NFL Schedule This Week Features Super Bowl Rematch and Historic International Expansion

The NFL schedule this week opens with the Seattle Seahawks facing the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9, marking a Super Bowl LX rematch with the Seahawks installed as 4.5-point favorites. The 2026 season introduces nine international games, including the first NFL contest ever played in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams on September 10. Beyond the opening week's marquee matchups, the schedule emphasizes player revenge narratives and unprecedented global reach that define the competitive landscape ahead.

Opening Week Features High-Profile Rematch

The Seahawks-Patriots matchup immediately establishes competitive intrigue for the campaign. Beyond the opening contest, bettors have already received full odds for every game, with spreads ranging from the Jacksonville Jaguars favoring themselves by 7.5 points against Cleveland to the Los Angeles Chargers opening as 9.5-point favorites over Arizona. The Buffalo Bills face Houston as 1.5-point underdogs, while the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs open at 2.5-point favorites against Denver.

International Expansion Reaches New Milestone

The 2026 season represents a watershed moment for NFL global presence. Beyond the Melbourne, Australia matchup between San Francisco and Los Angeles, additional international contests take place in London and Madrid. The Colts visit the Washington Commanders in London during the regular season, while the Bengals travel to Atlanta in a Madrid-based game. This nine-game international slate reflects the league's strategic expansion into markets previously untapped for regular-season competition.

Thanksgiving Showcases Star Power

The holiday schedule delivers signature matchups featuring marquee quarterbacks. The Buffalo Bills, led by Josh Allen, host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving night as 2.5-point favorites—a contest that could define playoff seeding. The schedule also features the NFL's inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game between Green Bay and Los Angeles, expanding traditional holiday programming and creating additional betting opportunities across the extended weekend.

Revenge Narratives Add Subplots

Personnel moves have created compelling storylines throughout the schedule. Mike McDaniel, the Chargers' offensive coordinator, returns to Miami to face his former team in Week 16, two days after Christmas. Wide receivers Romeo Doubs, Jaylen Waddle, D.J. Moore, and Michael Pittman all face former employers, adding emotional dimensions to regular-season contests. These matchups generate fan engagement beyond traditional competitive interest and create unique narratives at specific points during the season.