As we sit in the limbo period of the NFL off-season, there's only one thing that gets fans excited: The schedule release.
The schedule release videos are top-notch, record predictions flow in full force and the media attention reminds the sports world that the NFL is still top dog.
With some strategic announcements of games, some teams already had a chunk of their schedule publicly known, but now all 272 games are out and some games stand out more than others.
So, here's 10 matchups to mark your calendars for during the 2026 campaign.
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Week 1
What better way to kick off the NFL season than with a rematch of Super Bowl 60.
Week 1's Wednesday-night matchup (weird to have football on a Wednesday) will feature the Seahawks hosting the Patriots as last year's top two teams will be battling it out to set the tone for the 2026 NFL season.
Not since 2016 has this happened, when the Denver Broncos hosted the Carolina Panthers. And similar to a decade ago when the Broncos roster was vastly different than the team that took the field just months prior, Seattle will suit up for Round 2 with some new faces in key places.
The biggest change for the Seahawks comes in the backfield, where their formidable running back duo of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet is no more.
Charbonnet missed the Super Bowl after suffering a torn ACL in the Divisional Round, and will likely be sidelined for Week 1 as he continues his rehab.
Walker, meanwhile, is the big loss. The 25-year-old torched the Patriots defence for 135 yards on the ground en route to winning Super Bowl MVP.
His stellar post-season performance earned him a mega deal in Kansas City so, unfortunately for Pats fans, he's still in play to haunt your championship hopes moving forward.
However, Walker can't do that in Week 1. Instead, it'll be rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price who will be in charge of getting Seattle off and running in the new season.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia
Football in the Land Down Under? Sure.
Two NFC heavyweights battling it out in the second game of the NFL season in the Land Down Under? Even better.
The first of nine (!) international games this season will feature the 49ers taking on Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, in a clash between the NFC West rivals.
Matthew Stafford has his new apprentice in rookie Ty Simpson, while his new-look secondary that features two former Kansas City Chiefs in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will look to shut down the 49ers' new passing attack.
Star tight end George Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles late last season, will likely be on the sidelines for this one, and Jauan Jennings now calls Minnesota home, but Brock Purdy has two new targets in future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling. And that's all in addition to all-world running back Christian McCaffrey.
Melbourne should be in for a treat with these two loaded teams.
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills, Week 2
Hello, new Highmark Stadium.
The schedule makers went big-game hunting for the Bills' first opponent in their new home as a Buffalo-Detroit matchup should promises to blow the non-existent roof off the place.
Both teams finished top-five in total offensive yards and points per game and the last matchup between the two in 2024 totalled 90 points.
And as crazy as it sounds, both offences may be better than they were just two years ago.
James Cook is the league's reigning rushing leader, while Josh Allen has a shiny new weapon in four-time 1,000-yard receiver D.J. Moore.
Meanwhile, Jared Goff has arguably the most dynamic back in the league in Jahmyr Gibbs – who may shine even brighter without David Montgomery in the fold – and Amon-Ra St. Brown is still producing at an otherworldly level.
Eclipsing 90 points is a tough feat – only 21 games have produced a higher total in history – but if any two offences can do it, it's these two.
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks, Week 7
Going back to Walker, his return to The 12s will be highly anticipated.
After leading the charge for the Seahawks in their Super Bowl run, Walker will now face Seattle as a member of the league's most dominant team over the past six years – Kansas City.
Walker's post-season performance earned him a three-year, $43.05-million contract with the Chiefs, and his showing will be one remembered in Seattle for years to come.
He was the first halfback to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years, putting together three straight 100-scrimmage yard performances during Seattle's playoff run as he helped deliver the city's second Lombardi Trophy.
And even though he'll be with the opposition – an opposition disliked by most fans – Walker's return should still be far better received at Lumen Field than Russell Wilson's in 2022 when he was showered with boos.
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Week 17
There's only one that will be on the mind of the Broncos: revenge.
Unfortunately for Denver, it won't be in front of 75,000 crazed fans draped in orange at Mile High, but at least Denver will have its franchise quarterback.
Bo Nix missed last season's AFC Championship matchup after fracturing his ankle at the end of Denver's thrilling overtime win over Buffalo the week prior.
Down Nix and led by Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos fell to Drake Maye and the Patriots in what was, at best, a lousy display of football in a snowy affair.
Whether the snow will fall in Foxborough this time, we'll see, but football fans will finally get the Nix vs. Maye matchup that promises to be the first of many.
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams, Week 12, Thanksgiving Eve
Turkey Day will start a few hours early for the NFL this season. On the eve of the traditional three Thanksgiving Day games, the Rams will host the Packers.
Luckily for fans, this battle of two top teams won't take away from the excellence of the Thanksgiving games. It's just an added bonus from the schedule makers.
Green Bay, led by Jordan Love, features a top back in Josh Jacobs and solid receiving threats. We should see one of the game's more exciting tight ends in Tucker Kraft back in the mix, too.
But the Rams are loaded with firepower as well with Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
And, hopefully, Micah Parsons is back and fully healthy in time for the Pack to truly witness some best talent the sport has to offer in this matchup.
The only real question is: Will the winner get some turducken afterwards?
Thanksgiving slate: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions; Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys; Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Whew. Talk about an exciting slate of games to wake you out of a food coma.
Let's start with the NFC North matchup.
For the fifth time in the last six years, the Lions will host a divisional opponent on Thanksgiving. This time around, it's a rematch from the 2024 classic with the Bears.
Led by then-rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the lowly Bears narrowly pulled off an upset over the roaring Lions until some major blunders from the former head coach Matt Eberflus and the young signal caller on the final drive ruined any opportunity.
Fast-forward to 2026 and the Bears are coming off a playoff win while Detroit missed the post-season. The Lions should be better than last season, and with Chicago still trending upwards this matchup may have major playoff implications down the line.
Next on the list is the NFL team synonymous with Thanksgiving – the Cowboys.
America's Team will also face off against a divisional opponent, taking on the Eagles.
It marks the first time since 2014 that these two bitter rivals will play each other on Turkey Day, and it's Philly's first Thanksgiving game since 2015.
We all know what Dallas' offence will look like – high-scoring with the dynamic receiving duo of Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens catching balls from Dak Prescott – but year after year its defence falters.
New additions in Rashan Gary and Caleb Downs should have something to say about that, however. Only time will tell if the defence remains Dallas' Achilles heal, but regardless, the unit figures to be fired up to play a hated rival on national television.
Rounding out the Holiday trifecta will be a battle between two of the game's premier QBs in Patrick Mahomes and Allen.
Allen and the Bills have dominated the regular season matchups against Mahomes and the Chiefs to the tune of a 5-1 record, but the post-season has been a different story for Buffalo's superstar.
Mahomes and Co. own a 4-0 record against Allen once the stakes get raised, and the two sides seem destined to face off almost every year.
Regardless of when it happens, any matchup between the two gunslingers will always be must-see TV.
Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders, Week 16
At first glance, this doesn't seem like an overly intriguing matchup but, like having success in the NFL, in general, it all starts with the quarterbacks.
When the Titans take on the Raiders in Week 16, we'll get our first battle between the two most recent first-overall picks in Cam Ward and Fernando Mendoza.
Now, there's a slight chance Mendoza isn't the starting QB as the team added veteran Kirk Cousins to the room, however, Mendoza will likely earn the starting gig from Day 1 as he comes with 36 games of collegiate experience. Plus, he's the top pick. Very rarely have we seen the No. 1 overall selection not start in Week 1.
Going back to 2010, of the 12 QBs selected No. 1, just two didn't start the season opener – Goff in 2016 and Baker Mayfield in 2018.
Both Goff and Mayfield wound up taking over during the season, but history's on Mendoza's side here.
So while the teams will likely not be at the top of the standings, a matchup between two potential future star QBs will be a must-watch.
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