NFL schedule leaks: Tracking latest news, rumors, updates about 2026 schedule

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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.

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

NFL schedule 2026

Week 1

  • Wednesday, Sept. 9: Seattle Seahawks vs. TBA (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
  • Thursday, Sept. 10: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers in Australia (8:35 p.m. ET, Netflix)
  • Sunday, Sept. 13: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
  • Monday, Sept. 14: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)

Week 2

  • Thursday, Sept 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

Week 3

Week 4

  • Sunday, Oct. 4: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders in London (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

Week 5

Week 6

  • Sunday, Oct. 18: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

Week 7

  • Sunday, Oct. 25: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

Week 9

  • Sunday, Nov. 8: Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain (Time TBA, NFL Network)

Week 10

  • Sunday, Nov. 15: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany (9:30 a.m. ET, Fox)

Week 11

  • Sunday, Nov. 22: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

Week 12

  • Wednesday, Nov. 25: Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Netflix)
  • 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.

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.

Netflix to broadcast Packers vs. Rams on Thanksgiving Eve

  • Date: May 13

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.

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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.

NFL reveals every international game on schedule

  • Date: May 13

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.

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Bengals to meet Falcons in Madrid, Spain

  • Date: May 12

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.

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Chiefs and Broncos to wrap up Week 1 on 'Monday Night Football'

  • Date: May 12

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 ESPN's Adam Schefter, but it hasn't been revealed whether that game will take place in Kansas City or Denver.

The Chiefs are hoping for a return to form in 2026 after missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era. On the opposite sideline, the Broncos come into the year with unfinished business. They fell short of a Super Bowl appearance after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury in the divisional round.

Denver established itself as the team to beat in the AFC West, but someone will gain the upper hand early with plenty on the line in Week 1.

Bills to host Lions in first "Thursday Night Football" game in 2026

  • Date: May 11

The Buffalo Bills will host the Detroit Lions in the first "Thursday Night Football" game of the 2026 season in Week 2 on Thursday, Sept 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Amazon Prime Video, which owns the rights to the game, announced the Bills-Lions primetime matchup in a social media post. It will be the first game at the new Highmark Stadium which means Buffalo will be on the road in Week 1.

The two last met in December 2024, in a 48-42 shootout that ended with Buffalo victorious, behind four total touchdowns by Josh Allen. It will be the second straight year that Buffalo has its home opener in primetime. The Bills have won four consecutive home openers.

Eagles to play Cowboys on Thanksgiving

  • Date: May 11

For the first time since 2015, the Philadelphia Eagles are playing a game on Turkey Day. This year's Thanksgiving matchup with the Cowboys will also be the third time ever that Dallas hosts the Eagles on the national holiday – and the first time since 2014.

The Eagles came away with the win in each of the last two Thanksgiving meetings between the NFC East rivals: 1989 and 2014.

Fox Sports, the network that owns the broadcasting rights to the game, announced the Eagles-Cowboys clash in a social media post on May 11. The contest is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving, which is on Nov. 26 this year.

Still to be announced for the Thanksgiving slate are the Lions' opponent in the earlier game as well as the two teams due to compete in the evening matchup.

Giants to host the Cowboys on 'Sunday Night Football' in Week 1

  • Date: May 11
  • Source: NBC

NBC is heading to MetLife Stadium in Week 1 as John Harbaugh makes his debut as the head coach of the Giants. It's a classic rivalry matchup tied to a game that figures to have no shortage of storylines and hype. Jaxson Dart will get a big test right away against a revamped Dallas defense, which will see the debut of Caleb Downs in the secondary.

Both teams are looking for a return to the postseason this season. One of them will get to land the first punch under the lights on the big stage.

Netflix to exclusively stream the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia

Netflix will broadcast its fifth-ever exclusive streaming game in Week 1, according to reports. It will air on Thursday, Sept. 10, between the Rams and 49ers as the NFC West rivals take part in the inaugural NFL Australia game which will be the second game of the 2026 season. The streaming giant has previously aired two Christmas Day games each of the last two seasons and is set to continue doing so in 2026 as a three-year deal enters its final season.

NFL reveals international games hosts for 2026

The NFL is set to play nine international games in seven different countries during the 2026 season. It has announced the host for those nine contests. They are as follows:

  • London, England (Tottenham): Washington Commanders
  • London, England (Tottenham): Jacksonville Jaguars
  • London, England (Wembley): Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Munich, Germany: Detroit Lions
  • Madrid, Spain: Atlanta Falcons
  • Mexico City, Mexico: San Francisco 49ers
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens
  • Melbourne, Australia: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

The NFL hasn't yet announced who will play against each host team. That will occur on Wednesday, May 13 on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football."

What time will the NFL schedule be released?

The NFL schedule is set to be released on Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

The league will reveal the full 2026 international schedule at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13, during "Good Morning Football" on NFL Network.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL schedule leaks 2026: Latest rumors, updates, news

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