The NFL calendar’s latest holiday — the 2026 schedule release — came and went and there wasn’t much time wasted before fans, followers and pundits alike picked the games that matter most.
The Athletic’s NFL beat writers have done their own work, too. From reunions and rematches to revenge games and renewed rivalries, the staff picks the must-see game for all 32 teams.
Arizona Cardinals: vs. Broncos, Week 7
So, this schedule: Uh, yikes. The Cardinals open with four of six on the road. The home games — Seattle and Detroit — are hardly easy. By the time the Broncos arrive Oct. 25, the Carson Beck Watch could be in full effect. This will happen sooner or later. If the Cardinals are hopelessly buried in the NFC West, it would make little sense for first-year coach Mike LaFleur to keep running out a veteran QB, be it Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew. The Cardinals will need to see what they have in Beck, their third-round pick. And that moment could come right around Halloween. — Doug Haller
Atlanta Falcons: at Cleveland, Week 14
It’ll be interesting to see how Browns fans welcome former coach Kevin Stefanski back to Cleveland. Though he was twice named the NFL Coach of the Year, he was 45-56 in six seasons there. That’s not great, but it’s basically the same winning percentage Bill Belichick had in five seasons with the Browns. (You have to grade on a curve with Cleveland.) It’ll likely be an emotional trip for Stefanski, whether he hears boos or cheers from the Dawg Pound. — Josh Kendall
Baltimore Ravens: vs. Chargers, Week 10
The prominent storyline will be Jesse Minter facing his former team. However, don’t discount how badly Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh will want to beat the Ravens after they abruptly fired his brother in January. The Chargers’ roster and front office are loaded with people with Ravens ties. A “Monday Night Football” audience will be treated to a matchup between two teams built in similar fashions. — Jeff Zrebiec
Buffalo Bills: vs. Chiefs, Week 12
Chiefs, Chiefs, always the Chiefs.
Buffalo took a year off from being eliminated by Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes’ torn right ACL and LCL prevented a late-season surge that might have squeezed KC into the postseason and another fateful meeting. The Chiefs staggered throughout the campaign and looked like a husk of their usual, dominant selves.
Yet they remain the Bills’ bugaboo, and Allen-Mahomes still is the NFL’s superlative quarterback duel. — Tim Graham
Carolina Panthers: vs. Ravens, Week 11
There were a lot of intriguing matchups to choose from — especially at home, where the Panthers will host the defending Super Bowl-champion Seahawks, the Broncos, Joe Burrow and the Bengals, along with the Bears and Lions. But the Baltimore Ravens haven’t been to Charlotte in eight years, when Lamar Jackson was a rookie and still playing behind Joe Flacco. Jackson made the most of his limited snaps in the Panthers’ 36-21 win, completing 4 of 5 passes and connecting with Hayden Hurst for his first career touchdown pass. — Joseph Person
Chicago Bears: vs. Packers, Week 16
Santa Claus will barely be back out of the chimney when the Christmas Day kickoff at Soldier Field occurs. Eleven weeks after the Bears and Packers meet for the first time this season in Green Bay, they will reunite for a showcase game by Lake Michigan that ideally will have a lot at stake. Last season, the rivalry was renewed with three down-to-the-wire classics. The Bears won the final two meetings, both at Soldier Field. In a wild-card round playoff clash, Chicago overcame a 21-3 second-half deficit to stun the Packers 31-27. — Dan Wiederer
Cincinnati Bengals: vs. Ravens, Week 17
Step aside, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. All eyes in Cincinnati will be on Paycor Stadium on New Year’s Eve. Bengals fans have been begging the league to put the home contest against Baltimore in primetime after four consecutive years seeing it in primetime on the road, including each of the last three on a Thursday night short week. Finally, the switch flipped. This will be the first Bengals regular-season home game in primetime against Baltimore since 2018. It very well could decide the division title between the two AFC North favorites. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Cleveland Browns: vs. Steelers, Week 4
The first Cleveland-Pittsburgh game of the season isn’t just important because it’s the first edition of a historic rivalry with new coaches on each side: Todd Monken for Cleveland and Mike McCarthy for Pittsburgh. Both teams should also see it as a national showcase and a way to gain at least temporary positioning in what might be a crowded divisional race. This Thursday night game is also the only primetime game on Cleveland’s schedule. — Zac Jackson
Dallas Cowboys: at Seattle, Week 13
A matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions should be quite the test. And then there’s the added storyline of it being DeMarcus Lawrence’s first game against his old team. There’s no question that this one will be circled on his calendar. The Seahawks have been an interesting measuring stick for the Cowboys over the years. Winning at Seattle in Week 6 of the 2014 season was a key moment in what ended up being arguably Dallas’ best season in the past 15 years. Dak Prescott’s first career postseason win came against the Seahawks during the 2018 playoffs. — Jon Machota
Denver Broncos: at New England, Week 17
There are plenty of candidates for this category, but the game at Gillette Stadium, a rematch of the AFC Championship Game played in Denver, trumps them all. The Broncos lost 10-7 to New England in the conference title game, a botched dropback by backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham away from making the Super Bowl. Now, the Broncos will presumably have Bo Nix under center, marking his first matchup with fellow 2024 first-round pick Drake Maye. The Broncos believe they have unfinished business against the Patriots. This primetime matchup figures to have major playoff implications in the AFC. Buckle up. — Nick Kosmider
Detroit Lions: at Green Bay, Week 18
Lions-Bills to open Buffalo’s new stadium on “Thursday Night Football” will be a blast. Thanksgiving vs. the Chicago Bears goes without saying. The Germany game against the Patriots is a great matchup. But I’ll go with a game that could decide the NFC North in the final week of the season — at Lambeau Field to face the Packers. How fun would that be? An early-January game, Lambeau Field, sold-out crowd, perhaps a “Sunday Night Football” airing with the division on the line? Obviously, a lot of moving parts here, but this could shape up to be an excellent matchup. — Colton Pouncy
Green Bay Packers: vs. Dolphins, Week 15
I’m excited to see the Packers face their former defensive coordinator and backup quarterback when Jeff Hafley and Malik Willis come to town. Dolphins first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan also spent the last 22 seasons with the Packers and the last eight under current Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst. Hafley joked at the NFL league meeting earlier this offseason that he hoped this game would be in Week 1 since “one of my favorite guys might not be ready to play by then.” He’s referring, of course, to edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is expected to miss the season’s first couple of games while rehabbing his torn ACL. Hafley didn’t get his wish, but he does have a quarterback who might be comfortable playing at Lambeau Field in late December. — Matt Schneidman
Houston Texans: vs. Bills, Week 1
This is a crucial year for the Texans, especially quarterback C.J. Stroud, who really fizzled in the playoffs last season. The Texans expect their young quarterback to bounce back, and they anticipate becoming a contender again in 2026. Week 1 vs. Josh Allen and the Bills will be a great measuring stick. The dominant Texans defense will test itself against one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Stroud will do his best to win that shootout with Allen while also showing he has taken a step forward in Year 2 of the offense under Nick Caley. — Mike Jones
Indianapolis Colts: at Kansas City, Week 2
The Colts didn’t have a “Sunday Night Football” game last year, and they haven’t won on Sunday night since 2021. This year’s matchup with the Chiefs is a chance for Indianapolis to make an early-season statement and prove that its 8-2 start last year wasn’t a fluke. The Colts lost in overtime against the Chiefs in Week 12 last season when quarterback Daniel Jones played through a fractured left fibula. If Jones is healthy and outplays two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is currently rehabbing from a torn left ACL, he would certainly garner league-wide recognition. — James Boyd
Jacksonville Jaguars: at Chicago, Week 13
A year ago, could you have imagined Jaguars-Bears being a big December game? While the Jags will play more meaningful games against an increasingly competitive AFC South, their Week 13 tilt in Chicago will be a doozy if both teams maintain their momentum from last season. Coaches Liam Coen and Ben Johnson are two of the most exciting offensive minds in the game, and they lifted their teams to wildly impressive seasons in their first year on the job. — Jeff Howe
Kansas City Chiefs: at Buffalo, Week 12
Patrick Mahomes going against Bills quarterback Josh Allen always makes for must-watch TV, and this one will have added spectacle as a Thanksgiving night game played in the Bills’ brand-new Highmark Stadium. Bills fans love seeing the Bills beat the Chiefs — the team that’s caused them so much postseason heartache — and that’s the driving force that makes this the toughest road environment K.C. faces each season. The game surely will have some late-season playoff implications as well, giving it top billing on a Chiefs schedule that features quite a few other doozies. — Jesse Newell
Las Vegas Raiders: vs. Chiefs, Week 4
Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in December, and while Andy Reid said he’s progressing, the status of Kansas City’s star quarterback is in question to start the year. Mahomes missing — or not being 100 percent — for the early matchup would be huge for the Raiders, as he holds a 13-2 career record against them. Winning this one could be an early step toward turning the franchise around. — Sam Warren
Los Angeles Chargers: at Baltimore, Week 10
It will be mentors vs. protégés as the Chargers head to Baltimore for a Week 10 primetime game. Jesse Minter left the Chargers this offseason to take the Ravens head-coaching job. Minter spent the past two seasons as the Chargers defensive coordinator. Before that, he spent two seasons as Jim Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator at Michigan. Minter spoke often about his appreciation and respect for Jim Harbaugh. Now the two will face off in a potentially pivotal November game. Minter is also a mentor to Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, having coached him in college and giving him his first coaching jobs at both the college and NFL level. Lots of fascinating storylines in this one — and we haven’t even mentioned Jim Harbaugh possibly seeking revenge for his brother John, who the Ravens fired this offseason after nearly two decades. — Daniel Popper
It will be mentor vs. protege when Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers meet Jesse Minter’s Baltimore Ravens. (Brooke Sutton / Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams: at Seattle, Week 16
The Rams will have the return to Seattle circled, especially after how last year’s two trips went — the first a collapse in the second half and overtime, featuring a controversial two-point conversion for Seattle; and the second being the NFC Championship Game. The rematch in Seattle lands on Christmas Day.
To become a champion, the Rams have to take down the reigning champ. This game will feature all the stakes and narratives, so many eyeballs, real rivalry juice and one of the most fascinating chess matches in football with Sean McVay and the reigning No. 1 scoring offense up against Mike Macdonald and a Seattle defense that dominated en route to a Lombardi Trophy. — Nate Atkins
Miami Dolphins: at Green Bay, Week 15
The Dolphins are more likely to contend for the No. 1 pick than a playoff spot in 2026, but they’ll have one game that’s a bit more meaningful than all the rest. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis joined forces in Miami this offseason, and they’ll all return to Green Bay in Week 15 to take on the Packers, with whom all three rose to prominence. Willis will command the greatest spotlight in his first full season as a starting quarterback, and he should be well-received at Lambeau Field for his performance as a spot starter for Jordan Love over the past couple seasons. — Jeff Howe
Minnesota Vikings: vs. Bills, Week 9
Two of the NFL’s biggest stars in Justin Jefferson and Josh Allen. A primetime Monday night matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium, one of the league’s best venues for theater. In 2022, the last time Minnesota and Buffalo squared off, the matchup produced one of the most entertaining regular-season games in recent memory. You can already envision Jefferson doing the Griddy out of the tunnel. Allen trying to solve the Rubik’s Cube that is this Vikings defense. Minnesota’s young defensive tackles, working to slow down a Buffalo rushing attack that has consistently been one of the NFL’s best. This one has the makings of another classic. — Alec Lewis
New England Patriots: at Kansas City, Week 15
Patrick Mahomes should be back and fully healthy in time for this matchup of the league’s last two dynasties. Clearly, the league is intrigued, making this a “Monday Night Football” game just before the holidays. The Chiefs have been the standard of AFC success for the last seven years. Now, the Patriots appear to be back on top after winning the conference a year ago. This should be a fascinating matchup in primetime. — Chad Graff
New Orleans Saints: vs. Falcons, Week 4
This will be the Saints’ first home “Monday Night Football” appearance since the 2022 season and first primetime game since 2024. The national TV slot is an attempt to recognize the 20-year anniversary of the Domecoming following Hurricane Katrina. That game occurred against the Falcons on Sept. 25, 2006 (this one is on Oct. 5). On the field, it could be a good barometer of where the Saints stand after starting on the road in Weeks 1 and 2 at Detroit and Baltimore, respectively, followed by a Week 3 home game vs. Las Vegas. — Larry Holder
New York Giants: at Indianapolis, Week 12
The NFL loves its theater, and a later date for this matchup is just what the popcorn-wielding masses ordered. That’s because former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who had a resurgent 2025 season with the Colts, is coming off a ruptured Achilles. A little bit of padding increases the chances he’ll be back in the lineup to face off against the team that selected him with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft. There are some quality opponents on the Giants schedule this season, but the storylines in this matchup add plenty of drama. — Charlotte Carroll
New York Jets: vs. Raiders, Week 8
It was tempting to pick the game against the Lions here since that will mark Aaron Glenn’s return to Detroit, but odds are the Jets will have a hard time against one of the NFL’s best offenses and a defense that should be better in 2026. The Raiders and Jets are the same caliber of team with a few intriguing storylines to track in this one. First, it’s entirely possible that No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will be starting over Kirk Cousins by the time this game comes around, and the Jets will get a look at a player they could’ve gotten their hands on had Nick Folk not hit a 56-yard game-winning field goal against the Falcons last year.
Rookies D’Angelo Ponds and Omar Cooper, both Indiana alums, should know a little something about Mendoza’s tendencies. Second, Geno Smith will be seeking some level of redemption against the Raiders after how terribly his lone season in Las Vegas played out. The Jets won’t be favored in many games but they should be in this one — and this Jets team can’t really afford to lose to bad teams at home. — Zack Rosenblatt
Philadelphia Eagles: vs. Seahawks, Week 15
The Super Bowl LIX and LX champions collide. This is bound to be a barometer check for both teams. Their matchup feels like a powerhouse against a powerhouse. “Clint Hurtt versus the staff that didn’t retain him” and “Riq Woolen against the team that didn’t re-sign him” aren’t storylines that will captivate a national audience. Neither will a rematch billing: The Eagles haven’t played the Seahawks since Nick Sirianni demoted former DC Sean Desai for Matt Patricia ahead of a Week 15 loss in 2023. The Seahawks own an eight-game win streak over the Eagles dating back to 2011. This is, “If you want to watch great players play against each other, here ya go.” Hopefully, this game lives up to its talent level. — Brooks Kubena
Pittsburgh Steelers: vs. Broncos, Week 12
What better way to digest your turkey than with a Black Friday matchup against the Broncos? In some ways, Denver is a model for the new-look Steelers, as a coach in his early 60s (Sean Payton) has enjoyed success in his second act, found a potential franchise quarterback (Bo Nix) and become a playoff contender. More than what the Broncos do on offense, it’s the way Denver’s stacked and well-coached defense has played that should be the blueprint for the Steelers if they’re going to reach their ceiling early in Mike McCarthy’s tenure. — Mike DeFabo
San Francisco 49ers: vs. Eagles, Week 17
There’s always a charged atmosphere when the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles get together. And while some of the combatants in previous matchups — Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings — are gone, others — Dre Greenlaw — are back. The game is scheduled to be in primetime, and both teams could be jockeying for playoff position in early January. Niners fans who have braved the hostile Philly crowd in recent encounters will appreciate that this one is at Levi’s Stadium, the first time the Eagles have visited since 2020. — Matt Barrows
Seattle Seahawks: vs. Bears, Week 8
The Bears took a huge leap in 2025, as new head coach Ben Johnson paired with young quarterback Caleb Williams, who recorded a league-high six fourth-quarter comebacks. Even against top pass rushes like Seattle’s, Williams has a knack for producing Houdini-like escapes, and he could take another leap in Year 3. On the other side, Chicago completely retooled its secondary, letting five contributors walk in free agency while adding former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant. This could be an opportunity for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to feast against a new secondary that will need to jell. This might be a barn burner under the Monday night lights. — Devon Henderson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: at Detroit, Week 11
The Lions have been a measuring stick for the Bucs in recent years and could be again this season. They meet Nov. 22 in Detroit, and the schedule-makers did the Bucs a favor because the Bucs are coming off a bye while the Lions are coming off a game in Munich against the Patriots. The Bucs have lost three of four to the Lions in the last three seasons, including a divisional playoff game in 2024 but have attempted to tilt the rivalry by signing former Lions Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad and A’Shawn Robinson. The game begins the stretch of the season that will define the 2026 Buccaneers. — Dan Pompei
Tennessee Titans: vs. Steelers, Week 17
There’s no telling if this game will be meaningful for the Titans’ season — they’ve been in the habit of reducing their seasons to draft talk well before Thanksgiving — but it will be historic. Unless Tennessee pulls off the shocking feat of hosting a home playoff game, this will be the final game in Nissan Stadium. The new, indoor version opens in 2027. The stadium’s 27-year history includes several name changes and a 1999 debut season that boasted the NFL’s best atmosphere and witnessed the “Music City Miracle” en route to the franchise’s only Super Bowl appearance. Pittsburgh and Tennessee have history as old AFC Central rivals but the big question is this: Will Steelers fans pack the place and put an embarrassing spin on the sendoff? — Joe Rexrode
Washington Commanders: vs. Bengals, Week 11
Jayden Daniels’ career breakout game was a “Monday Night Football” win over the Bengals two years ago, when he completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns — one of which was a go-ahead 27-yard beauty to Terry McLaurin in the final three minutes. This game — another Monday nighter, and the fourth of Washington’s four scheduled primetime games — may not carry the same weight, depending on the records of both teams going in, but the intrigue will almost certainly be there. — Nicki Jhabvala
