The NFL season is underway, with two games featuring top contending teams already in the books.
The Seattle Seahawks began their Super Bowl defence by edging the New England Patriots on Wednesday night, while the San Francisco 49ers followed with a convincing win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.
Now, the remaining 28 teams get their first opportunity to get into the win column on a loaded Sunday schedule, which concludes with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the New York Giants.
And then there is Monday night, when the Kansas City Chiefs begin their attempt to bounce back from one of their worst seasons in the Patrick Mahomes era by hosting the Denver Broncos.
Here are the top storylines to keep an eye on in Week 1.
Brady's first test as Bills head coach
The Buffalo Bills travel to take on the Houston Texans, looking to get the Joe Brady era off to a good start.
After seeing their streak of division titles snapped at five straight and losing to the Broncos in the AFC divisional round, the Bills decided to turn the page on Sean McDermott as head coach, replacing him with Brady.
The pressure remains sky-high for a team that has reached the divisional round in six straight seasons but continues to be in a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality.
Buffalo didn't just make changes with the coaching staff. They also brought in some help for Josh Allen, acquiring DJ Moore from Chicago to give their quarterback a true No. 1 receiver he's lacked since Stefon Diggs was traded to the Texans in 2024.
It won't be an easy start to the season for the new Bills head coach going up against a Texans team that has one of the best defences in the league.
Houston allowed just 277.2 yards per game last season, the best mark in the NFL, and has made life difficult for Allen. The Bills QB owns a 0-4 record at Allegiant Stadium, including a 23-19 loss last season when he was sacked eight times.
Also under the microscope will be Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who had his fifth-year option picked up but will certainly be looking to join Derek Stingley Jr. and Will Anderson Jr. in getting a big-time payday.
Not only will Stroud be looking to get his production back on track in the regular season, but he'll also need to show he can step up in the playoffs after throwing four interceptions against the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
Can Chiefs, Mahomes return to mountain top?
It's been a while since the Chiefs entered a season with question marks around their status as a contender.
Their nine-year run as division champions ended with the Broncos taking the crown in 2025, but their reputation will keep them in the hunt for another Super Bowl, even if a lot needs to go their way.
The first hurdle to overcome is getting Mahomes back on the field and playing at an MVP level.
The 30-year-old suffered a season-ending ACL tear last year, but the three-time Super Bowl MVP believes he will be able to play without limitations Monday night against the Broncos.
The Chiefs are coming off a 6-11 season — their first losing campaign since Mahomes became the starter — and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Adding Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker will provide a dynamic offensive threat not just in the run game, but also someone Mahomes can dump the ball off to when pressure gets to him.
Standing in the Chiefs' way is a motivated Broncos team that took a major step forward following a 14-3 season last year.
The Broncos saw their Super Bowl hopes come to a heartbreaking halt in the AFC Championship Game, where they lost a tight 10-7 game to the Patriots without quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a fractured right ankle in the divisional round against the Bills.
Nix got some help in the off-season with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle coming over in a trade. Meanwhile, Denver's defence, led by cornerback Patrick Surtain, was elite, allowing the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points in the entire NFL.
The AFC West will be a tough division to come out of, and Monday night will provide a nice preview of which of these two teams should be in the driver's seat.
The rookie class gets its first taste
One of the best parts of Week 1 is finally seeing the highly touted rookies take the field in meaningful games.
The 2026 class doesn't have the same quarterback hype as some recent drafts, as it looks like the season won't feature a rookie quarterback starting Week 1 for the first time since 2022.
But there are still plenty of fascinating rookies to watch.
Arizona running back Jeremiyah Love, selected third overall, immediately becomes one of the most intriguing players in the class. The Cardinals made the surprising decision to select a running back that high, but Love's talent was considered too good to pass up.
The Titans will also debut fourth-overall pick Carnell Tate, the first receiver selected in the draft, while Dallas gets its first look at defensive back Caleb Downs.
Game to watch: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants — Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Cowboys and Giants will cap off Sunday's schedule with a primetime NFC East showdown that could tell us plenty about where both teams stand heading into the 2026 season.
Dallas is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-9-1 campaign that extended its playoff drought to two seasons. Dak Prescott remains at the centre of those expectations after a strong offensive showing, while CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens form one of the top receiving duos in the league.
The Cowboys' success will hinge on their defence overcoming a miserable season after they surrendered a league-worst 30.1 points per game and over 6,600 yards. They have a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker, and owner Jerry Jones has been busy overhauling their unit after trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons last season.
Dallas traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary and signed veteran Vonn Miller to complement defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, who were brought in last season. They also invested heavily in youth and versatility, using high draft picks on Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.
The Giants, meanwhile, are beginning a new era under head coach John Harbaugh, with Jaxson Dart entering his second season as the starting quarterback. Dart showed plenty of promise as a rookie and has a stronger supporting cast, including new offensive co-ordinator Matt Nagy, but can have trouble staying on the field.
The return of Giants star receiver Malik Nabers should add another layer to the matchup, although his status remains uncertain after last year's ACL injury. If he plays, his battle with the Cowboys' secondary will be one of the game's biggest storylines.
The Cowboys continue to boast Super Bowl aspirations but will need to get off to a strong start with a primetime win in Week 1. The rival Giants are the perfect test.
Morassutti's Favourites
Bills @ Texans — Pick: Texans +1.5: Houston's defence has given Allen problems in each of the past two seasons, and the Texans are at home. Until Buffalo proves it can solve that matchup, taking the points feels like the safer play.
Cowboys @ Giants — Pick: Cowboys -2.5: Dallas has significantly upgraded its defence, while New York enters Year 1 of the John Harbaugh era. Jaxson Dart is intriguing, but Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' offence could be too much for this Giants defence.
Broncos @ Chiefs — Pick: Under 43.5 points: Denver won the AFC West last season, with its defence playing a big part in its league-best record. Until we know exactly what Mahomes looks like after his ACL injury, the Broncos will likely keep this a low-scoring affair.
Full Week 1 schedule (all times ET)
Wednesday, Sept. 9
Seahawks 13, Patriots 10
Thursday, Sept. 10
49ers 27, Rams 7
Sunday, Sept. 13
Bears at Panthers, 1 p.m.
Ravens at Colts, 1 p.m.
Falcons at Steelers, 1 p.m.
Browns at Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Buccaneers at Bengals, 1 p.m.
Jets at Titans, 1 p.m.
Saints at Lions, 1 p.m.
Bills at Texans, 1 p.m.
Cardinals at Chargers, 4:25 p.m.
Packers at Vikings, 4:25 p.m.
Dolphins at Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
Commanders at Eagles, 4:25 p.m.
Cowboys at Giants, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 14
Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m.
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