Image Source: The New York Times
The NFL schedule takes center stage Sunday as 26 teams begin their 2026 campaigns, creating a full day of football packed with quarterback questions, new coaching staffs, fantasy implications and early-season pressure. The action begins at 1 p.m. ET before continuing into the afternoon and primetime, with the New York Giants hosting the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Explosive NFL Schedule Features 13-Game Sunday Slate
The first Sunday of the season follows meaningful games Wednesday and Thursday, including Seattle’s 13-10 victory over New England and San Francisco’s 27-7 win against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. Those results already brought significant injury news, with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots receiver A.J. Brown among the notable players affected.
Sunday’s schedule offers several compelling matchups. The Buffalo Bills visit the Houston Texans in one of the day’s most important games, while the Baltimore Ravens travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts. The Cincinnati Bengals host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Detroit Lions welcome the New Orleans Saints in a matchup expected to feature plenty of offensive fireworks.
- Bills at Texans: Buffalo is favored by 1.5 points, with an over-under of 44.5.
- Ravens at Colts: Baltimore enters as a 3.5-point favorite in a game with a 47.5-point total.
- Buccaneers at Bengals: Cincinnati is favored by 3.5 points, while the total sits at 50.5.
- Saints at Lions: Detroit is favored by 6.5 points in a game carrying a 49.5-point total.
Critical Quarterback Storylines to Watch
Buffalo begins a new era with Joe Brady as head coach, while Josh Allen remains the centerpiece of the offense. James Cook, DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid could help the Bills become more dangerous around their star quarterback. Houston, meanwhile, is counting on C.J. Stroud to rebound after a difficult postseason. The Texans’ defense is viewed as elite, making the quarterback matchup especially important.
Baltimore also enters the season with a new coaching structure. Jesse Minter takes over as head coach, and Declan Doyle will direct an attack led by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers. The Colts counter with a healthy Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and newly signed receiver Keenan Allen.
In Detroit, Jared Goff will lead an offense built around Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams. New Orleans hopes second-year quarterback Tyler Shough can continue developing in Kellen Moore’s aggressive system. The Saints will be without rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson for approximately a month because of a hamstring injury.
Surprising Injuries Reshape Week 1 Matchups
Atlanta will face Pittsburgh without Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered an oblique injury during practice. Cooper Rush is expected to start for the Falcons, while Michael Penix Jr. has been medically cleared but is not ready to play. Atlanta still has a dangerous collection of weapons, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
Las Vegas also enters Sunday short-handed. Brock Bowers will miss time after meniscus surgery, placing additional responsibility on Kirk Cousins and running back Ashton Jeanty against Miami. The Dolphins, led by Malik Willis and explosive runner De’Von Achane, are beginning the Jeff Hafley era with plenty to prove.
Other intriguing games include the New York Jets at Tennessee, Cleveland at Jacksonville, Chicago at Carolina and Atlanta at Pittsburgh. The Jets are relying on Geno Smith, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, while the Titans hope Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll can accelerate Cam Ward’s development. Jacksonville is heavily favored against Cleveland behind Trevor Lawrence and a talented group of offensive playmakers.
Sunday Night Football Closes the NFL Schedule
The Giants-Cowboys rivalry will cap the day at MetLife Stadium. Dallas enters under second-year coach Brian Schottenheimer with postseason ambitions, while New York begins the John Harbaugh era hoping to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
The Week 1 schedule concludes Monday night when Kansas City hosts Denver. Patrick Mahomes returns from last season’s ACL injury, while Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is healthy after his own season-ending ankle injury. The primetime finale could provide an early indication of whether both AFC contenders are ready to rebound.
How many teams are playing Sunday?
The source coverage identifies 26 teams in action Sunday, with games beginning at 1 p.m. ET and continuing through Sunday Night Football.
What is the biggest Week 1 game?
Bills at Texans stands out because of the Josh Allen-C.J. Stroud quarterback matchup and the importance of both teams’ early-season expectations.
Who is replacing Tua Tagovailoa?
Cooper Rush is expected to start at quarterback for Atlanta against Pittsburgh after Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury.
Which major players are injured?
Sam Darnold, A.J. Brown, Brock Bowers and Tua Tagovailoa are among the prominent players dealing with injuries entering Week 1.
