The Dallas Cowboys enter their 2026 season opener as one of the NFC’s most talked-about dark horses, with a revamped defense and one of the best offenses in the NFL. 

And yet, Dallas is only a 2.5-point favorite heading into MetLife Stadium for a Sunday Night Football divisional showdown against the New York Giants. The Cowboys face a John Harbaugh-coached team making its primetime debut, and the matchup presents real challenges for a roster with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. 

So what should the Cowboys do to ensure they avoid an upset? I’ve got three key items. 

Keep Dak Prescott clean against a ferocious pass rush

The Giants have plenty of question marks across their roster. Cornerback is unclear (even though Giants CB Greg Newsome thinks it’s the best group in the league). The wide receiver corps needs sorting out. But one thing New York undeniably has is one of the NFL’s best edge rusher rooms. That group includes Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Arvell Reese, who is listed as an inside linebacker but expected to blitz frequently. If the Giants defense can pose a threat in any way, it’s through their pass rush.

Luckily for the Cowboys, left tackle Tyler Guyton reportedly improved a great deal this offseason. Hopefully that shows up on game day. However, right tackle Terence Steele remains the weak link of the Cowboys offensive line. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has admitted Steele is competing for the starting spot with the recently acquired Broderick Jones. Dallas is also dealing with Tyler Smith being placed on Injured Reserve, forcing the Cowboys to start backup TJ Bass. Bass is one of the best backups on the team and is earning nearly $6 million for the 2026 season because of it, but the communication adjustments along the offensive line will be real. The Giants will try to exploit that.

If the Cowboys can keep Prescott upright, I don’t see the Giants’ cornerback room holding up against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. That’s a mismatch waiting to happen.

Do not lose the special teams battle

The Cowboys’ special teams were one of the worst in the NFL last season. Dallas has openly acknowledged the unit as one of its biggest problems. Now the Cowboys are facing a Harbaugh-coached team, and one of the things that has made Harbaugh a successful head coach for a long time is his background as a special teams coordinator. It’s a 3-phase game, and the Cowboys do not dominate that phase.

I’m not going to lie to you, I’m worried about special teams in this game. Whenever it’s a punt, whenever it’s a kickoff, do not go to the fridge to grab a beer. Stay tuned, because Harbaugh is going to have some tricks up his sleeve. Week 1 home underdogs on national TV in the first game of the Harbaugh era? I’m just staying, the Cowboys gotta stay on their toes. 

The Cowboys will have to ensure they perform in that phase of the game on Sunday, or things could get dangerous.

Figure out a way to defend Malik Nabers

It sure sounds like Nabers, whose availability was in question for most of the preseason, is trending toward playing on Sunday night. Nabers was a full participant in practice Wednesday, and the Cowboys know a thing or two about facing him. He’s had some very good days against the Cowboys secondary, and this time there’s a new offensive coordinator in Matt Nagy, with quarterback Jaxson Dart surrounded by high hopes heading into the season.

One of the biggest questions about the Cowboys defense is the secondary. Dallas knows and expects to start DaRon Bland at one outside cornerback spot. The other outside cornerback position remains in question. Cobie Durant is the projected starter, but the Cowboys have openly talked about second-year corner Shavon Revel Jr. competing with Durant for that role. Even if the Giants want to play Nabers in the slot at times, safety Caleb Downs is getting used to that nickel spot. He might get a rookie welcome into the NFL if tasked with covering a receiver like Nabers.

Wherever Nabers lines up, it’s going to be a huge storyline. How does the new Christian Parker defense handle him? Because it sure sounds like the Cowboys don’t have the type of cornerback they need to lock down Nabers one-on-one. Dallas will need a scheme plan to help whoever is lining up against him. There’s going to have to be safety help from the back end, and we’ll see what that plan looks like.

If the Cowboys can handle those three things, I think they avoid the upset on Sunday Night Football. But this is not an easy game for Dallas, and it’s going to be a telling matchup about where the 2026 Cowboys stand today.