5 days ago
2
The NFL schedule release is the one day every year that sports fans don't mind circling more dates on the calendar.
It just goes to show that games don't always matter in the sport that has become a year-round machine. The fall and winter are for the games. The spring is for player movement. The summer is for preparation. Interest and money only back that up, as the NFL's arrow only seems to point in one direction – up.
So while a schedule release doesn't come across as the most glamorous thing in the world, it actually represents one of the biggest dates on the NFL calendar during the offseason – if there even is one.
Social media teams will treat the event like the Super Bowl, content teams will churn out endless record predictions, and fans will run through more permutations than those working the results board on election night.
With the 2026 NFL Draft officially in the past, the schedule release is the next big thing. And since our experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) predicting the NFL draft produced a wide range of results, USA TODAY Sports decided to test its ability to craft a schedule.
On the bright side, it included matchups that can actually happen – which was a pleasant surprise that also included dates, times and TV channels. Here's what Google's chatbot, Gemini, predicted the NFL Week 1 schedule would look like.
2026 NFL schedule predictions: Gemini AI's Week 1 projection
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
- Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
The Seahawks are already confirmed to be hosting the season-opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Gemini picked up on that. Apparently the chatbot enjoyed Super Bowl 60 so much that it's calling for an instant rematch to start the 2026 season.
Given that the Super Bowl was a blowout, fans might feel differently.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 10
- Time: 8:35 p.m. ET
- TV: Prime Video
The NFL has confirmed this game is happening and it will be the league's first game in Australia. Nothing more to see here.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
The Bengals host the Ravens in an AFC North matchup that also features Trey Hendrickson making his return to Cincinnati. This isn't your average early window kickoff game.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
Speaking of divisional drama, how about one of the league's biggest rivalries kicking off the season? The chatbot is giving the Packers an immediate chance at redemption after the Bears comeback win over Green Bay in the wild-card round.
It's also a chance for Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur to renew their personal rivalry. The chatbot cooked up a good matchup, but we'd probably see this in a later timeslot if it actually came to fruition.
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
Another divisional matchup, but the hype for this one is nonexistent. Outside of the "Octo-box," this game probably won't be featured much on "NFL RedZone," given the struggles both teams experienced on offense at the end of last season.
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
The debut of John Harbaugh for the Giants and new uniforms for the Commanders. Jayden Daniels is looking for a return to form and Jaxson Dart is trying to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Both teams hope to be factors in the NFC East so it only makes sense for them to clash in Week 1.
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
Gemini has loaded up the early window with divisional matchups and that remains the case as our tour continues in the Big Easy. Tyler Shough begins Year 2 in front of the home fans and Kevin Stefanski makes his Falcons coaching debut on the road in this clash between two NFC South hopefuls.
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
Who will start at quarterback for the Browns in Week 1? Shedeur Sanders? Deshaun Watson? Who knows? The Dawg Pound will be a fascinating group to watch heading into the season opener against the Jags, who had a funky offseason of their own.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
Old faces in new places. Robert Saleh takes over on the Titans sideline and the Steelers feature a new coach of their own. After 19 seasons with Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, Mike McCarthy takes over for his hometown team. Will Aaron Rodgers be under center for Pittsburgh? One way or another, this would be a fun test for a young Tennessee team to begin Year 2 of the Cam Ward era.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
Another measuring stick game in the NFC South. Gemini isn't really going outside the box, but we will get an early look at how Baker Mayfield's team looks without Mike Evans against Bryce Young's frisky Panthers.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
The chatbot is kicking off the late window with Kyler Murray's debut for the Vikings. Aside from it being another division matchup, both teams are desperate to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season.
New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox
Welcome to the NFL, David Bailey and Jeremiyah Love. The No. 2 and No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft make their regular-season debut in the desert as each team tries to get out of the NFL's basement. At least for one week, that would be true.
Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
This is essentially the chatbot's way of saying, "Jaylen Waddle was going to Denver in Week 1 whether he wanted to or not." The former Dolphins receiver makes his Broncos debut in front of his former team as the Jeff Hafley era begins for Miami. Denver will have every opportunity to get off to a quick start.
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins? Whoever the quarterback ends up being, it's not an easy start for the Raiders if the chatbot's prediction comes true. It's also a tough start for the Chargers fans, who should expect a hostile home environment as the silver-and-black take over SoFi Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
The Bills open New Highmark Stadium in style with a battle against the Chiefs. Will Patrick Mahomes play? How will the Bills fare in the post-Sean McDermott era? What impact will the crowd have in the new building?
If you are in school, you'll want to finish that homework before this game kicks off. If you aren't, well, the Sunday scaries will just have to wait.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: Monday, Sept. 14
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN/ABC
Gemini put a bow on Week 1 with a heavyweight bout in the NFC East. The matchup that opened up the 2025 season will close out the opening week a year later.
When is the NFL schedule release 2026?
The NFL schedule is set to be released in May.
An exact date has not been announced, but history indicates that it should be expected about May 12-14. Leaks will trickle out in the days ahead, especially with an expanded international slate and some holiday games on the docket.
The league added games in Australia and Paris to the 2026 schedule, as well as a return to Mexico City for the first time since 2022.
There was also the elimination of Monday night doubleheaders, following Disney's acquisition of NFL Network. More games are set for streaming in 2026, along with other changes that will be revealed with the upcoming release.
In other words, the Wednesday night opening game in Seattle might not be the only adjustment fans will need to make this season.
When does the NFL regular season start in 2026?
The 2026 NFL regular season will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Continuing tradition, the Super Bowl champions will kick off the season as the Seahawks get one last moment in the spotlight before turning the page to 2026.
While the kickoff game is typically set for the Thursday night after Labor Day, this season's was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a new international game. The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the league's first-ever Australia game.
That means that fans can expect games to take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL schedule release 2026: AI predicts every Week 1 game, matchups
