Quaker Valley's Montagnese dominates at WPIAL track and field championships
Jonah Montagnese dominates at the WPIAL track championships despite rain!
The Dallas Cowboys will play their Week 1 game on Sunday, Sept. 13. They face a familiar opponent who is expected to improve in 2026.
The Dallas Cowboys are in first place.
That will remain a true statement for the foreseeable future, at least until the morning of Sunday, Sept. 13. And that is the primary reason for excitement in Week 1.
Every team has a chance. Every team is in first place. Every team has a reason to be excited – even the Cowboys.
Dallas is coming off another disappointing season, missing the playoffs for a second straight year, thanks in large part to a defense that simply wasn't good enough. The Cowboys spent the year trying to win shootouts, using a top-10 scoring offense to offset the defense that surrendered the most points in the league.
That unit will be put to the test right away in Week 1 against a familiar foe that is also expected to be much-improved in 2026.
COWBOYS SCHEDULE 2026: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for Dallas
Here's what to know about the Cowboys' opponent to open the 2026 regular season, including, date, time and more.
OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)
CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)
RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)
WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)
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OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)
1 / 4
OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)
2 / 4
CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)
3 / 4
RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)
4 / 4
WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)
The Cowboys will play the New York Giants on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 1. Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 13.
It's a road contest at MetLife Stadium to open the season for the Cowboys and marks the 12th all-time matchup between these two rivals in the first week. The Cowboys have been dominant in these contests through the years, owning an 11-1 record against the G-Men in Week 1.
The Giants hosted the last opening-week matchup against the Cowboys, a game that famously ended with Dallas winning 40-0 on "Sunday Night Football."
This game is expected to be more competitive this time around, with no shortage of storylines or hype surrounding the matchup.
John Harbaugh is set to make his head coaching debut for the Giants and it will also mark the start of Jaxson Dart's second season. Expectations are high for Big Blue as the team looks for a return to the postseason after a brutal 4-13 season.
On the Dallas side, Dak Prescott gets ready to start his 11th season as a pro. However, the focus will be on the opposite side of the ball, where the Cowboys' new-look defense debuts, with Caleb Downs patrolling the secondary. Players like Quinnen Williams will be coming into the game off a full offseason with Dallas, after midseason trades shook up the roster.
The unit will hope to be much-improved from a season ago and they'll have to be if the Cowboys are going to make any noise in 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys schedule: Date, time, matchup for Dallas in Week 1
The Dallas Cowboys will face a familiar opponent in Week 1 of 2026.
The Cowboys' Week 1 game is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Cowboys are excited about Week 1 because every team has a chance and is in first place at the start of the season.
The Cowboys faced challenges due to a defense that surrendered the most points in the league, leading to missing the playoffs for two consecutive years.
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