What to know ahead of Thursday's full 2026 NFL sch...
Key takeaways
- Since 2004, defending champs have gone 16-5 in season openers, according to ESPN Research, including the Philadelphia Eagles' 24-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys to start the 2025 season.
- The season is starting on a Wednesday to accommodate the first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia.
- The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents and seven countries.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Since 2004, defending champs have gone 16-5 in season openers, according to ESPN Research, including the Philadelphia Eagles' 24-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys to start the 2025 season.
The season is starting on a Wednesday to accommodate the first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia. The Los Angeles Rams will play the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET. Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of New York and 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles and San Francisco, meaning the game will kick off at 10:35 a.m. local time the next day in Australia.
The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents and seven countries.