At long last, football season is here.
After months of preparation, the 2026 NFL season kicks off with all 32 teams in action this week. It won’t be a normal schedule, with games scattered across the country (and world) over four days.
What’s in store for Week 1? Here’s the full schedule ahead:
The season begins with a Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday night, as the Sam Darnold and the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host Drake Maye and the New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
You won’t have to wait until Sunday for more action. The NFL will play its first ever game in Australia as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face off Friday morning in Melbourne, which is Thursday night in the U.S.
Looking ahead to Sunday, there are eight games in the early window and four games later in the afternoon. The main event is an AFC showdown between two favorites, the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. Other highlights include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visiting the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers hosting the Chicago Bears. Two divisional games will headline the late window, with the Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football will see a classic rivalry between two iconic franchises as Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys visit Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants.
Week 1 will conclude with another divisional battle on Monday Night Football. Patrick Mahomes, coming off a torn ACL, will lead the Kansas City Chiefs as they host Bo Nix and the defending AFC West champion Denver Broncos.
A look at the #WorthTheCost movement, talking with sports chiropractor Dr. Michael Sheps and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle about why players say the league’s synthetic fields are putting them at greater risk.
