The 2026 National Football League campaign launches with a high‑profile rematch of the previous Super Bowl, as the reigning champions Seattle Seahawks welcome the New England Patriots to the field on Wednesday night. This marquee contest sets the tone for a week packed with action, and Sky Sports has secured the rights to air a total of seven additional games during the opening week, while also revealing the schedule for the upcoming Week Two slate.
One of the highlights on the opening Sunday is the exclusive 6:00 p.m. kickoff featuring the Buffalo Bills traveling to face the Houston Texans.
This game marks the first exclusive Sunday night slot of the season and will be shown live on Sky Sports NFL. Following that, the divisional showdown between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles will kick off at 9:25 p.m., also on Sky Sports NFL, providing fans with a thrilling East Coast rivalry to close out the evening. Beyond the primary Sky Sports NFL channel, three further contests will be available on the Sky Sports + platform later that night, ensuring a broad array of viewing options. The NFC East rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will be the featured Sunday night game, while the Monday night clash between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs rounds out the week’s schedule.
Here is a detailed rundown of the live broadcasts: - New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks – 1:20 a.m. Thursday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals – 6:00 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports +) - Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports +) - Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders – 9:25 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports +, streaming) - Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants – 1:20 a.m. Monday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:15 a.m. Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills – 1:15 a.m.
Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears – 6:00 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots – 6:00 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos – 9:05 p.m.
Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys – 9:25 p.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals – 9:25 p.m.
Friday (live on Sky Sports +, streaming) - Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:20 a.m. Monday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) - New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams – 1:15 a.m.
Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event) Sky Sports will continue to provide the most extensive NFL coverage available in the United Kingdom and Ireland, delivering more than half of the league’s games live throughout the season across its suite of channels. This includes the traditional Sunday evening double‑headers, prime‑time spectacles, NFL Redzone, International Series matchups, Thanksgiving Day games, the postseason, and the climactic Super Bowl LXI. Each week, viewers can expect a robust selection of top‑tier games. Sky retains the exclusive first‑pick for the Sunday 6:00 p.m.
slot on Sky Sports NFL and also secures the premier 9:00 p.m. matchup. In addition, a secondary 6:00 p.m. game and up to two additional 9:00 p.m.
contests will be broadcast simultaneously on Sky Sports channels, giving fans ample choice. For the 2026 campaign, Sky Sports is expanding its on‑the‑ground production capabilities in the United States. The broadcaster will increase its presence at NFL venues, offering richer storytelling, deeper analysis, and more immersive reporting directly from the heart of American football.
Leading the regular Sunday presentation team are Neil Reynolds, Phoebe Schecter, and Jason Bell, while former NFL star Bridget Condon and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will front Sky’s live US broadcasts. The dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel will remain the round‑the‑clock home for NFL coverage in the UK and Ireland, from the regular season through to the Super Bowl LXI, which is scheduled to be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, 14 February 2027.
Fans can watch every moment of the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including the full playoff run and the championship game. Subscriptions are available through traditional Sky Sports packages or via the NOW streaming service, which offers contract‑free access to all the action.