The moment we’ve been waiting for is here.
After months of free-agent signings, draft picks and so much more, football season is almost upon us – well, at least the announcement of the complete NFL schedule.
Advertisement
Monday kicked things off with announcements about the first “Sunday Night Football” game, a Thanksgiving Day matchup and the first “Thursday Night Football” clash in 2026. Tuesday continued with the announcement of the first “Monday Night Football” game of the season. Wednesday saw the unveiling of the international game slate as well as the first game on the eve of Thanksgiving.
More leaks will trickle in during the lead-up to Thursday’s big reveal, and all eyes will be tuned in for updates at 8 p.m. ET for the full schedule announcement. The night prior to the schedule release, a report said the Buffalo Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving night.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking everything that has been leaked so far and how the schedule is beginning to take form. Here are the latest rumors, leaks and updates about the NFL’s 2026 schedule ahead of the league’s official release on Thursday night.
2026 NFL SCHEDULE: Predicting the 5 mostly likely Super Bowl 61 matchups
1 / 4
2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
1 / 4
2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
2 / 4
2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
3 / 4
2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
4 / 4
2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
NFL schedule 2026
Week 1
Monday, Sept. 14: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
Advertisement
Week 2
Thursday, Sept 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Sunday, Oct. 18: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
Week 7
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Sunday, Nov. 22: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Week 12
Thursday, Nov. 26: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
Thursday, Nov. 26: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
NFL SCHEDULE: Home and away matchups for all 32 teams
NFL schedule leaks, rumors tracker
Chiefs vs. Bills set for Thanksgiving nightcap
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Thanksgiving trifecta will culminate in the quarterback battle of Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen. Allen dominates the regular season in matchups between these two (5-1), while Mahomes is undefeated (4-0) against his counterpart in the postseason.
Panthers to host Bears in Week 1
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bears and Panthers will square off in a season-opening clash for both teams. Both Carolina and Chicago boast former No. 1 overall picks starting at quarterback – the Panthers’ Bryce Young from the 2023 draft and the Bears’ Caleb Williams from 2024 – and won division titles in 2025.
Advertisement
Patriots will be Seahawks’ opponent in 2026 NFL Kickoff game
The Seattle Seahawks were already announced as the hosts of the first game of the 2026 regular season as reigning Super Bowl champions. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, their visitors in that matchup will be the New England Patriots, the same team they beat in Super Bowl 60 in February.
Lions, Bears to meet on Thanksgiving
The Detroit Lions are set to kick off Thanksgiving NFL action at 1:00 p.m. ET when they host their NFC North rivals. It is the second interdivision battle announced on the day, as the Eagles and Cowboys are set to meet in the second game.
Advertisement
Netflix to broadcast Packers vs. Rams on Thanksgiving Eve
The NFL has added yet another stand-alone game to Thanksgiving week. Netflix announced that the Packers and Rams would face off on Wednesday, Nov. 25 in the league’s first-ever “Thanksgiving Eve” game.
The Rams will host the Packers at SoFi Stadium. Netflix did not specify a kickoff time for the game.
It isn’t yet clear how the NFL will handle Green Bay and Los Angeles‘ respective schedules in the lead-up to that game. The league figures to either have both teams on bye in Week 11 or could have one play on “Thursday Night Football” before its Wednesday contest.
Advertisement
NFL reveals every international game on schedule
The NFL announced its entire lineup of international games for the 2026 season during “Good Morning Football” on May 13.
Notably, two teams – the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers – will each play internationally twice in 2026. The Jaguars will play back-to-back games in London in Weeks 5 and 6 while the 49ers will play the inaugural NFL Australia game in Week 1 while traveling to Mexico City to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.
Below is a look at the NFL’s full international schedule for 2026, which includes nine total games.
Bengals to meet Falcons in Madrid, Spain
Advertisement
The first NFL international game on the 2026 schedule has been confirmed. The Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will play Week 9, Sunday, Nov. 8, in Madrid, Spain, on NFL Network, the league announced in a social media post.
The game will take place at Bernabéu Stadium and it will be the third international game for the Bengals. The last time they played overseas was in 2016 and 2019 in London. The Madrid game is one of nine international games. This game will mark the sixth in Falcons franchise history overseas, having previously played in London (2014, 2021, and 2023) and Berlin (2025).
There will be no shortage of star power in this meeting, headlined by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, Tee Higgins and Drake London, to name a few.
Chiefs and Broncos to wrap up Week 1 on ‘Monday Night Football’
Advertisement
Patrick Mahomes has been eyeing a Week 1 return ever since he tore his ACL. Now he’ll get a few extra days to make that a reality. The Chiefs and Broncos will finish off the opening week of the season, per
Hence then, the article about nfl schedule leaks tracking latest news rumors updates about 2026 schedule was published today ( ) and is available on TOP world News today ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( NFL schedule leaks: Tracking latest news, rumors, updates about 2026 schedule )
Also on site :
- 1971 Folk Classic, by 'Genius' Singer-Songwriter, Helped Define One of the 'Best Movies of the 21st Century'
- US seeking to convince China to pressure Iran – Rubio
- Influencer ‘Chud the Builder’ known for his racist content is accused in shooting outside Tennessee courthouse