The NFL schedule for the upcoming season has been released, and it features an exciting rematch of the Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The two powerhouse teams will clash in Week 2 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City during the late afternoon game on Fox. Despite the high-profile nature of the game, it will not be a stand-alone national broadcast, unlike other key matchups this season.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, key stars for the Chiefs, will appear in at least eight stand-alone games, highlighting their importance to the league’s biggest draws. However, their much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles will not be one of those exclusive broadcasts. The Eagles, fresh off their dominant 40-22 victory in the Super Bowl, will be featured in seven stand-alone games, including their season opener.
The Ravens and Bills will open the season with a highly anticipated Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 1. This game will spotlight two elite quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, who have been central to the NFL’s narrative over recent years. Allen, last season’s MVP, visits Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens, with both quarterbacks looking to continue their rivalry on a national stage.
Another interesting storyline involves Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans won’t have to wait long for a faceoff against his former team. The Steelers will take on the New York Jets, who have acquired former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, in Week 1, promising an intriguing quarterback duel.
The Eagles will kick off the league’s season at home against NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, on September 4. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will participate in the league’s second game held in Brazil, facing the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Stadium in São Paulo on September 5. This continues the NFL’s push to expand its global footprint, bringing American football to new international audiences.
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas games feature prominently this season, with the Chiefs scheduled to visit the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and host the Broncos on Christmas night. The Cowboys, led by Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, will also be featured on both holidays. Additionally, the Cowboys will visit the Washington Commanders to start a triple-header on Christmas Day.
The Chiefs have a busy prime-time schedule, with three Sunday night games: Week 3 at the New York Giants, a home game against the Detroit Lions on October 12, and another home game against the Houston Texans on December 7. They will also have two Monday night games in October, visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 6 and hosting the Commanders on October 27.
Taylor Swift, who has been dating Travis Kelce since the 2023 season, continues to have a tie to the NFL spotlight as the Chiefs and Kelce feature in many prime-time games.
The schedule also includes AFC and NFC championship rematches. The Chiefs will visit the Bills for their AFC rematch on November 2, while the Eagles will face the Commanders in Washington on December 20. These NFC rivals will meet again two weeks later in Week 18.
The NFL is pushing its international presence further, announcing six of seven record international games recently. The Minnesota Vikings will make history by playing back-to-back international games in two countries first facing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, on September 28, followed by a game against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 5. This marks the first time a team will play two regular-season games in different countries during the same season.
Other international matchups include the Broncos playing the Jets on October 12 in London, the Los Angeles Rams facing the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium a week later, the Falcons taking on the Colts on November 9 in Berlin, and the Washington Commanders playing the Miami Dolphins on November 16 in Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Within the domestic schedule, Philadelphia will visit the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football on October 9 and host the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, November 16. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson, formerly the Lions’ offensive coordinator, will face his previous team for the first time in Week 2 in Detroit.
Highly anticipated rookies will also make their debuts, including No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who could see his first NFL action with the Tennessee Titans against Bo Nix and the Broncos in Denver on September 7.
Former Titans coach Mike Vrabel will also face his old team when the New England Patriots visit Tennessee in Week 7.
Thanksgiving Day’s slate of games will feature not only the Chiefs and Cowboys but also the Packers hosting the Lions in the early game and the Cincinnati Bengals visiting the Baltimore Ravens in prime time. The schedule promises a thrilling season full of high-profile matchups, international expansion, and storylines that will captivate fans from Week 1 through the playoffs.
