The 2026 NFL season is just a few days away from arriving at the Meadowlands, with both the Jets and Giants playing this Sunday. Both teams have bolstered their rosters with the addition of exciting young rookies and experienced veteran leaders, hoping to watch them make a significant impact on the field this weekend.
New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
The New York Jets will be on the road for their first game of the season, travelling to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans, a team that is filled with many familiar faces. The Titans are led by head coach Robert Saleh, who spent four years as the head coach of the New York Jets, from 2021 to 2024. Several other Titans players, including John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson II had also previously spent time as members of the Jets’ organization.
The game marks Geno Smith’s first regular season as a member of the Jets since the 2016 season, during his first stint with the team. Smith returned to the organization that drafted him a decade later, hoping to bring the experience and skills that he has garnered to a relatively young team.
A considerable amount of the Jets’ young stars have come from the 2026 NFL Draft, in which the team held three first round picks. The Jets took defensive end David Bailey with the second pick in the draft, who has established himself as a dominant force in the preseason and looks to continue doing so heading into the regular season. On the offensive side, the Jets acquired tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th pick and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the 30th pick, giving Smith more targets to get the ball to.
Heading into their week 1 matchup, the Jets are considered slight underdogs against the Titans, though the game could go in any direction. As Jets head coach Aaron Glenn heads into his second season with something to prove, many are expecting the team to make significant improvements.
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 8:20 p.m.
The first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 NFL season will be taking place in the Meadowlands, as the New York Giants host their long-time rival Dallas Cowboys. The matchup marks the first regular season game for the Giants’ new head coach John Harbaugh, who had previously spent 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, winning a Super Bowl with the team. On Sunday, Harbaugh will be making his long-anticipated debut for the Giants, leading a team with high expectations for the year.
The Giants’ starting quarterback debate was put to an end after Jaxson Dart’s impressive rookie campaign, earning him the starting role as he heads into his second year. With running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers returning from season-ending injuries that occurred last year, the team is filled with young talent that are expected to make waves across the league. Similar to the Jets, the Giants also bolstered their team through the 2026 draft, including the acquisitions of linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth pick and offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa with the 10th pick.
In recent years, the Giants have struggled when playing the Cowboys, losing nine of their last 10 matchups, however, their sole win in that span came during their last meeting. Led by Dart, the Giants were able to secure an easy victory over the Cowboys, winning by a score of 34-17. The team will look to build off of that momentum and defeat the Cowboys for a second consecutive time, now under the bright lights of primetime football.
As both teams take the field this Sunday, they will be looking to get the 2026 NFL season started on the right note. With the addition of many young stars and veterans, the teams will look to their new and returning players to lead them to victory in the first game of the season.
