Many NFL fans watched the New York Giants kick off their 2026 season with a statement win over the Dallas Cowboys.
NBC revealed Tuesday that the Giants and Cowboys drew 25.7 million average viewers on the network and Peacock. It was the most-watched Sunday Night Football season-opener since the two NFC East rivals clashed to start the 2015 campaign.
The Week 1 matchup peaked at 29 million viewers during the second quarter and drew 4% more viewers than the Buffalo Bills’ 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens last year. Dallas and New York bested the 25.1 million viewers who watched a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on Wednesday night.
Giants-Cowboys recap
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The vast audience witnessed the Giants pull off an upset in John Harbaugh’s first game as head coach.
Jaxson Dart started his second season strong, completing 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. The former first-round pick added 54 rushing yards behind 81 from Cam Skattebo, who showed no trepidation in his return from a gruesome ankle injury.
In his first game back from a torn ACL, Malik Nabers caught six of nine targets for 69 yards. Tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed Harbaugh to New York after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, developed an instant rapport with Dart by securing all eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was huge,” Dart said of New York’s win, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “I just think that we have so much respect for Coach (Harbaugh), and this team will do whatever he says because we have all the faith that he’s going to put us in the best situation. The identity of a team starts at the top. It starts with how he’s conducted himself, with how he’s created a tough team.”
Dallas, on the other hand, must recover from a disappointing start. Last year’s No. 2 offense settled for 244 total yards with no explosive play of at least 20 yards.
The Cowboys will look to rebound when facing the Washington Commanders this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox. Meanwhile, the Giants will remain in the primetime spotlight to play the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.
