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NFL Schedule Release 2015: Cowboys host Giants in first Sunday Night Football game

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) catches a one handed touchdown against by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) catches a one handed touchdown against by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will play the first Sunday night game of the NFL regular season.

An NFC East showdown is on tap for the first Sunday Night Football telecast of the NFL regular season with the New York Giants traveling to the defending division champion, Dallas Cowboys, according to NJ.com’s Nick Powell.

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This is a great opportunity for the Giants to assert themselves a division power after struggling for a second straight season, including dropping both games to the Cowboys last year en route to their division title.

The Giants lost 31-21 in Dallas and 31-28 at the Meadowlands where Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham became a household and made the catch of the year with a miraculous one-handed catch.

Could this also be the first time the national television audience gets to see Adrian Peterson in a Cowboys uniform?

The Minnesota Vikings running back is under contract for three more years but his public stance that he wants a fresh start elsewhere after he believes they didn’t support him as much as they should have as he went through legal trouble after abusing his child with a switch.

Dallas is one of six teams reportedly in the mix for the future Hall of Famer and the Cowboys were Peterson’s favorite team growing up in Palestine, Texas so if a trade is consummated this offseason, the Cowboys could be the front-runner to acquire him and add even more drama to the Sunday night opener.

There will be plenty of intriguing storylines regardless if Peterson is in Dallas on the night with the Giants looking to return to the top of the NFC East standings and get back to the playoffs, but here’s three I’ll be excited to see.

Can Beckham build on his dynamite rookie season and make another highlight-reel catch?

He may play another 15 years and not have another catch as breathtaking and eye-popping as the one he made in the Meadowlands last year, but with his ability to get in and out of breaks and run clean, efficient routes and get up and get the ball, he should be a star for many years to come.

Can the Cowboys running game survive without DeMarco Murray?

The Cowboys signed former No. 4 overall pick and Oakland Raiders bust, Darren McFadden in free agency after they lost the NFL rushing champion to the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, but he has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances during his entire career. If the Cowboys don’t trade for Peterson, will they draft a player like Melvin Gordon in the first round?

Which rookies make an instant impact?

The Giants have the No. 9 pick and the Cowboys are at No. 27 in the first round of the Draft. We saw last year how much of an impact rookies Zack Martin and Beckham made for their teams, so who will it be this time around and make their presence known in front of a national audience?

The rest of the schedule for both teams will be revealed later tonight via NFL.com and ESPN has a two-hour schedule release extravaganza planned at 8 p.m. ET.

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