Giants vs Cowboys Prediction & Betting Tips for NFL Week 1 on 9/13/2026

The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off with an exciting Week 1 game featuring the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants. This game will take place at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, under the bright lights of a Sunday night showdown. Fans can catch the action live on NBC at 8:20 PM on September 13th.

The Dallas Cowboys come into this season with Brian Schottenheimer at the helm as head coach. Despite a mixed preseason performance, with a loss to the New Orleans Saints and wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, they aim to start the regular season on a high note. Their offensive and defensive coordinators, Klayton Adams and Christian Parker, respectively, will look to fine-tune their strategies against their NFC East rivals.

On the other hand, the New York Giants, led by head coach John Harbaugh, had a promising preseason. They secured victories over the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, although they stumbled against the Minnesota Vikings. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will be crucial as they seek to protect home turf against the Cowboys.

According to the consensus odds, the Cowboys are slight favorites with a moneyline of -157, while the Giants stand at +132. The spread is set with the Cowboys at -3 and the Giants at +3, suggesting a tightly contested game. The total points over/under line is 48.5, indicating expectations of a competitive and potentially high-scoring encounter.

Giants vs Cowboys At a Glance (Week 1)

• The 2026 NFL Regular Season kicks off with Week 1 featuring the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants.
• The game will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, with kickoff at 8:20 PM on September 13, 2026.
• The Dallas Cowboys are led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, while the New York Giants are guided by John Harbaugh.
• Both teams are part of the NFC East division, setting the stage for an early divisional game.
• Dallas is the favorite with a moneyline of -157, and the Giants have a moneyline of +132.
• The game total is set at 48.5 points, according to consensus odds.

New York Giants: Seeking a Strong Start at Home

Offensive Outlook

The New York Giants are entering the 2026 season with an offense that ranked 16th in scoring last year, averaging 22.4 points per game. Their ground game was a standout, placing 5th in the league with 129.1 rushing yards per game. With running backs like Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., the Giants aim to continue their success on the ground.

Jaxson Dart, leading the quarterback position, passed for 2272 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. The Giants' passing attack was 21st in the league, averaging 204.4 yards per game. They will look to improve this aspect to complement their rushing prowess.

Defensive Challenges

The Giants' defense struggled in 2025, ranking 25th in opponent scoring with an average of 25.8 points allowed per game. They were 28th in total defense, giving up 359.5 yards per game. Addressing these defensive weaknesses will be crucial for the Giants this season.

They showed a solid pass rush with 39 sacks, ranked 9th in the league. This strength could be pivotal against a strong Dallas Cowboys offense in the season opener. The Giants' defense will need to step up, especially in stopping the run where they ranked 31st.

Preseason Performance

The Giants had a mixed preseason, winning two of their three games. They secured wins against the Jets (23-6) and Dolphins (26-3), showcasing a strong defensive performance. However, a close loss to the Vikings (13-10) highlighted areas that need improvement before the regular season.

Offensive highlights included solid performances from running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. and wide receiver Xavier Gipson. On defense, linebacker Zaire Barnes made impactful plays, including an interception. These players will be key contributors as the regular season begins.

Injury Concerns

The Giants face several injury challenges, including key players like Roy Robertson-Harris and Gunner Olszewski being out for the season. Additionally, important contributors such as Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are questionable for Week 1.

The defensive backfield is particularly affected, with multiple cornerbacks dealing with injuries. Their availability will be critical in containing the Cowboys' passing attack.

Betting Trends

• In the last 12 regular season games, the Over has hit 83.3% of the time.
• As underdogs, the Giants' Over record was 8-2 in their last 10 games.
• When playing at home, the Over was 5-1 in their last 6 regular season games.
• Against the spread, the Giants were 5-3 in their last 8 regular season games.
• They have a 62.5% success rate against the spread in all games last season.

The Cowboys Stampede into MetLife: A Preview of Dallas' Upcoming Game

Offensive Performance

The Dallas Cowboys ended the 2025 season with an impressive offensive ranking, scoring 27.7 points per game, which positioned them 6th in the league. Their total offensive yards were ranked 2nd, with an average of 391.9 yards per game, showcasing their capacity to move the ball efficiently. With 266.3 passing yards per game, they stood 2nd in passing, indicating a potent aerial attack.

On the ground, the Cowboys averaged 125.6 rushing yards per game, ranking them 9th in the league. This balance between passing and rushing makes them a well-rounded offensive threat. Their ability to gain first downs was also notable, with 393 total first downs last season, ranking 2nd.

Defensive Struggles

Defensively, the Cowboys faced challenges in the 2025 season, allowing 30.1 points per game, which ranked them 31st. Their overall defense ranked 30th in opponent offensive yards, allowing 377 yards per game. The pass defense, in particular, struggled, allowing 251.5 passing yards per game, placing them 31st in the league.

Their rush defense was slightly better, ranking 23rd with 125.5 rushing yards allowed per game. However, the Cowboys' defense showed some prowess in sacking quarterbacks, recording 35 sacks, which ranked 12th. They also demonstrated a strong ability to force turnovers with 21 takeaways, ranking 9th.

Key Players to Watch

Heading into the 2026 season, the Cowboys will look to Dak Prescott, who had a standout 2025 season, passing for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, with 75 receptions and 1,077 yards, will be a key target in the passing game. Javonte Williams will lead the rushing attack after a strong performance last season with 1,201 rushing yards.

On the defensive side, Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson will anchor the secondary, aiming to improve the pass defense. The defensive line will rely on Quinnen Williams to generate pressure and disrupt opposing quarterbacks. With improvements in these areas, the Cowboys aim to elevate their defensive performance in 2026.

Injury Concerns

As they prepare for the season opener, the Cowboys face some injury concerns. Jonathan Bullard is questionable with a groin injury, while Tyler Guyton is also questionable due to an elbow issue. The team will be without Matt Hennessy, Princeton Fant, Marist Liufau, DJ Rogers, Devin Moore, and Kelvin Gilliam, all of whom are on the injured reserve list.

The absence of these players could impact the depth and performance on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys will need their backups to step up and fill these roles effectively against the Giants.

Team Betting Trends

• The Cowboys have hit the over in their last 7 away regular season games.
• They have gone over the total in their last 6 regular season games overall.
• When favored, they have gone over in their last 5 regular season games.
• In games with totals of 50 or more, they have gone over in their last 5 regular season games.
• Following a loss, they have gone over in their last 4 regular season games.

Giants vs Cowboys Prediction: Over 48.5

The upcoming game between the Cowboys and the Giants is expected to be a high-scoring affair. Last season, the Cowboys had an impressive offensive record, averaging 27.7 points per game, ranking 6th in scoring. Additionally, their defense struggled significantly, allowing 30.1 points per game, the 31st worst in the league.

The Giants also showed offensive prowess in the previous season, scoring an average of 22.4 points per game. Their defense ranked 25th, giving up 25.8 points per game, which indicates a susceptibility to high-scoring games. With both teams having offensive strengths and defensive weaknesses, the total of 48.5 points seems achievable.

Historically, games between these two NFC East rivals tend to be high-scoring. Recent encounters include scores of 17-34 and 37-40, both surpassing the proposed total. The betting trends also suggest a tendency toward the over, with the Giants hitting the over in 83.3% of their games last season.

Considering these factors, the prediction is for the total score to go over 48.5. A projected final score of Cowboys 31 - Giants 24 supports this pick, as both teams capitalize on their offensive strengths against vulnerable defenses.

• Giants vs Cowboys Prediction: Over 48.5
• Giants vs Cowboys Score: Cowboys 31 - Giants 24

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