
New coordinator Christian Parker wants the tone set early. “There’s an element of violence and physicality that we want to play with, that we will play with,” he said.
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