The U.S. Open is down to its sweet 16, the Major League Baseball season and its exciting wildcard race are down to their last three weeks, and local prep sports are in their second and third weeks.
But what most people will be talking about this week is the return of the NFL.
Which stands for no freaking logic when it comes to one of its first games of the season.
The best division in the NFL is the NFC West. Aside from the Arizona Cardinals, every team is a legitimate contender to win the Super Bowl, if the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers can all stay healthy.
So then why did the NFL schedule one of its best games of the season in Week 1, or really the entire year, a 15-hour plane trip away, and give the rights to Netflix, which has already ruined the MLB opener and home run derby this year?
Upset Los Angeles fans lose a home game. The 49ers already have one home game away from Santa Clara when they play in November in Mexico City against the Minnesota Vikings.
Why couldn’t Australia get a Titans vs. Jaguars game? Or a Dolphins vs. Browns contest? I understand the league wants to spread the game globally, but don’t you think the league has already? I mean, it has over 400 billion fans globally. What’s another billion going to mean?
Plenty of fans either don’t subscribe to Netflix, or are pretty sure it’s the home of “Stranger Things,” not the NFL.
That’s why I’m here this week — to tell you where you can find all these great games in multiple sports. So let’s get going on where to be this week, whether it’s a local game or on a weird streaming network.
#### Tuesday
Before the U.S. Open concludes this weekend, Tuesday will feature key fourth-round matchups like No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz of Spain facing No. 8-ranked Ben Shelton of the United States at 5:30 p.m. On the women’s side, you’ll have to wake up bright and early to see top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka face Linda Nosková at 8:30 a.m., while Jessica Pegula takes on Emma Navarro in a match of U.S. players at 4 p.m.
In MLB action, five American League teams are fighting for the final wild card spot. A sixth team, Seattle, is only 5.5 games out but didn’t help its cause over the weekend, losing three of four games to the lowly Sacramento Athletics. As of Monday afternoon, Cleveland holds the last wild card spot, but has a big series against the Baltimore Orioles, who are three games out. The Texas Rangers are only two games out of first in the AL West (worst) and will try to catch the Astros this week by taking on the Seattle Mariners, while the Astros have a key series at Philadelphia, who are trying to catch the Atlanta Braves, who lead the NL East and have a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
If you want to stay closer to home to see some live prep sports, I’d head to American Canyon for some girls volleyball. The Wolves have started the year 5-0 and take on Justin-Siena. Benicia is also at home, playing at 6:30 p.m. against Concord.
Vallejo is playing at nearby El Cerrito in flag football while Bethel has started out the season 4-0 and is at nearby Kennedy.
#### Wednesday
Did you like last year’s Super Bowl? Well, you get to see a rematch in the first NFL game of the 2026-27 slate when the New England Patriots visit Seattle at 5:20 p.m. at Lumen Field. Make sure to stick around for the halftime show, when Soundgarden, sans the late Chris Cornell, reunite for a few songs.
The U.S. Open also continues, although the matchups for Wednesday are not known as of Monday.
In baseball, check out action between the Sacramento Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays, but wear some sunscreen as the game starts at Sutter Health just after noon. The Giants are also at home, and play at 12:45 p.m. against a St.Louis Cardinals team desperately trying to catch the last wild card spot. The NL Central winner is likely going to be the Milwaukee Brewers, although the Chicago Cubs can make things interesting if they sweep their foes from the north. The Wednesday matchup, the last of the series, begins at 4:40 p.m. on ESPN.
Locally, I would try to catch American Canyon at home against Napa in flag football, while Benicia is at Clayton Valley Charter. St. Pat’s girls is at home against Albany in girls volleyball, while Bethel travels to St. Mary’s and Vallejo hosts Richmond.
#### Thursday
The 49ers start at 5:35 p.m. The two teams are good. The network? Not so much, but the teams will play on regular channels again next week.
Locally, I would head to Napa to see the Vallejo flag football team play, while you can stay closer to home to see the St. Pat’s girls volleyball team take on San Domenico or American Canyon try to stay undefeated against Petaluma.
The U.S. Open women’s semifinals take place this day.
#### Friday
A few local football teams are in town, with Benicia hosting undefeated American Canyon. Benicia defeated Bethel last week and is 1-1. Vallejo has its flag football home opener at Corbus Field against Napa.
Bethel plays the same night at Mare Island Tech in volleyball, while Bethel is at Hercules in flag football.
In MLB action, the A’s begin a homestand against the Padres and I might head to that game live or else face having to deal with the horrible Apple TV announcers. The A’s are also at home, starting a three-game homestand against the Seattle Mariners.
However, you likely don’t want to see the A’s and Giants race toward 100 losses. Instead, check out the start of three-game series like the Mets at the Yankees, the Texas Rangers at the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 2023 World Series rematch, the Houston Astros at the Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles at the Toronto Blue Jays or the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Chicago Cubs.
The men’s U.S. Open will have its semifinals today.
#### The weekend
There are a few local high school football games, but neither of them is in town. Bethel travels to Pinole Valley for a 1:30 p.m. game, and the St. Pat’s squad travels to Terra Linda for a 2 p.m. matchup.
In college football, I’d start Saturday by watching Oklahoma visit Michigan, which somehow won last week. That game is at 9 a.m. on FOX, while Oregon plays at Oklahoma State at the same time on ESPN.
At 12:30 p.m., Notre Dame hosts Rice, while BYU at home against Arizona is a solid matchup at the same time. That later matchup is on FOX while Notre Dame, as usual, is on NBC.
Cal is at Syracuse at 12:30 p.m. on the ACC Network, while Tennessee traveling to Georgia Tech at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN is a good matchup.
The best game of the day, however, is Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in the country, at No. 5 Texas at 4:30 p.m. on ABC. San Jose State plays Cal Poly at 6 p.m., while USC is the later game against Louisiana at 8 p.m., just a half hour after Sacramento State kicks off on the road against Fresno State.
On Sunday, check out the Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts at 10 a.m., the same time the Chicago Bears travel to Carolina, and Buffalo visits the Houston Texans.
The Las Vegas Raiders (this still feels weird to say) take on the Miami Dolphins at 1:25 p.m., the same time the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Washington Commanders.
The Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants in the late game, while on Monday Night Football, check out the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs.
The women’s U.S. Open singles championship is on Saturday, while the men’s final is on Sunday.
#### Read
“Get Your Tokens Ready” by Chris Donnelly (to read while watching the Yankees and Mets play on 9/11’s 25th anniversary)
“Montana” by Keith Dunnavant (to read during the Thursday night 49ers’ game)