NFL fans will have to wait a little longer for the return of Monday Night Football.
There is no NFL game tonight, as the 2026 preseason officially wrapped up on Saturday, Aug. 29. With preseason action now over, teams are focused on final roster decisions and preparing for the regular season.
When Does the 2026 NFL Season Start?
The regular season opens with a matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, Sept. 9.
Here is the complete Week 1 schedule:
Wednesday, Sept. 9
- Patriots vs. Seahawks — New England opens the season in Seattle at 8:20 p.m. ET. Watch on NBC and Peacock.
Thursday, Sept. 10
- 49ers vs. Rams — The NFC West rivals meet in Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix.
Sunday, Sept. 13
- Bears vs. Panthers — Chicago visits Carolina at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Ravens vs. Colts — Baltimore travels to Indianapolis for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.
- Buccaneers vs. Bengals — Tampa Bay heads to Cincinnati at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Falcons vs. Steelers — Atlanta takes on Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Jets vs. Titans — New York visits Tennessee at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
- Saints vs. Lions — New Orleans opens against Detroit at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Bills vs. Texans — Buffalo travels to Houston for a 1 p.m. ET matchup on CBS.
- Browns vs. Jaguars — Cleveland begins its season in Jacksonville at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
- Cardinals vs. Chargers — Arizona visits Los Angeles at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
- Packers vs. Vikings — Green Bay heads to Minnesota for a 4:25 p.m. ET game on CBS.
- Dolphins vs. Raiders — Miami travels to Las Vegas at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Commanders vs. Eagles — Washington visits Philadelphia at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Cowboys vs. Giants — Dallas and New York close out Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
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Monday, Sept. 14
- Broncos vs. Chiefs — Denver visits Kansas City at 8:15 p.m. ET for the first Monday Night Football game of the season, airing on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN2.
Major Preseason Storylines
Although the preseason is now over and every team enters Week 1 at 0-0, the past few weeks produced plenty of storylines.
The Dallas Cowboys faced a quarterback decision involving Sam Howell and Joe Milton, while Mike McCarthy suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could potentially carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.
Injuries were another major concern. Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps, while Chargers center Tyler Biadasz suffered a knee injury that included ACL damage.
The Cleveland Browns also drew attention for their quarterback situation. Deshaun Watson made his first home appearance since his 2024 Achilles injury and was heavily booed by fans during the second preseason game. He initially called the reaction “disrespectful” and “personal,” but later walked back those comments after being named the Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders.
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With the preseason now complete, teams have shifted their attention to final roster moves and Week 1 preparation. The regular season is just around the corner, with the Patriots and Seahawks set to officially get the 2026 campaign underway.
