The 2026 NFL season is wasting no time embracing a wild new era of scheduling. Right out of the gate, Week 1 flips the traditional script with the NFL Kickoff Game moving to a special Wednesday night broadcast on NBC. If that wasn’t unique enough, the action immediately heads to the Land Down Under on Thursday night for a first-of-its-kind clash streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Fortunately, by the time the weekend rolls around, fans can settle back into the familiar rhythm of the gridiron grind. The schedule returns to normalcy with a loaded Sunday afternoon slate, capped off by the traditional Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football broadcasts.
With NFL TV rights scattered across various platforms, CableTV.com is here to clear the noise. Keep scrolling to see every Week 1 kickoff time, channel listing, and our must-watch Game of the Week. You can also head to our NFL Hub Page for team-specific channel breakdowns and other viewing resources.
CableTV.com’s NFL Game of the Week
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (in Melbourne) | Netflix
Coverage begins Thursday, September 10, at 8:35 p.m. ET: There are several compelling matchups in Week 1, including some marquee divisional showdowns. The league even scheduled a Super Bowl LX rematch to kick off the entire week. But to me, the most anticipated game of Week 1 is the San Francisco 49ers facing their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, in Melbourne, Australia.
Last season, the Niners were a 12-5 team that showed many flashes of greatness. But they often gave fans heart palpitations with inconsistent play against divisional opponents when it mattered most. If head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy can iron out those clutch-time flaws, San Francisco will be an absolute monster to face in 2026.
That said, they’ll have their hands full against Sean McVay’s Rams, who fielded the NFL’s highest-scoring offense last year and made a gritty run to the NFC Championship. Although advanced 2025 metrics rated Los Angeles as an elite powerhouse, their title aspirations were ultimately derailed by critical special-teams blunders.
With both squads eager to establish early divisional dominance and fix past mistakes, this Thursday night clash is the must-watch event of Week 1. It’ll stream exclusively on Netflix and air on local stations in the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets.
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NFL TV schedule this week
Every NFL regular-season game airs nationally except for the regional Sunday afternoon matchups on CBS and FOX. If you want live access to out-of-market games, you’ll need NFL Sunday Ticket or NFL RedZone’s whip-around coverage. All local and primetime games stream live on NFL+ for mobile device users.
Below is the complete list of NFL Week 1 matchups. When the game week rolls around, you can check out 506 Sports’ broadcast map to see which Sunday games will air in your region.
NFL schedule this week FAQ
What week is it in the NFL?
We're officially gearing up for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL campaign. The regular-season action kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, following a busy August preseason.
Which NFL teams have a bye this week?
None! Every NFL team takes the field in Week 1, so no fan base is left sitting on the sidelines. The league's designated bye weeks don't officially begin until Week 5.
What date is the NFL schedule released?
The NFL officially dropped its complete 2026 schedule in primetime on Thursday, May 14. But the league teased a few major matchups in the days leading up to the event.
What week does NFL flexible scheduling begin?
The NFL's flexible scheduling officially begins in Week 5, allowing the league to shift Sunday afternoon games into the primetime Sunday Night Football slot. The flex rules later expand to include Monday Night Football starting in Week 12 and Thursday Night Football in Week 13.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, has been writing and refining this weekly NFL schedule guide since the 2022 season. Each week, he reviews the official league schedule and cross-references it with every broadcast partner. This process assures the channel listings for each matchup—including Spanish-language and alternate broadcasts—are always accurate.
Taylor’s “Game of the Week” selection comes from that hands-on experience, as he watches multiple games in their entirety every game week. His pick is a blend of on-field analysis (team performance, playoff stakes) and off-field expertise (broadcast accessibility). That dedicated, hands-on experience is what gives this TV guide a true fan’s perspective.
Check out our Editorial Policy page to learn more about CableTV.com and the methods we use.
Taylor Kujawa is a sports and entertainment fanatic who loves using his industry expertise to help keep you informed about your favorite leagues. With a bachelor’s degree in video production and over eight years of writing experience, Taylor brings a wealth of digital media knowledge to CableTV.com. He’s also the co-founder and media producer at Her Football Hub, a UK-based web publication dedicated to women’s soccer football. Outside of work, you can usually find Taylor exploring nature or binge-watching the latest TV craze.
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