What happened: NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport told The Insiders that the Cowboys-Seahawks Monday Night Football matchup is the ESPN game he is most excited about on the 2026 slate. The pick continues Rapoport's rollout of his favorite matchups across network packages, following earlier nods to Chiefs-Rams on Prime in Week 13 and Eagles-49ers on SNF in Week 17.

Why it matters: ESPN executives have publicly framed the 2026 MNF slate as their strongest since acquiring the package, and a Cowboys road trip to Lumen Field carries outsized national-broadcast appeal given Dallas's draw and Seattle's home-field noise. An insider singling out the game signals it will be a centerpiece promo for ESPN's Monday window and a likely high-handle night for sportsbooks.

What to watch: Watch for ESPN to lean on Cowboys-Seahawks in its preseason promo cycle and for early look-ahead lines to surface once the full 2026 schedule settles. Rapoport is expected to continue spotlighting one marquee game per broadcast package on The Insiders.