The NFL returns this week with a blockbuster start to the 2026 campaign, headlined by a Super Bowl 60 rematch and the league’s first‑ever regular‑season game in Australia. With nine international fixtures scheduled this year, the opening weekend already shows how global the sport has become.
The action begins in the early hours of Thursday at 1:20 am when the Seattle Seahawks raise their championship banner and host the New England Patriots. It’s a rare midweek opener and a chance for Sam Darnold’s Seahawks to pick up exactly where they left off.
Just 24 hours later, the league makes history at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in the first NFL game ever played in Australia. It’s a heavyweight NFC clash featuring Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, and a Rams roster loaded with expectations.
Sunday brings the traditional full slate, with several intriguing matchups:
- Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
- Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
- New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions
- New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans
- Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The late window features:
- Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers
- Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
- Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders
- Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
The weekend wraps with two primetime divisional battles:
- Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants on Monday
- Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday
It’s a packed opening weekend that stretches across continents and time zones — a fitting start to what promises to be one of the most unpredictable NFL seasons in years.
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