The NFL's must-watch games to circle in your 2026 calendar

Among them, there's a record nine NFL international games spanning seven countries, with London, Paris, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City taking centre stage.

Here are 19 can't-miss NFL matchups that you need to circle in your calendar in the upcoming season.

NFL Week 1 games to circle

New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks

• Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026 (UK)
• Kick-off (BST): 1.20am
• Kick-off (ET): 8.20pm (Wednesday, September 9)
• Kick-off (PT): 5.20pm (Wednesday, September 9)
• Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Kicking off the season is the same titanic matchup that ended the previous campaign at Super Bowl LX.

Drake Maye vs. Sam Darnold, Mike Vrabel vs. Mike Macdonald, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Christian Gonzalez is about as good of a curtain-raiser as we could hope for.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne)

• Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
• Kick-off (BST): 1.35am
• Kick-off (ET): 8.35pm (Thursday, September 10)
• Kick-off (PT): 5.35pm (Thursday, September 10)
• Kick-off (AEST): 10.35am
• Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia

Australia's debut regular-season game should be a thriller, with two powerhouses squaring off at the iconic MCG.

This unmissable NFC West rivalry pits MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and new arrival Myles Garrett against Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

• UK (BST): Tuesday, September 15, at 1.15am
• US (ET): Monday, September 14, at 8.15pm
• US (PT): Monday, September 14, at 5.15pm
• Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Denver ended Kansas City's nine-year stranglehold on the AFC West in 2025 and now open on the road against the team they dethroned in a Monday Night Football season opener dripping with storylines.

Patrick Mahomes is healthy, Travis Kelce is back, and Kenneth Walker will be showcasing his Super Bowl MVP talents in his Chiefs' debut.

Denver, meanwhile, prepares to show the world what Bo Nix can do with the new signing, Jaylen Waddle.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 2 game to circle

Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills

• Date: Friday, September 18, 2026 (UK)
• Kick-off (BST): 1.15am
• Kick-off (ET): 8.15pm (Thursday, September 17)
• Kick-off (PT): 5.15pm (Thursday, September 17)
• Venue: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

The Bills host the Lions at the brand-new Highmark Stadium in Week 2, in a game between two teams with realistic Super Bowl aspirations.

Josh Allen will unleash a new weapon in D.J. Moore, while Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs will be early in what we believe will be an OPOY-worthy campaign.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 3 game to circle

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro)

• Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
• Kick-off (BST): 9.25pm
• Kick-off (ET): 4.25pm
• Kick-off (PT): 1.25pm
• Kick-off (BRT): 5.25pm
• Venue: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Ravens and Cowboys head to Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracanã Stadium, ensuring the NFL's first regular-season game ever played in the city is packed with star power.

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers lead a Ravens offense determined to bounce back after missing the playoffs in 2025.

On the other sideline, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will give the Brazilian crowd plenty to shout about.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 4 game to circle

Indianapolis Colts @ Washington Commanders (London)

• Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
• Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

The first of three London games in 2026 features two sides desperate to prove they can mix it with the best after a down year.

The packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd will be roaring on as Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and Alec Pierce square off with Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 5 game to circle

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

• Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
• Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

The second London game of 2026 brings the Eagles and Jaguars to Tottenham in Week 5.

Philadelphia are keen to reestablish themselves as an NFC powerhouse after a sluggish 2025 campaign left fans disappointed after their Super Bowl-winning 2024 season.

Jacksonville head to London as genuine believers after Liam Coen turned a 4-13 side into a 13-4 AFC South champion in one season.

Jalen Hurts vs. Trevor Lawrence is the marquee matchup.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 6 game to circle

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

• Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
• Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, UK

The third and final London game of 2026 is a genuine AFC South title rivalry between two teams who can't seem to decide which owns the division.

The central storyline is C.J. Stroud's reputation. After a nightmare postseason in which he became the first player in NFL history to rack up five interceptions and five fumbles across just two playoff games, he needs a statement performance on the international stage.

Lawrence, meanwhile, arrives in form and with momentum, having posted a franchise-record 38 touchdowns in 2025.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 7 game to circle

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints (Paris)

• Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Kick-off (CET): 3.30pm
• Venue: Stade de France, Paris, France

Paris hosts its first-ever NFL game in Week 7, as the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France.

Aaron Rodgers' return sets up what should be a great contest between a Saints side on the rise under Tyler Shough and an experienced Steelers outfit under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 9 game to circle

Cincinnati Bengals @ Atlanta Falcons (Madrid)

• Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Kick-off (CET): 3.30pm
• Venue: Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

Madrid's Bernabéu hosts its second NFL game in as many years in Week 9 as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Atlanta Falcons, with both sides chasing improvement.

Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins against Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts is as good a matchup as the international schedule has to offer.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

NFL Week 10 game to circle

New England Patriots @ Detroit Lions (Munich)

• Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 2.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
• Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
• Kick-off (CET): 3.30pm
• Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

The Patriots bring their Super Bowl hangover to Munich's Allianz Arena in Week 10, facing the Lions in front of a German crowd that always brings the energy.

Drake Maye, last year's MVP runner-up, leads a Patriots side desperate to go one better in 2026, and he has help in the shape of newcomer A.J. Brown.

Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs - our tip for the Offensive Player of the Year - will be going all out to beat Vrabel's group.

NFL Week 11 game to circle

Minnesota Vikings @ San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City)

• Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 1.20am
• Kick-off (ET): 8.20pm (Sunday, November 22)
• Kick-off (PT): 5.20pm (Sunday, November 22)
• Kick-off (CST): 7.20pm (Sunday, November 22)
• Venue: Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico

The NFL returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2022, with the always-competitive San Francisco 49ers hosting a Minnesota Vikings side in transition.

The headline storyline is at quarterback for Minnesota, where Kyler Murray will be eager to show he deserves the starting job.

He'll face the likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Co. in a stern test.

NFL Week 12 games to circle

The Thanksgiving schedule never disappoints, and this year is no exception.

Green Bay Packers @ Los Angeles Rams (Thanksgiving Eve)

• Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (UK) / Wednesday, November 25 (US)
• Kick-off (GMT): 1am
• Kick-off (ET): 8pm (Wednesday, November 25)
• Kick-off (PT): 5pm (Wednesday, November 25)
• Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams against Jordan Love's Packers at SoFi Stadium is a superb way to kick off a stellar Thanksgiving slate.

Beyond the two gunslingers, Christian Watson and Micah Parsons headline the billing for the Packers, while Puka Nacua and Davante Adams present a formidable wideout duo for the Rams.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving Day)

• Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 6pm
• Kick-off (ET): 1pm
• Kick-off (PT): 10am
• Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

The fun twist here is Bears head coach Ben Johnson returning to face his former team.

Caleb Williams, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland will be desperate to overcome their division rivals in this prime-time slot.

Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Aidan Hutchinson might have something to say about that, eager to prove their 2025 postseason absence was an anomaly.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving Day)

• Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 9.30pm
• Kick-off (ET): 4.30pm
• Kick-off (PT): 1.30pm
• Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

The stakes are sky-high in this NFC East battle, with division superiority and bragging rights on the line.

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith guarantee something special, and by this point in the season, first-round rookie WR Makai Lemon should be finding his groove.

But Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens won't make it easy, on a mission to end Dallas' two-year playoff drought.

Visit this link for the full game preview.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills (Thanksgiving Night)

• Date: Friday, November 27, 2026 (UK) / Thursday, November 26 (US)
• Kick-off (GMT): 1.20am
• Kick-off (ET): 8.20pm (Thursday, November 26)
• Kick-off (PT): 5.20pm (Thursday, November 26)
• Venue: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Half-a-billion-dollar-man Patrick Mahomes brings the Chiefs to the brand-new Highmark Stadium to face Josh Allen and the Bills, where two of the AFC's perennial heavyweights lock horns.

Kansas City are a strong bet to rebound after a down year in 2025, while Buffalo are desperate to go further than their Divisional Round exit.

NFL Week 14 game to circle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Baltimore Ravens

• Date: Sunday, December 13, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 6pm
• Kick-off (ET): 1pm
• Kick-off (PT): 10am
• Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore missed the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2021 and are desperate to rebound in 2026.

Standing in their way in Week 14 is a Buccaneers side that is always fun to watch, with a high-octane offense headlined by Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, and Emeka Egbuka.

How that trio fares against a Baltimore defense boasting Trey Hendrickson, Roquan Smith and arguably the NFL's best safety, Kyle Hamilton, will make this game an exciting watch.

NFL Week 16 game to circle

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears (Christmas Day)

• Date: Friday, December 25, 2026
• Kick-off (GMT): 6pm
• Kick-off (ET): 1pm
• Kick-off (PT): 10am
• Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

NFL fans were handed a gift with the Week 16 Christmas schedule, and this - one of the NFL's oldest and most storied rivalries - might be the pick of the bunch.

Jordan Love and the Packers make the trip to Soldier Field to face the reigning NFC North champion Bears with one thing in mind: Establish themselves as the team to beat in the NFC North.

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's Bears arrive full of confidence after ending Detroit's two-year grip on the division.

NFL Week 18 game to circle

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams

• Date: Sunday, January 10, 2027
• Kick-off (GMT): TBD
• Kick-off (ET): TBD
• Kick-off (PT): TBD
• Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

The NFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in football, boasting three 2025 playoff teams in a race that came down to the wire. Any such repeat in 2026 would make this contest decisive.

Were that not enough of a draw, a game featuring the likes of OPOY Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the man who came within a whisker of JSN's receiving title, Puka Nacua, simply cannot be missed.

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