The kickoff of the 2026 National Football League campaign arrives with a high‑profile showdown that mirrors a recent Super Bowl clash: the reigning champions, the Seattle Seahawks, will host the New England Patriots on Wednesday night. This marquee matchup sets the tone for a busy opening week, and Sky Sports has lined up a total of seven additional live games for fans in the UK and Ireland, while also revealing the schedule for Week Two.
One of the highlights on Sunday evening is the exclusive 6:00 p.m. kickoff featuring the Buffalo Bills traveling to face the Houston Texans. This game marks Sky Sports’ first exclusive Sunday night broadcast of the season. Following that, the divisional rivalry between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles will be aired at 9:25 p.m.
on Sky Sports NFL, giving viewers a taste of NFC East competition. Three more contests will be available on Sky Sports + during the Sunday night window, and the classic NFC East grudge match—Dallas Cowboys versus New York Giants—will serve as the league’s Sunday night feature. The opening week will close out with a Monday night clash between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here is the full slate of games and the channels on which they will be streamed: - New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks – 1:20 a.m. Thursday (live on Sky Sports NFL & 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 & Sky Sports Main Event) - Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:15 a.m. Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event) - Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills – 1:15 a.m. Friday (live on Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event) - Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL) - Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots – 6:00 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos – 9:05 p.m.
Sunday (live on Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event) - Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports Football) - Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals – 9:25 p.m. Sunday (live on Sky Sports +, streaming) - Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1:20 a.m.
Monday (live on Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event) - New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams – 1:15 a.m. Tuesday (live on Sky Sports NFL & Sky Sports Main Event) Sky Sports reaffirms its commitment to providing the most extensive NFL coverage across the UK and Ireland, broadcasting more than half of every game live throughout the season. The package includes the traditional Sunday evening double‑headers, prime‑time contests, NFL RedZone, International Series matchups, Thanksgiving Day games, the full playoff schedule and, ultimately, Super Bowl LXI. Fans can expect the premier Sunday 6 p.m.
game to be shown exclusively on Sky Sports NFL, with the top 9 p.m. slot also secured as an exclusive offering. In addition, a second 6 p.m.
game and up to two additional 9 p.m. matchups will be aired simultaneously on Sky Sports channels, giving viewers a broader selection of live action.
For 2026, Sky Sports is expanding its on‑the‑ground production footprint in the United States. The broadcaster will deliver richer storytelling, deeper analysis and more immersive reporting directly from the heart of American football. Regular Sunday presenters Neil Reynolds, Phoebe Schecter and Jason Bell will anchor the studio coverage, while former NFL star Bridget Condon and former defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will front the live game broadcasts from the U.S.
The dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel will continue to serve as the round‑the‑clock hub for the league throughout the regular season, playoffs and culminating in Super Bowl LXI, which is scheduled for Sunday, 14 February 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. To watch every moment of the 2026 NFL season, including the playoffs and the championship game, fans can subscribe to Sky Sports or stream without a contract via NOW. For the best viewing experience, Sky recommends using the Chrome browser to access the video player.