As we approach the NFL Preseason Games, the excitement will be building for the start of the regular season and the journey across the winter, through the postseason and, eventually, to Super Bowl LXI.
While there was plenty of buzz for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, American football remains the No.1 box-office attraction for sports fans, though it is increasingly popular outside of North America, too.
In light of the looming campaign, we thought we would make a quick guide to bring you up to speed, looking at key dates, roster changes, contenders, and more:
The 2026 Season Dates
The Kick-Off Game (1st game of the season) will take place on September 9, and it’s quite an eye-catching fixture, pitting the two Super Bowl LX teams – the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots – against each other. Each team will play 17 games across the regular season, finishing up on January 10.
The NFL Playoffs will then begin on January 16, leading us to Super Bowl LXI on February 14. SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, is the venue chosen for the Super Bowl. It is home to two NFL teams, the LA Rams and LA Chargers.
The International Games
NFL games abroad are now a staple of the season, with a record nine regular-season matchups set to take place outside the US this season. Those games are: 49ers vs. Rams (Australia, September 11), Ravens vs. Cowboys (Brazil, September 27), Steelers vs. Saints (France, October 25), Patriots vs. Lions (Germany, November 15), Vikings vs. 49ers (Mexico, November 22), Bengals vs. Falcons (Spain, November 8), Colts vs. Commanders, Eagles vs. Jaguars, Texans vs. Jaguars (UK, October 4, 11, 18).
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BGjLStYCSVI?si=1k20xRba25DfzsrD" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Big Trades and Signings
As expected, plenty of teams rolled the dice to improve their rosters. The most eye-catching trades came from the Rams, who traded for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. Elsewhere, the Patriots got an elite wide receiver, AJ Brown, from the Eagles, and Jaylen Waddle arrived in Denver from Miami.
In terms of notable free agency signings, Mike Evans turned heads by signing with the 49ers. The Ravens took Trey Hendrickson on a huge contract. Kyler Murray has signed with the Vikings. And Tyler Linderbaum became the highest-paid center in football when joining the Raiders.
The Super Bowl Contenders
There is a gaggle of teams with serious Super Bowl hopes, but the Rams enter the new season as favorites with all sportsbooks. You can get the latest NFL odds by clicking here, but the main contenders include the aforementioned Rams, Seahawks, Ravens, Bills, Eagles, Patriots, Chiefs and Chargers.
It’s worth remembering that neither the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Seahawks, nor the runners-up, the Patriots, were viewed among the favorites before last season got underway, so perhaps it will be another team lower down the betting markets that eventually makes the Super Bowl.
Other Notes & Talking Points
Grass is on the agenda this summer. Basically, a row has broken out over the fact that NFL stadiums were able to facilitate grass fields for the FIFA World Cup, whereas a lot of teams are forced to play on synthetic ‘turf’. Players have been vocal that they believe grass is superior, and are asking: if they can do it for soccer, why not football?
Another story that is rumbling on is the possibility of an 18-game season. That might not happen for a few years yet, but it is certainly a possibility. The growing number of international games is also causing some consternation among both fans and players.
