2026 NFL Schedule Release: 5 games Duck fans should be excited about
· Yahoo Sports
The Oregon Ducks are among the leaders in college football of sending their players to the NFL, with 54 players either signed to a team's active roster or on the practice squad. Much of those players have been under head coach Dan Lanning, who's transformed the program into a fast-track to the pros.
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As such, with the NFL releasing its 2026 schedule on Thursday, the schedule is lined with pro Duck versus pro Duck matchups, all of which are worthy of getting excited for from an Oregon fan's perspective. Some occur every year, with the Denver Broncos led by quarterback Bo Nix facing off against the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers, quarterbacked by Justin Herbert. Those are always priority No. 1 for Duck fans, as the two former Oregon standouts always seem to put on a show.
Also littered in the schedule are a bevy of niche matchups between Ducks, with potential one-on-one matchups taking place between offense and defense.
Though every week is set to have a former Duck take on another former Duck, these five games are ones in particular that Oregon fans should circle ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Week 1 — Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Right away, the NFL schedule-makers give Duck fans an exciting matchup to look forward to. Of course, Nix is the headliner here, as he'll be kicking off his third season in the NFL after making a leap as a sophomore. But baked into this matchup are the Ducks at other positions that could find themselves matched up with one another. Wide receiver Troy Franklin, also in his third season, could find himself being guarded by 2026 fourth-round pick Jadon Canady, who may push for immediate playing time. Linebacker Jeffrey Bassa should also carve out a role on the Chiefs' defense as he enters his second season. Oh, and it's in primetime for the NFL's first Monday Night Football game of the 2026 season, no less.
Week 4 — Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets
Four weeks into the season, we should have a good grasp of how significant the roles are for New York Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman. The expectation, as they were selected in the 2026 first round, is that both will be at least rotational players with potential to start from Day 1. This is a prime one-and-one matchup waiting to happen, with Thieneman showing a strong ability to cover tight ends during his time at Oregon. Don't be surprised if there's a handful of targets thrown Sadiq's way with Thieneman as the closest defender.
Week 5 — Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Quarterbacks from the same college matching up in the NFL is an abnormality, but not for Oregon. Since Nix entered the league in 2024, he and Herbert have faced off three times with both players starting (Herbert rested for a meaningless Week 18 game in 2025). All three games have come down to the final possession, though the Chargers have come away with all three victories. This Week 5 matchup between the Broncos and Chargers is a big one, as it could determine tiebreakers late in the season with both expecting to contend for playoff spots. They meet again in Week 18, but if all things go as planned, one or both will be resting and gearing up for what they hope are long playoff runs.
Week 6 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite battling injuries that limited him to just 12 games in 2025, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was one of the more under discussed rookies of last year's class. When he was off the field, the Steelers' defense crumbled, and when he was on it, they were one of the top units in the league. In Week 6, he'll be tasked with combatting the strong rushing attack of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by Bucky Irving, a slippery back who burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024. He was injured for much of last year, but now healthy, he could be primed for a breakout this fall. The electric Tez Johnson is also in the game — could we see another viral flip if he reaches the end zone?
Week 17 — Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
If you love the trenches and Duck football, this ones for you. On Monday Night Football in Week 17, Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell will be tasked with slowing down the New York Giants' strong pass rush including Kayvon Thibodeaux. As an edge rusher will versatility to flip to either side, don't be surprised if the two former Ducks battle in one-on-one matchups for more than a handful of snaps. Thibodeaux is in need of a bounce-back fifth season, and his performance against the All-Pro Sewell could go a long way towards determining if that happens.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five NFL games that Oregon Duck fans should be excited about in 2026