Chiefs-Bills, Patriots-Seahawks amongst high 10 video games of the 2026 NFL season

After a sluggish trickle of leaks and bulletins, the NFL introduced its schedule for the 2026 season Thursday, placing dates and instances to the matchups that had been decided on the finish of final season.

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Week 1 will start on a Wednesday this 12 months, because the defending Super Bowl champions will play a day early to accommodate the league’s first ever common season recreation in Australia, which is able to happen the following day.

The common season begins Sept. 9 and runs by way of Jan. 10. The Super Bowl will probably be held Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day! — in Los Angeles.

Here are the ten most intriguing video games from the schedule reveal.

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Week 1

The groups who performed the ultimate recreation of final season will play the primary of 2026, as New England and Seattle will sq. off in a Super Bowl rematch. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye must be extremely motivated after he struggled mightily within the championship recreation. The Seahawks, in the meantime, may ship an early message about avoiding any sort of Super Bowl hangover. One extra subplot looms: Will New England head coach Mike Vrabel be on the sidelines?

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills, Week 8

Both the Ravens and the Bills are coming off disappointing seasons that led them to make teaching adjustments. The path to the Super Bowl was imagined to be open for them final 12 months after the Chiefs missed the playoffs. Instead, Baltimore additionally failed to succeed in the postseason, and Buffalo misplaced to the Broncos within the divisional spherical. This must be a measuring-stick recreation for each first-year head coaches as they attempt to stake their claims as the highest AFC contender.

Seattle Seahawks at Las Vegas Raiders, Week 10

Seattle’s protection powered all of it the best way to a Super Bowl victory, which is why it may very well be an important take a look at for Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 general choose on this 12 months’s draft. The thriller right here is whether or not Mendoza will begin this recreation, because the Raiders appear fascinated with bringing him alongside gently. If he does get the decision, seeing him strive to determine the Seahawks will probably be an early marker in what Las Vegas hopes will probably be an extended, illustrious profession.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills, Thanksgiving

The NFL’s final quarterback rivalry will get among the best time slots of the 12 months, as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen will do battle in prime time on Thanksgiving. The large query right here, clearly, is how nicely recovered Mahomes will probably be after he tore an ACL final 12 months. Allen and Buffalo gained the newest matchup, which the Bills hosted in November.

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Thanksgiving

These are two groups with large fan bases and polarizing quarterbacks coming off disappointing seasons. The Eagles’ offense cratered after their Super Bowl run within the 2024 season, whereas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed beneath .500 as a starter for the primary time a 12 months in the past (minimal 10 begins). Whatever occurs on this one, nevertheless good these groups are, this matchup must be nice for overreactions that can carry us by way of the lengthy weekend.

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Christmas Day

Bears head coach Ben Johnson poured gasoline on the Packers-Bears rivalry at his introductory information convention when he mentioned how a lot he cherished beating Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur. Then the groups took turns throwing matches into the fireplace final season with three unimaginable video games: a down-to-the-wire thriller in Green Bay after which two unbelievable Chicago comebacks, together with the unforgettable 31-27 Bears win within the playoffs.

Said Johnson after that recreation: “F— the Packers!”

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, Christmas Day

The Rams and the Seahawks had been the 2 finest groups within the NFL final season, they usually delivered three implausible video games between the common season and playoffs. The mixed rating of their three matchups? Seattle 88, Los Angeles 85. If these golf equipment are wherever close to as evenly matched as final season, this must be an absolute thriller.

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals, Week 15

Will this be an important recreation? Almost undoubtedly not. Could this recreation resolve which staff finally ends up with the No. 1 choose? Almost undoubtedly sure.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, Week 16

The Mike McDaniel revenge recreation! The Dolphins fired McDaniel as their head coach after he led them to 2 playoff appearances in 4 years. Now, one of many league’s brightest offensive minds is offensive coordinator for Justin Herbert, the quarterback Miami handed on to draft the since-released Tua Tagovailoa in 2020. McDaniel could attempt to drop 70 factors on his outdated staff.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Week 17

A rematch of a snowy, tense AFC championship recreation. New England defeated Denver to advance to the Super Bowl, because the Broncos had been restricted with out beginning quarterback Bo Nix. Were the rises of those two groups a fluke? Or may Nix and Maye start a brand new quarterback rivalry within the AFC?