The 2026 NFL common season will embody 10 new head coaches, a report 9 worldwide video games and, as at all times, loads of drama.
The total, 272-game schedule dropped on Thursday. Week 1 begins with a Tremendous Bowl rematch when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Wednesday, Sept. 9, continues with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers enjoying in Melbourne, Australia, and wraps up on “Monday Night time Soccer” with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs internet hosting the Denver Broncos.
The Rams’ look in Australia is the primary of a whopping eight primetime video games for the franchise. Los Angeles follows up that Thursday evening opener (though it will likely be performed Friday morning in Melbourne) with a Week 2 Monday evening showdown at house towards the New York Giants earlier than touring to face the Broncos in Week 3 on “Sunday Night time Soccer.” After per week out of the highlight, the Rams host a Week 5 Monday nighter towards the Buffalo Payments.
Los Angeles leads the way in which with these eight standalone video games, whereas the Payments, Seahawks, Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Inexperienced Bay Packers every have six primetime video games, and the Patriots, 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have 5.
From quarterback revenge matchups to playoff rematches, listed here are the important thing video games to look at.
Notable playoff rematches
Patriots at Seahawks, Week 1: A rematch of Tremendous Bowl LX. The Seahawks led final 12 months’s season finale 9-0 at halftime and staved off a Patriots rating till the fourth quarter. Seattle dominated in its 29-13 victory that earned the Seahawks their second Lombardi Trophy.
Seahawks vs. 49ers, Weeks 5 and 12: Seattle’s protection shut down the San Francisco offense in back-to-back video games. The Seahawks allowed simply 3 factors within the regular-season finale after which 6 factors within the divisional spherical sport two weeks later. The 49ers had been restricted by a plethora of accidents in these video games however the Seahawks had an elite protection, regardless. These are two elite groups led by masterminds on reverse sides of the ball in Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald.
Bears vs. Packers, Weeks 5 and 16: These NFC North foes met for the third time in a month in final season’s wild-card spherical. And it ended simply the way in which the 2025 Bears appeared to love it: an 18-point fourth-quarter comeback.
Patriots at Chargers, Week 12: Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert fell to 0-3 within the playoffs after final season’s 16-3 wild-card loss to the Patriots.
Payments at Broncos, Week 16: Payments followers are hoping to overlook the 33-30 extra time loss in final season’s divisional spherical that ended with a controversial Broncos interception. Josh Allen cried at his postgame information convention, and head coach Sean McDermott was fired within the aftermath.
Rams vs. Seahawks, Weeks 16 and 18: After two regular-season matchups for the NFC West rivals had been determined by a complete of three factors, together with a 38-37 extra time determination in Seattle that featured the 2-point conversion controversy, the Rams and Seahawks met within the NFC title sport. That resulted in a 31-27 win for the Seahawks in a sport that got here right down to the ultimate drive.
Broncos at Patriots, Week 17: In a Denver snowstorm, the Patriots punched their tickets to Tremendous Bowl LX with a 10-7 win in final 12 months’s AFC Championship. The circumstances didn’t assist both offense, however the Broncos absolutely missed quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle the week prior and wasn’t capable of play.
Eagles at 49ers, Week 17: A Niners group that couldn’t keep away from damage final season despatched the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions packing with a 23-19 win within the wild-card spherical. Even after tight finish George Kittle tore his Achilles within the second quarter, San Francisco closed out the win with its protection and two fourth-quarter Christian McCaffrey touchdowns.
A battered and bruised 49ers group nonetheless managed to finish the Eagles’ 2025 season within the wild-card spherical. (Elsa / Getty Pictures)
Reunion/revenge video games
Chiefs at Seahawks, Week 7: Kenneth Walker III was due for an enormous payday after hitting his stride in the course of the Seahawks’ run to Tremendous Bowl 60. His 161-yard efficiency in Seattle’s Tremendous Bowl win earned him the MVP trophy; he’s the primary working again to win it since Tremendous Bowl 32. Recent off his hottest season, the Chiefs snagged Walker in free company and signed him to a contract price as much as $45 million, with $28.7 million assured.
Ravens vs. Bengals, Weeks 7 and 17: Given the way in which the saga performed out the previous couple of years between Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals, you possibly can rely on Hendrickson desirous to be at his greatest in these two divisional matchups. A second layer to this matchup is that Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta stated the Ravens had been making an attempt to land Maxx Crosby and Hendrickson concurrently, although there are legitimate questions on if that might/might have occurred. What did occur was that the Ravens reversed the Crosby commerce and instantly signed Hendrickson afterwards. With the Las Vegas Raiders not on Baltimore’s schedule in 2026, put together to listen to some rehashing of the beginning of free company this 12 months when the Ravens and Bengals meet.
Raiders at Jets, Week 8: There are just a few completely different revenge layers to this one. First, Smith’s one season in Las Vegas was tough. He threw a league-high 17 interceptions and ranked thirty seventh of 42 quarterbacks in EPA per dropback, although he didn’t have a lot assist round him. He was traded to make means for No. 1 decide Fernando Mendoza, which led to a reunion with the Jets, the group that drafted Smith in 2013. He spent 4 seasons with New York, however these weren’t very memorable both. Ten years since he final performed for the Jets, can Smith change his legacy in New York? On the very least, it appears like he’ll have extra help round him.
Cowboys at Colts, Week 9: We’ve seen brothers sq. off all through the years, whether or not or not it’s a quarterback duel of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, or the Kelce brothers with a Tremendous Bowl on the road. However there’s one thing particular when the brotherly matchup is a real brother-on-brother affair, which is what would be the case when rookie defensive again Caleb Downs and the Cowboys play towards large receiver Josh Downs and the Colts.
Titans vs. Jaguars, Weeks 10 and 12: Whether or not it was a praise, a jab, or one thing in between, Jags coach Liam Coen didn’t appear to love it when then-49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh stated Jacksonville had a “actually superior sign-stealing sort system” final 12 months. After the Jags beat the Niners the next week, Coen yelled towards Saleh to “hold my identify out of your mouth.” We’ll see if the dangerous blood carries over now that Saleh is the top coach of the Titans.
Steelers at Eagles, Week 11: One of many eternal photos from the 2026 NFL Draft might be USC large receiver Makai Lemon on the cellphone with the Steelers, just for the Eagles to leap proper forward of the Steelers in a commerce with the Dallas Cowboys to grab Lemon. How that second is considered could largely be decided by how Lemon’s profession unfolds, however you possibly can wager the sentiments might be uncooked between the state rivals after they meet in Lemon’s rookie 12 months.
Falcons at Browns, Week 14: Cleveland fired coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons in January. The 2020 and 2023 Coach of the Yr went 8-26 over his final two seasons and quarterback uncertainty continued to linger over the franchise. Nevertheless it didn’t take Stefanski lengthy to discover a new touchdown spot with Atlanta. He’ll have an opportunity to make his previous group miss him and face off towards first-time NFL head coach Todd Monken on this matchup.
Dolphins at Packers, Week 15: The people on the high of the chain of the three most necessary layers of a group — entrance workplace, teaching workers and gamers — are the final supervisor (apart from the proprietor), the top coach and the quarterback. For the rebuilding Dolphins, all three of these people had been in Inexperienced Bay final season in quarterback Malik Willis, coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Week 1 matchups for brand spanking new coaches/quarterbacks
Raiders’ Klint Kubiak vs. Dolphins: We don’t know but if Week 1 would be the NFL debut of 2026 No. 1 decide, quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders have expressed a willingness to have the rookie begin on the bench, in the event that they consider it’s greatest for his growth. They’ve a powerful veteran possibility in Kirk Cousins to go along with, in the event that they select to take action. Regardless, it will likely be the top teaching debut of Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who’s recent off of main the Seahawks’ offense to a Tremendous Bowl title.
Ravens’ Jesse Minter at Colts: The final time the Ravens opened the season with someone apart from John Harbaugh as their head coach, George W. Bush was president of the US. It’ll be a distinct look on the Baltimore sideline shifting ahead as Jesse Minter makes his head teaching debut.
Giants’ John Harbaugh vs. Cowboys: Talking of Harbaugh, he’ll start his second head teaching job stint within the NFL, making an attempt to return the Giants to postseason relevancy. The Giants haven’t been to a convention championship sport since their final Tremendous Bowl run within the 2011 season. Harbaugh brings his expertise to a state of affairs that already has a beginning quarterback and had two top-10 picks on this 12 months’s draft and he’ll debut towards the rival Cowboys on “Sunday Night time Soccer.”
Browns’ Todd Monken at Jaguars: The Browns’ hiring of Monken, the previous Ravens offensive coordinator, wasn’t splashy, however the state of affairs in Cleveland was a tricky promote. The offense wants numerous work, and Monken, who has 11 years of NFL offensive teaching expertise (although by no means as a head coach), is tasked with fixing it. Cleveland took a step in the proper course with an offense-heavy 2026 draft class, however now they’ll need to get the items to work collectively on the sector.
Cardinals’ Mike LaFleur at Chargers: Circumstances are removed from ultimate for LaFleur, who will get his first likelihood to be a head coach by taking on the worst group in the very best division in soccer. On high of that, the Cardinals moved on from Murray and didn’t exchange him with a viable franchise-caliber quarterback. Arizona is clearly in a long-term rebuild, so there isn’t strain on LaFleur to win instantly, however his period of teaching is about to start again in Los Angeles, the place he was most not too long ago the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
Payments’ Joe Brady at Texans: Maybe essentially the most controversial teaching change of the offseason got here in Buffalo, because the Payments moved on from Sean McDermott and elevated offensive coordinator Joe Brady to take over in his place. There might be immense strain for Brady to win instantly as he takes over a franchise that has received no less than one playoff sport in every of the previous six seasons.
Titans’ Robert Saleh vs. Jets: It’s been a depressing previous couple of seasons for the Titans, however they’ve a franchise quarterback in place in Cam Ward and bought him a professional weapon within the draft in large receiver Carnell Tate. Head teaching alternatives usually are not limitless within the NFL. Saleh had his first shot with the Jets so the strain is on for him to take advantage of out of this second likelihood and he will get to face his previous group proper off the bat.
Robert Saleh will instantly sq. off together with his former group, the Jets. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Pictures)
Dolphins’ Jeff Hafley at Raiders: The Dolphins had been in want of a manufacturing facility reset, and the 2026 season will give the franchise simply that. They might be hampered by Tua Tagovailoa’s contract this season however they’ve a brand new basic supervisor, head coach and beginning quarterback. That needs to be a welcome sight for Dolphins followers after the final couple of years.
Falcons’ Kevin Stefanski at Steelers: Cleveland hasn’t been the simplest place for a head coach to succeed, but Stefanski received Coach of the Yr twice with the Browns and broke a 17-year postseason drought. The Falcons have expertise in place and the NFC South is a manageable division to win in, so it’ll be fascinating to see how Stefanski fares in his second spot.
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy vs. Falcons: There might be no one happier or extra emotional for Mike McCarthy’s debut as Steelers head coach than McCarthy himself. McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native and has at all times worn his roots on his sleeve. Past that, it’ll be numerous conflicting feelings for the plenty not seeing Mike Tomlin on the sidelines and seeing the coach who beat the Steelers within the Tremendous Bowl within the 2010 season in Tomlin’s place.
Prime contenders, QB matchups, extra to look at
Chiefs vs. Broncos, Week 1: Although Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in the direction of the top of the 2025 season, restoration from that damage has come a great distance lately. There was at all times a very good likelihood Mahomes can be prepared for the group’s season opener, and the Chiefs offered an replace not too long ago saying Mahomes could also be prepared for coaching camp. If that’s the case, all eyes might be on the face of the league in Week 1.
Ravens at Payments, Week 8: This matchup between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson gave us an early contender for Sport of the Yr final 12 months, when the Payments mounted a livid comeback to win 41-40 on a walk-off discipline purpose in Week 1 on “Sunday Night time Soccer.” Expectations might be excessive for this sport.
Chiefs at Payments, Week 12: Though the Payments and Chiefs didn’t end in the identical spot of their respective divisions in 2025, the AFC East is scheduled to play towards the AFC West in 2026. Which means one other duel between arguably the 2 greatest quarterbacks within the NFL in Mahomes and Allen. The truth that it lands on Thanksgiving ought to solely improve the fireworks. The Chiefs performed on Thanksgiving final 12 months as properly, and their vacation matchup towards the Cowboys in 2025 turned the most-watched regular-season sport in NFL historical past.
Chiefs at Bengals, Week 14: The final time Mahomes misplaced to an AFC group within the playoffs? That will be Joe Burrow and the Bengals within the 2021 season. Burrow has handled accidents all through his profession however stays one of many premier skills on the place when wholesome.
Ravens vs. Bengals, Weeks 7 and 17: Burrow and Jackson, each of whom had injury-riddled 2025 campaigns, supply contrasting types of play however each are elite quarterbacks for his or her respective groups. Because the cherry on high, these are division rivals, so we’ll get to see them face off twice within the season.
Ravens vs. Steelers, Weeks 15 and 18: It’s Ravens vs. Steelers, Harbaugh vs. Tom— oh wait. One of many fiercest divisional rivalries within the NFL can have a brand new look to it. It’ll be fascinating to see if the smashmouth, intense type of play will carry over to groups led by Minter and McCarthy, respectively.