NFL · 3 days ago

Ranking The Top 15 NFL Primetime Games in 2026

Patrick Kelleher

Host · Writer

15) Week 17: Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens @ Bengals Matchup
- When: Dec. 31 (Week 17)
- Where: Cincinnati, OH
Joe Burrow has expressed an extra sense of urgency around the Bengals heading into 2026. With improvements on defense, the window is open for Cincinnati to capitalize. This Week 17 matchup feels as if it will go a long way in determining the AFC North winner.
1) Week 16: Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (Christmas)
Rams @ Seahawks Matchup
- When: Dec. 25 (Week 16)
- Where: Seattle, WA
The No. 1 primetime matchup on this list features a Christmas battle between the consensus top two teams in the NFC entering 2026. Mike Macdonald's defense feels like it can overcome the typical "Super Bowl hangover" that often follows the defending champion. This matchup could determine the NFC West winner in 2026.
2) Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Broncos vs. Chiefs Matchup
- When: Sept. 14 (Week 1)
- Where: Kansas City, MO
All reports indicate Patrick Mahomes will be ready to go for Kansas City's Week 1 matchup against the Broncos in Denver, making this one of the more intriguing primetime matchups of the season. It is hard to imagine the league making this the Monday Night season opener if there was any fear Mahomes would not be ready. With an aging roster and a closing window, the Chiefs must gain early confidence this season.
3) Week 8: Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks
Bears @ Seahawks Matchup
- When: Nov. 2 (Week 8)
- Where: Seattle, WA
Going on the road and taking down the defending Super Bowl champions would be about as big a statement as you can make. In his second year, Ben Johnson's goal is to establish his team as one of the top in the NFC, and they will have several chances early in the season to do so. We could easily be seeing a playoff preview between these two.
4) Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills
Chiefs @ Bills Matchup
- When: Nov. 26 (Week 12)
- Where: Orchard Park, NY
Perhaps the single best QB head-to-head matchup of the past decade has been Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes. The common theme seems to be Allen getting the better of Mahomes in the regular season, and then Mahomes gets his ultimate revenge in January. Whenever these teams match up, it is must-see TV.
5) Week 3: Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos
Rams @ Broncos Matchup
- When: Sept. 27 (Week 3)
- Where: Denver, CO
Whenever one of the league's top offenses goes on the road to battle one of the league's top defenses, it always makes for a heavyweight bout. The Broncos will look to prove the defense is still as dominant as it's been the past few seasons. Can Bo Nix and the offense take that next step and keep up with Matthew Stafford?
6) Week 1: New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks
Patriots @ Seahawks Matchup
- When: Sept. 9 (Week 1)
- Where: Seattle, WA
Fans will not have to wait long to see a rematch of last year's Super Bowl, as the Seahawks welcome the Patriots to Lumen Field, with players, coaches, and staff receiving their Super Bowl rings. New England has the chance to crash the party and put the offseason distractions aside by getting a little payback from this past February.
7) Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears
Eagles @ Chicago Matchup
- When: Sept. 28 (Week 3)
- Where:Chicago, IL
The Bears have a chance to make a huge statement early in the season against a team they will most likely see in the postseason. The Eagles have ruled the conference for the better part of the past five seasons, and the Bears are a young, up-and-coming contender. With a win, the Bears could prove themselves as the new team to beat in the NFC.
8) Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving)
Eagles @ Cowboys Matchup
- When: Nov. 26 (Week 12)
- Where: Arlington, TX
As they do every Thanksgiving, the Dallas Cowboys will host the second of three games on the slate. This year's matchup will be highly anticipated, as the Eagles and Cowboys renew one of the NFL's fiercest rivalries. With both figuring to be neck-and-neck in the NFC East race, this battle should give fans a thriller.
9) Week 1: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
49ers @ Rams Matchup
- When: Sept. 10 (Week 1)
- Where: Melbourne, Australia
The first-ever Week 1 matchup on international soil will feature two of the top teams in the NFC, as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams. If any pair of coaches can help their teams adjust to the unorthodox schedules, it's Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. Whenever these two match up, the game always seems to come down to the wire, and this early-season clash feels no different.
10) Week 1: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
Cowboys @ Giants Matchup
- When: Sept. 13 (Week 1)
- Where: East Rutherford, NJ
The John Harbaugh era in New York kicks off with a bang as the Giants will host their NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys, on the first Sunday Night game of the season. The storylines write themselves for this matchup. If the Giants can come out with a win, the Giants fans will be thinking the sky is the limit in NY.
11) Week 2: Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills
Lions @ Bills Matchup
- When: Sept. 17 (Week 2)
- Where: Orchard Park, NY
This matchup will be extremely important for both sides, coming off disappointing finishes in 2025. Whoever comes out victorious will gain tremendous confidence early in the season, especially if the Lions can pull out the road win.
12) Week 13: Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Texans @ Steelers Matchup
- When: Dec. 6 (Week 13)
- Where: Pittsburgh, PA
In Aaron Rodgers's final regular-season primetime game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Houston Texans. This matchup makes the list as it will give fans the chance to celebrate one of the all-time greats at the quarterback position.
13) Week 12: Green Bay Packers @ Los Angeles Rams (Thanksgiving Eve)
Packers @ Rams Matchup
- When: Nov. 25 (Week 12)
- Where: Inglewood, CA
The first-ever 'Thanksgiving Eve' matchup will feature the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. This game has the chance to set the tone for another marquee primetime slot throughout the Thanksgiving weekend.
14) Week 15: Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills
Bears @ Bills Matchup
- When: Dec. 19 (Week 15)
- WWhere: Orchard Park, NY
Another season where Josh Allen enters with unfinished business, the Bills will be involved in several primetime games on this list. A late-season matchup of two contenders will be a great litmus test for both sides.
15) Week 17: Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens @ Bengals Matchup
- When: Dec. 31 (Week 17)
- Where: Cincinnati, OH
Joe Burrow has expressed an extra sense of urgency around the Bengals heading into 2026. With improvements on defense, the window is open for Cincinnati to capitalize. This Week 17 matchup feels as if it will go a long way in determining the AFC North winner.
1) Week 16: Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (Christmas)
Rams @ Seahawks Matchup
- When: Dec. 25 (Week 16)
- Where: Seattle, WA
The No. 1 primetime matchup on this list features a Christmas battle between the consensus top two teams in the NFC entering 2026. Mike Macdonald's defense feels like it can overcome the typical "Super Bowl hangover" that often follows the defending champion. This matchup could determine the NFC West winner in 2026.