The NFL has confirmed which teams will face off in the 2026 season for months, but this week fans will finally learn the exact dates and times for all 272 regular-season games. The full schedule drops Thursday, though the league has already announced several high-profile matchups ahead of the big reveal.
As you start planning your fall football calendar, here’s a rundown of the games already locked in before Thursday’s release.
**Week 1: Seahawks Kick Off Season on Wednesday, Sept. 9**
The Seattle Seahawks will open the 2026 regular season on a Wednesday—marking the first NFL Wednesday opener since 2012. True to tradition, the defending champion takes the field in the season’s first game. As of Monday morning, five potential opponents remain in play: the New England Patriots (a Super Bowl LX rematch), Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, and Arizona Cardinals.
**Week 1: 49ers vs. Rams in NFL’s First Australia Game**
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will meet on Sept. 11 in Melbourne. The game is scheduled to kick off around 10:35 a.m. local time in Australia, which translates to 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the United States.
**Week 1: Giants Host Cowboys as Harbaugh Era Begins**
The Dallas Cowboys will visit the New York Giants for the first Sunday night game of the season on Sept. 13. This marks the eighth time in 15 years these NFC East rivals open the season against each other. With Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh now leading the Giants and quarterback Jaxson Dart coming off a dramatic rookie year, New York could draw even more prime-time attention. It will be Harbaugh’s debut as Giants head coach.
If healthy, this will be the first meaningful matchup between Dart and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Although both started the season finale on Jan. 4, neither team was in playoff contention at that point. The game also could feature the NFL debuts of former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese (selected fifth overall) and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (picked 11th).
**Week 2: Bills Open New Stadium vs. Lions**
The Buffalo Bills will play their first game at the new Highmark Stadium against the Detroit Lions in Week 2 on Thursday night. This marks a new era for the franchise, which played most of its home games from 1973 to 2025 at the stadium formerly known as “The Ralph.” It’s also Joe Brady’s first home game as Bills head coach.
**Week 3: Ravens vs. Cowboys in Brazil**
The Baltimore Ravens will face the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s inaugural game in Rio de Janeiro this season, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27. The league has committed to bringing at least three regular-season games to Rio over the next five years. While the NFL has previously played two games in Brazil (Packers-Eagles in 2024 and Chiefs-Chargers in 2025 at São Paulo’s Corinthians Arena), this will be the first in Rio.
**Week 12: Eagles vs. Cowboys on Thanksgiving on FOX**
One of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day on FOX. The Philadelphia Eagles travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys on the holiday for the first time since 2015, renewing their NFC East clash.
Here are five storylines to know ahead of the full schedule release.
