2026 NFL Season Kicks Off: Seahawks Win Opener, Global Games, and Injury Watch

The 2026 NFL regular season is officially underway, kicking off with a Super Bowl LX rematch and immediately setting a global tone with the league's first-ever regular season game in Australia today. The 107th season of the National Football League began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as widely reported by NFL.com, USA Today, and FOX Sports.

What happened in the NFL Kickoff Game?

The 2026 NFL season opened with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. The Seahawks triumphed over the Patriots with a 13-10 victory at Lumen Field in Seattle. This game, broadcast on NBC and Peacock, was played on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET, marking the first time the NFL had opened its season on a Wednesday since 2012.

What is the marquee matchup for today?

Today, Thursday, September 10, 2026, features a groundbreaking matchup as the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in East Melbourne, Australia. This 8:35 p.m. ET game, broadcast exclusively on Netflix, marks the NFL's first regular-season game ever played in Australia. As of September 8, 2026, the 49ers are managing significant injury concerns, with tight end George Kittle (Achilles) and edge rusher Nick Bosa (ACL) both reported as questionable for the game. Their confirmed status for today's contest is not yet known.

What does the full Week 1 schedule look like?

Following the Wednesday kickoff and Thursday's international contest, Week 1 continues with a packed slate of games on Sunday, September 13, and concludes with Monday Night Football.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 Games:

• 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX):
  • Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals
  • New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
  • Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS):
  • Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans
  • Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
  • Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
  • New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
• 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS):
  • Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers
  • Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
• 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX):
  • Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders
  • Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
• Sunday Night Football (5:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock):
  • Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Monday, September 14, 2026 Finale:

• Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (5:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC). This game is notable for the return of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes from a torn ACL.

What's special about the 2026 NFL season?

The 2026 NFL season stands out for its unprecedented international presence, featuring a record nine international games across seven different countries, as reported by NFL.com. Beyond Melbourne, Australia, the league is also hosting regular-season games for the first time in Rio de Janeiro and Paris. The entire regular season, consisting of 272 games, will span 18 weeks and is set to conclude on Sunday, January 10, 2027.

What happens after the regular season?

The NFL playoffs are scheduled to begin shortly after the regular season concludes, with the first playoff games set for January 16, 2027. The ultimate championship, Super Bowl LXI, will take place on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Throughout the season, the NFL will utilize flexible scheduling for prime-time games, with Sunday Night Football potentially flexing twice between Weeks 5-10 and in any week from Weeks 11-17. Monday Night Football may be flexed between Weeks 12-17, and Thursday Night Football up to twice between Weeks 13-17. Specific dates and times for Weeks 16, 17, and the entire Week 18 slate will be announced later in the season.