The NFL 2026 season is officially underway, and Week 1 has already produced a dramatic opening game.
NFL 2026: Week 1 Schedule, Scores, Standings & Where to Watch
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 13-10 on Wednesday night, overcoming a 10-point deficit despite losing starting quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury on Seattle’s opening possession. Seattle’s defense intercepted Drake Maye three times in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
Next comes one of the most unusual games in NFL history: the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, the league’s first regular-season game played in Australia. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix.
Here is the latest NFL Week 1 schedule, scores, standings, TV information and biggest storylines.
NFL Week 1 Latest at a Glance
| NFL Week 1 update | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Season | 2026 NFL season |
| Opening result | Seahawks 13, Patriots 10 |
| Seahawks record | 1-0 |
| Patriots record | 0-1 |
| Next game | 49ers vs Rams |
| 49ers-Rams location | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia |
| Kickoff | Sept. 10, 8:35 p.m. ET |
| 49ers-Rams streaming | Netflix |
| Sunday games | September 13 |
| Sunday Night Football | Cowboys vs Giants |
| Monday Night Football | Broncos vs Chiefs |
| Week 1 games | 16 |
The league’s official Week 1 schedule runs from Wednesday through Monday and includes four prime-time windows.
NFL Score: Seahawks Beat Patriots 13-10
Seattle opened its Super Bowl title defense with a 13-10 victory over New England at Lumen Field.
The Patriots led 10-0, but Seattle recovered despite an early injury to quarterback Sam Darnold.
Backup quarterback Drew Lock eventually connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a 45-yard fourth-down touchdown pass that tied the game.
Jason Myers later kicked the go-ahead 26-yard field goal.
Seattle’s defense played the decisive role late.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw three fourth-quarter interceptions, including a final end-zone interception by Josh Jobe that ended New England’s opportunity to tie or win the game.
The result gives Seattle an early 1-0 record, while New England starts 0-1.
Sam Darnold Injury Is an Early NFL Storyline
Seattle’s victory came with an important concern.
Starting quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during Seattle’s first drive and was ruled out for the remainder of the opener.
Darnold had completed one of two passes for 13 yards before leaving.
Seattle will conduct additional evaluation to determine the extent of the injury.
That situation immediately becomes one of the major stories to monitor as the Seahawks begin their Super Bowl defense.
New England also suffered an injury concern when wide receiver A.J. Brown left with a right ankle injury during the third quarter.
NFL Games Today: 49ers vs Rams in Australia
The next NFL game is San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams.
This is not an ordinary NFC West matchup.
The game is being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, making it the first NFL regular-season game ever staged in Australia.
49ers vs Rams Game Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams |
| Date | Thursday, September 10, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:35 p.m. ET |
| Location | Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| City | Melbourne, Australia |
| TV/Streaming | Netflix |
| Mobile streaming | NFL+ |
The game is technically a Rams home game, although it will be played thousands of miles from Los Angeles.
NFL.com notes that both teams won 12 games in 2025, making this the first Week 1 meeting between divisional opponents coming off at least 12 victories each in 15 years.
Why 49ers vs Rams Is Such a Big Game
There are two reasons this matchup stands out.
The first is history.
The NFL has expanded aggressively into international markets, but Australia has never hosted a regular-season league game before.
The Melbourne matchup is part of a record international slate that includes nine regular-season games across seven countries and four continents in 2026.
The second reason is football.
San Francisco and Los Angeles are established NFC West rivals and both reached the playoffs last season.
The Rams have also rebuilt an already talented defense around major offseason additions, including Myles Garrett.
One player who will not participate is Aaron Donald. The NFL’s Week 1 injury report lists Donald as out for the Australia opener.
NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026
Here is the full Week 1 schedule.
| Date | Matchup | Time ET | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9 | Patriots at Seahawks | Final: SEA 13-10 | NBC |
| Sept. 10 | 49ers vs Rams | 8:35 p.m. | Netflix |
| Sept. 13 | Bears at Panthers | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Buccaneers at Bengals | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Saints at Lions | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Bills at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Ravens at Colts | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Browns at Jaguars | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Falcons at Steelers | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Jets at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Cardinals at Chargers | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Dolphins at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Packers at Vikings | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 13 | Commanders at Eagles | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Sept. 13 | Cowboys at Giants | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| Sept. 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
The television assignments and kickoff times are from the NFL’s official Week 1 viewing guide. Local Sunday afternoon availability depends on market.
Biggest NFL Games This Weekend
Sunday’s schedule contains several intriguing matchups.
Bills vs Texans gives two AFC contenders an immediate early-season test.
Packers vs Vikings opens the NFC North schedule with a divisional game.
Commanders vs Eagles provides another NFC East matchup with potential playoff implications later in the season.
Then Sunday night brings one of the NFL’s most recognizable rivalries:
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
Week 1 concludes Monday with:
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
NFL Standings After the Opening Game
Because only one Week 1 game has been completed, the standings remain simple.
Seattle begins:
1-0
New England begins:
0-1
Every other NFL team remains 0-0 until its season opener.
That will change rapidly once the Sunday slate begins.
How to Watch NFL Games in 2026
NFL viewing continues to be divided among broadcast television and streaming platforms.
For Week 1, national and local games appear across:
CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC and Netflix.
NFL+ also offers live local and prime-time regular-season games on supported mobile devices. NFL+ Premium adds features including NFL RedZone, full-game replays, condensed games and other viewing tools.
The exact Sunday afternoon game available on television depends on the viewer’s local market.
Is 49ers vs Rams on Netflix?
Yes.
Netflix is the official U.S. broadcaster for the 49ers-Rams Australia game.
Kickoff is scheduled for:
8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 10.
In Melbourne, the game takes place Friday morning because of the time difference.
This continues the NFL’s expansion of regular-season games onto major streaming platforms.
NFL International Games Expand Again in 2026
The Australia game is only one part of the NFL’s international strategy.
The league has scheduled nine international games during the 2026 regular season, the largest international slate in NFL history.
Host locations include:
Melbourne, London, Munich, Madrid, Paris, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.
The international schedule spans four continents and seven countries.
San Francisco is one of the teams scheduled to play internationally more than once this season.
Key NFL Players to Watch in 2026
The new season also features major roster changes.
NFL.com’s Week 1 preview highlights stars changing teams, including Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown, Trey Hendrickson and Kenneth Walker III.
One of the most anticipated changes is Garrett joining the Rams after breaking the NFL single-season sacks record in 2025.
The former Defensive Player of the Year is expected to make his Los Angeles debut against San Francisco in Melbourne.
New England’s A.J. Brown also made his Patriots debut in Wednesday’s opener before leaving with an ankle injury.
Who Won the Super Bowl Last Season?
The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, defeating the New England Patriots.
That is why the NFL scheduled the same teams for the 2026 season opener—a rare immediate Super Bowl rematch.
Seattle then defeated New England again on Wednesday, although this time by the much narrower score of 13-10.
The Seahawks are therefore beginning their title defense at 1-0.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NFL
What NFL games are on today?
The next scheduled game is 49ers vs Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET. It streams on Netflix.
What was the NFL score last night?
Seattle defeated New England 13-10 in the 2026 NFL season opener.
When did the 2026 NFL season start?
The regular season began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with New England at Seattle.
Where can I watch the NFL?
Depending on the game and market, NFL games air or stream on CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC, Netflix and NFL+.
Is there an NFL game in Australia?
Yes. The 49ers and Rams play the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Who is first in the NFL standings?
After the opening game, Seattle is 1-0. Most teams have not yet played their first game.
Who plays Sunday Night Football in Week 1?
The Dallas Cowboys play the New York Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC on September 13.
Who plays Monday Night Football?
The Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, September 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET. The game airs on ESPN and ABC.
Bottom Line
The NFL 2026 season is officially underway.
Seattle began its Super Bowl defense with a dramatic 13-10 comeback win over New England, fueled by three fourth-quarter interceptions of Drake Maye. The Seahawks now lead the early standings at 1-0, although the status of injured quarterback Sam Darnold is an immediate concern.
Next comes the NFL’s historic first regular-season game in Australia as the 49ers face the Rams in Melbourne on Thursday at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix.
Sunday then brings 13 games before the Broncos and Chiefs close Week 1 on Monday Night Football.
With international expansion, major offseason roster changes and an already dramatic opening result, the 2026 NFL season has wasted little time producing significant storylines.
