By admin 
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is finally here, and New York Giants fans will need to wait all day until Sunday night to see their beloved team host the Dallas Cowboys.
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But there are other points of interest for Giants fans to keep tabs on throughout the first football Sunday of the season. Here are four leaguewide, Giants-adjacent storylines that I’ll be monitoring in Week 1.
Dexter Lawrence II and the Bengals’ Run Defense vs. the Buccaneers
Giants fans may be saying all the right things about Lawrence’s departure, especially since it yielded Big Blue the No. 10 pick, which became Sisi Mauigoa.
But deep down, Giants fans are rooting for Lawrence to flame out and not become the dominant interior defensive lineman. We’ll learn right away how Lawrence fits into Cincinnati’s defense against the Bucs, who averaged more than 114 rushing yards per game and added Kenneth Gainwell this offseason.
Daniel Jones’ Return From an Achilles Tendon Injury
Of course, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft had a resurgent season in his first year with the Colts in 2025 until he tore his Achilles tendon in Jacksonville in early December.
But Jones is back and will be taking on John Harbaugh’s former team, the Baltimore Ravens, at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Giants, of course, won Super Bowl XLVI.
Can Jones bounce back with Indy, which had a tumultuous offseason? Plus, how will Harbaugh’s replacement, Jesse Minter, do with the Ravens, who are one of the preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl?
Brian Daboll, Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger vs. the Jets
Of course, no one is suggesting you watch every snap of the Titans vs. Jets debacle at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Nashville.
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But Daboll will be Robert Saleh’s offensive coordinator and will have ex-Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and tight end Daniel Bellinger available, after each joined Daboll and the Titans in free agency. Ex-Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott is a member of the Titans, as well.
Giants fans have been able to lean on their superiority to the Jets over the past decade. But either Daboll’s Titans or the Giants’ MetLife Stadium roommates will be 1-0, which will cut into that sentiment a bit, especially if the Giants lose Sunday night.
Commanders vs. Eagles
Of course, this is the top non-Giants game that fans should be keeping an eye on — obviously not including the ones with fantasy implications for your team.
This was the NFC Championship Game matchup just 19.5 months ago, before both the Eagles and Commanders regressed last year. The Giants, of course, have their sights set on unseating the two-time reigning NFC East champion Eagles, but they are being projected to finish the year around the Commanders in the NFC standings.
There are major questions about Saquon Barkley and the Eagles offense under 34-year-old, first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. But who knows what to expect from Washington’s offense under its rookie, 31-year-old OC David Blough.
The Eagles are favored, but Washington is 5-6 with three one-possession losses in its past 11 trips to Lincoln Financial Field dating back to 2015.
Plus, if the Giants win Sunday night, they’ll end up tied for first place with one of these teams.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 7:27 AM.