NFL Schedule Release: The 5 Must-Watch Games for 2026 Season
On Thursday, the NFL released its schedule for the 2026 regular season.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will kickoff the regular season at home against the AFC Champion New England Patriots on (Wednesday) Sept. 9 in a matchup of the February contest. That game should have plenty of drama, but there are plenty of intriguing matchups for the fall.
Here are the best five games for the 2026 season.
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5. Ravens vs. Bengals Week 17
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North in a division battered by injuries. With Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow healthy, the New Year’s Eve matchup on “Thursday Night Football” in Cincinnati might decide who wins the AFC North.
The Bengals should have an improved defense after trading for Dexter Lawrence and signing Jonathan Allen. Ravens first-year head coach Jesse Minter could play a pressure-packed game in primetime.
4. Patriots vs. Bears Week 7
The Patriots made the Super Bowl in Drake Maye’s second season in the league. The No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft defeated No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in their first meeting as rookies.
The Bears and Patriots made the postseason by winning games against an easy schedule. After winning their respective divisions, the path to the playoffs will be harder this season for Maye and Williams. The “Thursday Night Football” game in Chicago could be a test for which team is ready to make a deep postseason run.
3. 49ers vs. Eagles Week 17
The Philadelphia Eagles enter the season with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and quarterback Jalen Hurts under the microscope. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Eagles 23-19 in the Wild Card in Philadelphia, but were blown out by the Seahawks 41-6 the next week in the Divisional Round.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has now seen two NFC West divisional rivals, the Rams and Seahawks, win a Super Bowl since he came to San Francisco in 2017. The Week 17 matchup on “Sunday Night Football” will feature two coaching staffs facing pressure to make a deep postseason run.
The winner should get a boost before the postseason. The losing coach could feel their seat getting warm.
2. Rams vs. Bills Week 5
The Los Angeles Rams made aggressive moves this offseason in a bid to win a Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford. The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott after losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, making the point that the Super Bowl is the expectation for quarterback Josh Allen.
The “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Bills and Rams could be a preview of what’s to come in February. It’ll be a big test for Bills first-year head coach Joe Brady to go against Sean McVay.
1. Chiefs vs. Seahawks Week 7
The Kansas City Chiefs believe that a healthy Patrick Mahomes can lead the team back to the playoffs after a disappointing 6-11 season. Kansas City will have tight end Travis Kelce return along with two first-round defensive players from the draft: Mansoor Delane and Peter Woods. The Chiefs boosted their backfield by signing former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency.
The Seahawks should be more than capable of making another run at the Super Bowl this season despite losing a few starters in free agency. The “Sunday Night Football” matchup in Week 7 will prove if the Chiefs have what it takes to compete against a legit Super Bowl contender.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 5:37 PM.