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We’ve known for several months who each NFL team will play in the 2026 season. But this week, we’ll find out when all 272 games will be played during the upcoming regular season.
The NFL will reveal the entire 2026 regular season schedule on Thursday. However, the league is announcing dates for several games between now and then, such as the marquee Week 1 matchups.
As you prepare your schedules to prepare for what you’ll be doing this fall, here’s a look at what games we think will be played and when before Thursday’s schedule is released.
Week 1: Seahawks open 2026 NFL regular season on Wednesday 9/9
The Seattle Seahawks will open the 2026 season on a Wednesday, marking the first time the NFL has opened a regular season on a Wednesday since 2012. Nonetheless, this marks a continuation of the tradition of the defending champion participating in the season opener.
On Monday morning, the Seahawks could face five potential opponents in the season opener. One of them includes the New England Patriots, who would be a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Other potential opponents for the Seahawks are the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.
Week 1: 49ers and Rams to play in first NFL game in Australia
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play their home opener on September 11 in Melbourne. The match is scheduled to begin around 10:35 a.m. this Friday in Australia, or 8:35 p.m. ET Thursday evening (September 10) in the United States.
Week 1: Giants open John Harbaugh era with home game against Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to visit the New York Giants in the Sunday night opener of the 2026 NFL season on September 13. This will be the eighth time in the last 15 years that the Cowboys and Giants have opened the season against each other.
Dallas is still a national television draw as “America’s Team,” and New York could benefit from more prime-time exposure with Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart established as the franchise’s quarterback after his rocky rookie year. This should be Harbaugh’s debut with the Giants.
If healthy, this would also be the first meaningful matchup between Dart and Dak Prescott. As each began the season finale on January 4, the teams were then eliminated from the playoffs.
It could also be the NFL debuts for two former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, taken with the fifth pick, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, drafted shortly after at 11th overall.
Week 1: The Chiefs and Broncos will face off in the first Monday game of the season
While it’s unclear if Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be back from torn ACL and LCL by the first game of the season, what is known is that he will have an extra day to prepare for that eventuality: The Chiefs and Denver Broncos will face off in the first Monday Night Football game of the 2026 season on September 14. long before we know what’s happening with Mahomes’ stimulus plans.
Week 2: Bills to open new stadium against Lions
The Buffalo Bills’ first game at the new Highmark Stadium will be against the Detroit Lions on a Thursday night in Week 2. This would mark the beginning of a new era in Buffalo, as the Bills played the vast majority of their home games from 1973 to 2025 at the stadium previously nicknamed The Ralph. This will also mark the start of a new era for the Bills on the field, as it will be Joe Brady’s first home game as head coach.
Week 3: Ravens and Cowboys will play in Brazil
The Baltimore Ravens have been chosen to face the Dallas Cowboys in the inaugural NFL game in Rio de Janeiro this season. This match will be played on Sunday September 27.
The NFL had already made a multi-year commitment to hold at least three regular season games in Rio de Janeiro over the next five years. The NFL has already played two games in Brazil – Packers-Eagles in 2024 and Chiefs-Chargers in 2025 at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo – but this will be the first in Rio.
Week 12: Eagles and Cowboys to play on Thanksgiving on FOX
One of the NFL’s best rivalries will be featured on Thanksgiving Day and will air on FOX. The Philadelphia Eagles will meet the Cowboys in Dallas over the holidays this year as the two NFC East rivals face off on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2015.
Here are five scenarios to know before the match.
