The road to Super Bowl LXI began with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Seattle entered the new campaign as reigning champions. They had beaten New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX to claim the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
However, the Rams were among the leading teams in the Super Bowl betting before the season began.
They were priced at 11/2 by Sky Bet to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium. Super Bowl LXI will take place there on February 14, 2027.
The Rams also had a compelling storyline. They could become the first team to win a Super Bowl on their home field.
The Buffalo Bills followed them in the betting at 10/1.
Burrow’s Bengals an outside shot
The Seahawks were priced at 12/1 to win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Patriots followed at 18/1.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs were available at 16/1. Patrick Mahomes was looking to lead another title challenge.
Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals were further down the list at 20/1.
Of course, the teams first had to navigate the regular season. September brought plenty of major storylines across the NFL.
For example, Week 1 featured a Super Bowl rematch in Seattle. It also included the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia.
Meanwhile, Week 3 featured a major international clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Brazil.
Here are the NFL 2026 September fixtures and UK start times for the opening three weeks.
Week one fixtures
Thursday September 10
New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks – 1.20am
Friday September 11
San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia) – 1.35am
Sunday September 13
Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers – 6pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals – 6pm
Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts – 6pm
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans – 6pm
New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions – 6pm
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans – 6pm
Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 6pm
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 6pm
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers – 9.25pm
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings – 9.25pm
Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders – 9.25pm
Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles – 9.25pm
Monday September 14
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants – 1.20am
Tuesday September 15
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1.15am
The opening week offered plenty of variety. In particular, the Patriots-Seahawks rematch opened the season, while the 49ers and Rams met in Melbourne.
The NFL’s official schedule confirms that Seattle hosted New England on September 9, followed by San Francisco against the Rams in Melbourne on September 10.
Friday September 18
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills – 1.15am
Sunday September 20
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons – 6pm
New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens – 6pm
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears – 6pm
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans – 6pm
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots – 6pm
Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets – 6pm
Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 6pm
Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans – 6pm
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos – 9.05pm
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers – 9.05pm
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals – 9.25pm
Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys – 9.25pm
Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers – 9.25pm
Monday September 21
Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1.20am
Tuesday September 22
New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams – 1.15am
Week two continues with several important divisional and playoff contenders in action.
The Rams then return to the spotlight when they host the New York Giants on September 21. The NFL lists that matchup as a Monday night game.
Week three fixtures
Friday September 25
Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers – 1.15am
Sunday September 27
Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns – 6pm
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 6pm
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts – 6pm
Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins – 6pm
Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo Bills – 6pm
New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 6pm
New York Jets @ Detroit Lions – 6pm
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders – 6pm
Tennessee Titans @ New York Giants – 6pm
Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers – 9.05pm
Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 9.05pm
Baltimore Ravens vs Dallas Cowboys (Maracanã Stadium, Brazil) – 9.25pm
Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints – 9.25pm
Monday September 28
Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos – 1.20am
Tuesday September 29
Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears – 1.15am
Week three adds another international fixture to the schedule.
The Baltimore Ravens will face the Dallas Cowboys at the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. Meanwhile, the Rams travel to Denver to face the Broncos.
The official NFL schedule confirms the Rams’ Week 3 trip to Denver on September 27.
Overall, the opening three weeks provide a strong mix of divisional battles, international games and marquee matchups.
For UK viewers, the early-morning kickoffs also offer plenty of NFL action throughout September.
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