The National Football League has officially announced the release date for the 2026 NFL schedule. The league will unveil all 272 regular-season games on Thursday, May 14.
Several matchups have already surfaced through announcements involving international games and season openers. Still, a select group of games stands above the rest as the most anticipated ahead of the full schedule release.
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The 2026 season will feature thrilling rematches, renewed rivalries, and heated grudge matches. Here are the seven most anticipated games ahead of the 2026 NFL Schedule Release:
Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) runs against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
An NFC Championship rematch? Absolutely.
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The Rams and Seahawks delivered one of the best playoff games of the 2025 season, and another chapter in this rivalry promises even more drama.
Seattle not only outdueled Los Angeles in the NFC Championship Game, but also ignited controversy during its division-winning run. In a thrilling Thursday Night Football matchup, the Seahawks converted a game-changing two-point attempt in unconventional fashion.
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That play helped Seattle force overtime, secure the win, and capture the division crown. Can the Rams finally snap their losing streak in Seattle?
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Quarterback Caleb Williams earned the “Ice Man” nickname in dramatic fashion.
Chicago defeated Green Bay in back-to-back games for the first time in years, and Bears fans have made sure the Packers haven’t forgotten it. Williams has even moved to trademark both the “Ice Man” nickname and the silhouette from his iconic fourth-down conversion.
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Can the Packers reclaim control of the rivalry, or did the Bears permanently shift the balance in their Wild Card thriller?
8. New England Patriots
New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury (65) prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Drake Maye (10) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl rematch.
The challenge won’t get any easier for New England, which must travel to one of the league’s toughest road environments in Seattle.
The Patriots revamped their offensive line during the offseason, but the sting of their Super Bowl LX loss still lingers. Can New England get revenge?
Bonus anticipation: Should the NFL make this the regular-season opener?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
This matchup may be one of the offseason’s most underrated storylines.
Kevin Stefanski left the Cleveland Browns and now joins the division-rival Falcons, setting up a reunion with former quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield has made it clear that no love remains between the two. He even took a shot at Stefanski after an Atlanta reporter labeled him a failure during his time in Cleveland.
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Nothing fuels a rivalry quite like bad blood. Will the Falcons and Buccaneers reignite their rivalry with Mayfield and Stefanski at the center of it all?
Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles with the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) cases during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Many considered this the game of the year during the 2025 regular season.
The NFL’s 272nd and final regular-season game delivered everything fans could want: drama, intensity, and bitter AFC North hatred.
This time, however, John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin will no longer headline the rivalry. New coaching regimes have taken over, but both sides fully understand the intensity that comes with this matchup.
Will this rivalry enter an exciting new era?
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
One of last season’s most underrated matchups featured Cam Ward against Shedeur Sanders.
The Titans escaped with a 31–29 victory in a thrilling showdown on the shores of Lake Erie.
Ward and Sanders share more than competition — they entered the league in the same draft class and trained together extensively during the 2025 pre-draft process. Still, both quarterbacks want to prove they are the better player.
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If Sanders earns the starting job in Cleveland, this game could become one of the season’s best under-the-radar matchups.
Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II
Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) makes a tackle on New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) during the second half in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
To close out the list, another postseason grudge match awaits.
This time, a healthy Bo Nix leads Denver into Foxborough.
Sean Payton watched a Super Bowl berth slip away after costly decisions early in the AFC Championship Game. Now, after both teams won their respective divisions, the Broncos and Patriots are set for a highly anticipated 2026 rematch.
Can Payton make better decisions and guide Denver to a statement road win?