We're one day away from the Seattle Seahawks kicking off Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season as they host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX.
Below, we rank all 16 games in the opening slate and offer a note on what to look forward to in each one.
16) Raiders vs. Dolphins
What to look forward to: Malik Willis makes his Dolphins debut, giving us our first chance to evaluate whether he's a potential franchise quarterback or a product of the system and infrastructure in Green Bay. The Raiders won't start No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, but they should be more watchable this year with Kirk Cousins and first-year coach Klint Kubiak leading the way.
15) Jaguars vs. Browns
What to look forward to: The Jaguars won 13 games last year, yet it never really felt like they reached their ceiling. If they can optimize playmakers Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, they could be even better in 2026, potentially securing back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since 1998-99. The Browns will be a tough watch, but their defense does have the ability to test the Jaguars' offense.
14) Chargers vs. Cardinals
What to look forward to: It'll be interesting to see how Marvin Harrison Jr. starts his third campaign. The highly touted receiving prospect's first two seasons did not go according to plan. The Chargers will debut a fresh offense with Mike McDaniel calling plays, while Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu could be the most underrated pass-rushing tandem in the NFL.
13) Titans vs. Jets
What to look forward to: Geno Smith reintroduces himself to the Jets, but it's their young talent that should attract attention. New York drafted four players inside the top 50 picks, including pass-rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall. On the Tennessee side, the Robert Saleh revenge tour begins against his former employer, Cam Ward may or may not be poised for a breakout, and new weapons Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate are ready to get their feet wet.
12) Steelers vs. Falcons
What to look forward to: Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are back together for the first time since 2018 when they operated in Green Bay. Rodgers, who's flirted with retirement for what feels like an eternity, is surely undertaking his final opening-day assignment. The Falcons have tons of offensive talent, but new coach Kevin Stefanski needs functional quarterback play in order to maximize it.
11) Panthers vs. Bears
What to look forward to: The Bears, looking to build on their first NFC North title since 2018, kick off their season against a fellow division champion - albeit one that only notched eight victories last year. Caleb Williams and Bryce Young tango in a battle of former first overall picks. Williams' stock has been soaring: The third-year passer graced the cover of Madden 27 and has one of the NFL's top-selling jerseys.
10) Lions vs. Saints
What to look forward to: The Saints could be sneaky good if Tyler Shough can maintain his upward trajectory. A healthy Chris Olave would be a significant help in that department, especially with first-round wideout Jordyn Tyson opening the season on injured reserve. The defense lacks big names but was quietly stingy in 2025. Meanwhile, the Lions debut offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who was hired to lead the unit back to the heights it reached under Ben Johnson. Although the Lions put up points last season, they stalled too often when it mattered most.
9) Bengals vs. Buccaneers
What to look forward to: In another battle of former No. 1 picks, Joe Burrow hosts Baker Mayfield in Cincinnati. The Bengals finally got off to a winning start last season before Burrow got hurt, wrecking their opportunity to contend. The Buccaneers choked away the NFC South and would love to make a Week 1 statement. Both teams can put up points when their quarterbacks are healthy, so this could be a shootout.
8) Colts vs. Ravens
What to look forward to: No team was a bigger disappointment last year than the Ravens, but they've still got Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and they're optimistic a coaching shake-up will get them back into contention. The Colts are something of an unknown - they raced out to a torrid start last season but faded down the stretch and missed the playoffs. It's make-or-break time for Daniel Jones and the regime that brought him to Indy.
7) Vikings vs. Packers
What to look forward to: Kyler Murray makes his Vikings debut, replacing former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in the huddle. Minnesota missed the playoffs last season but won 13 games two years ago and still has one of the better all-around rosters in the NFL. The Packers are always competitive, even though their arrow is pointing downward with Josh Jacobs on paid leave and Micah Parsons on the injured list.
6) Texans vs. Bills
What to look forward to: Former MVP Josh Allen leads the always dangerous Bills into Houston to take on the Texans and their vaunted defense. Houston won this matchup last year, forcing two Allen interceptions and one Khalil Shakir fumble en route to a 23-19 victory on a Thursday night in November. Both teams enter 2026 with question marks but still look to be AFC contenders.
5) Eagles vs. Commanders
What to look forward to: This game had to be at No. 5 out of respect for Jayden Daniels. In all seriousness, this is a pivotal third season for the LSU product, who took the Commanders to the NFC title game as a rookie before regressing - partly due to injuries - last season. Meanwhile, the Eagles offer plenty of intrigue after overhauling their offense. New coordinator Sean Mannion must elevate a passing game that looked suspect in 2024 and then bottomed out in 2025.
4) Seahawks vs. Patriots (Wednesday)
What to look forward to: Super Bowl LX was a dud, but that doesn't mean the sequel is doomed. The Patriots have loaded up offensively, adding A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Alijah Vera-Tucker while cutting Stefon Diggs loose. The Seahawks kept the bulk of their championship roster intact, but they do need to replace running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Chiefs.
3) Chiefs vs. Broncos (MNF)
What to look forward to: Patrick Mahomes is back, Walker has arrived, and the Chiefs have something to prove after missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The Broncos are now the team to beat in the AFC West, and their loaded roster might've been a healthy Bo Nix away from reaching Super Bowl LX. Nix is back to full strength, and he's got a new No. 1 receiver in Jaylen Waddle.
2) Giants vs. Cowboys (SNF)
What to look forward to: The season premiere of Sunday Night Football pits two of the NFL's flagship franchises against each other, and what a juicy matchup it is. The Giants have struggled in recent years, but they boast a young crop of playmakers and a proven new coach in John Harbaugh. Odell Beckham Jr. is also back in New York more than a decade after he reached back in the end zone and became a national sensation. As for the Cowboys, they had one of the league's most prolific offenses last year and went to work on their defense over the offseason.
1) Rams vs. 49ers (Thursday)
What to look forward to: If offseason wins counted, the Rams would already be Super Bowl LXI champs. This is a team that responded to a narrow loss in the NFC title game by adding Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson to the defense - and then bringing Aaron Donald out of retirement. The offense features reigning MVP Matthew Stafford plus two decorated receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. But the 49ers have Super Bowl aspirations, too, especially after signing Mike Evans to bolster the passing attack. This game will mark the NFL's regular-season debut in Australia.
