2026 NFL schedule: Chiefs handed tough opening game as Mahomes eyes return from ACL injury

12 May 2026 • 9:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

2026 NFL schedule: Chiefs handed tough opening game as Mahomes eyes return from ACL injury

  • ESPN's "Monday Night Football" will launch its 2026 season on September 14 with a game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs, although the specific location for this opener remains unconfirmed.
  • Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL and LCL, aims to return for Week 1, while Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, recovering from a broken ankle, is expected to be fit for training camp.
  • Other early schedule announcements include the Buffalo Bills inaugurating their new stadium on September 17 against the Detroit Lions for Amazon Prime Video’s "Thursday Night Football."
  • The Dallas Cowboys are set for several high-profile games, including visiting the New York Giants on September 13 for NBC’s "Sunday Night Football" opener and hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, on Fox.
  • The Cowboys will also play the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro during Week 3 on September 27, with the late afternoon Thanksgiving game traditionally being the most-viewed regular-season game, drawing 57.23 million viewers last year.

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