The 2026 NFL season is almost here, but the first weekend of September is still a dead zone for fans looking for live game action. There are no preseason or regular-season NFL games scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 3-6.
The real opening act comes a little later than usual. The league will kick off the regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when the Seahawks host the Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, DIRECTV, fubo and Peacock.
That rare Wednesday start is tied to the first international game of the season, which sends the 49ers and Rams to Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10.
That matchup will air at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix.
From there, Week 1 stretches across Sunday and into Monday with a full menu of games. Sunday, Sept. 13 opens with a heavy afternoon slate at 1 p.m.
ET: Bengals vs. Buccaneers, Lions vs.
Saints, Steelers vs. Falcons and Panthers vs.
Bears will all be on Fox, while Titans vs. Jets, Colts vs.
Ravens, Jaguars vs. Browns and Texans vs.
Bills will be on CBS. Those CBS games will also be available on DIRECTV, fubo and Paramount+.
The late window brings Vikings vs. Packers and Chargers vs.
Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, plus Raiders vs.
Dolphins and Eagles vs. Commanders at 4:25 p.m.
ET on Fox. CBS listings again include DIRECTV, fubo and Paramount+.
The opening week wraps up on Monday, Sept. 14, with Chiefs vs. Broncos on Monday Night Football.
In Other News...
Seahawks Mourn A Respected Coach Who Helped Shape A Super Bowl Unit
Charles Kippy Browns death at 71 brings back a name that still carries weight in Seattle circles, especially for anyone who remembers the Seahawks rise under Pete Carroll. Browns football life stretched from being the first Black quarterback at Memphis State to coaching stops across the NFL and college game, but his years with Seattle stood out as part of a run that helped shape a Super Bowl unit and left a strong impression on the people around it.
Pete Carroll was among those sharing condolences and memories, a reminder that Browns influence went well beyond the playbook. Former players also recalled the positive impact he had, the kind of steady presence that mattered in a building chasing championship standards, and his passing closes the book on a career that connected different eras of football while leaving a lasting mark in Seattle. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks May Face A Tougher Patriots Opener Than Expected
The Patriots backfield looked a little thinner for a moment this week when TreVeyon Henderson went down with a right ankle injury in practice, but the early read is encouraging for New England. He has avoided any major damage and is expected to be ready for Week 1, which matters for a Patriots offense that kept three running backs on the roster, including Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner.
For Seattle, that makes an already tricky opener feel a bit more layered. Henderson has not practiced since the injury, but the expectation is still that he works his way back in time for the matchup, giving New England another option out of the backfield as the Seahawks begin their season trying to sort out a Patriots group that may be healthier than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Tackle Depth Concern Just Got Harder To Ignore
The Seahawks have been looking for any extra stability they can find at tackle, and that led them to veteran Bobby Hart on the practice squad as another layer of insurance for an offensive line that has already been under the microscope. Hart brings plenty of experience, having started 75 games across eight NFL teams, but his path to Seattle has been more about depth than immediate impact after a rough preseason kept him off the 53-man roster.
Seattle is still leaning on its current group, with Abe Lucas and Charles Cross anchoring the tackle spots, but the move underscores how uneasy the team is about its margin for error there. For a unit that needs to stay intact, especially with injury questions hovering over the position, adding Hart keeps the Seahawks covered for now while leaving open the possibility that the issue could get a lot more complicated if the depth chart is tested. [Read more 🡒]