5 NFL Week 1 Matchups Worth Clearing Your Schedule For

The NFL is kicking off again with an absolutely loaded first week of games. The biggest face-offs launching the 2026 season include a Super Bowl rematch and a battle in Oz, with plenty of roster additions and subtractions that will transform your favorite teams. But for better or worse?

Read on to find out, in our top five most anticipated Week 1 matchups.

Wednesday, September 9

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks 

When: 8:20 p.m. ET

Where: NBC, Peacock

Week 1’s opening game is also its most anticipated, as the Patriots take on the team that wiped the floor with them in a Super Bowl rematch. Will the Seahawks’ dominant defense hold after the loss of key pieces like Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant? Or will New England QB Drake Maye achieve redemption (he had six sacks and two interceptions in Super Bowl LX) now that he’s got protection from guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, and receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs catching passes instead of the other team?

Thursday, September 10

San Francisco 49ers vs. LA Rams

When: 8:35 p.m. ET

Where: Netflix

Do footballs spiral the opposite way down under? SF and LA face off in Melbourne in the NFL’s first regular-season game played in Australia. Jet lag will only be one factor (the 49ers flew in a week early to adjust, while the Rams arrive just before game day) in the highly awaited contest between NFC rivals. The 49ers have almost completely rebuilt their receiving corps around QB Brock Purdy, while the Super Bowl favorite Rams have assembled a devastating defensive line by trading for single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett and bringing three-time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald out of retirement on a one-year contract.

Sunday, September 13

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans 

When: 1:00 p.m. ET

Where: CBS

The Bills are angling for payback after last season’s 23-19 defeat at the hands of the Texans, whose oppressive defense sacked QB Josh Allen eight times and damaged Buffalo’s playoff positioning. This failure undoubtedly contributed to the firing of longtime (2017-2025) head coach Sean McDermott and the promotion of offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top spot. Without the huge number of injuries on both sides (before and during the game) that defined their last matchup, we can only guess whether or not Allen’s wrecking ball offense will be enough to break through the brick wall that is the Texans’ defensive line.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings 

When: 4:25 p.m. ET

Where: CBS

The money might have been on Green Bay for this one, had defensive star Micah Parsons not been sidelined with an ACL tear, and lead running back Josh Jacobs not been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List while he deals with legal issues around an alleged domestic dispute that turned physical. With those key pieces missing from the Packers, the Vikings’ new starting QB Kyler Murray will face two fewer hurdles in his first outing. And expect the whole Minnesota team to be energized by the surprise return of safety and franchise legend Harrison Smith for his 15^th season as a Viking.

Monday, September 14

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs 

When: 8:15 PM ET

Where: ESPN, ABC

The Chiefs just weren’t themselves last year, finishing 6-11 and breaking their record streak of nine years as AFC West champions. That title now belongs to the Broncos, who swept Kansas City in 2025 and will be eager to maintain that momentum. Any Denver fans who were hoping Patrick Mahomes would be laid up for Week 1 will be sorely disappointed, as the Chiefs QB is expected to start Monday after recovering quickly from ACL surgery last December. But with left tackle Josh Simmons potentially unable to play due to an ongoing back injury, Mahomes may be exposed to Denver’s commanding pass rush, which, led by Nick Bonitto, earned 68 sacks last year.