LATEST UPDATE: Wednesday, May 13th – PRELIMINARY REVEAL The 2026 NFL season is officially taking shape. While the full league-wide schedule is set for release at 8:00 PM ET, we have already confirmed the marquee matchups for the opening week. Download our Preliminary Week 1 Pickem Sheet below to start tracking the road to the Super Bowl. The sheet includes the complete 2026 NFL Week 1 Schedule as published along with TV broadcasts and streams.
The 106th NFL season kicks off with a historic schedule that spans five days, three continents, and multiple streaming platforms. From the season opener in Seattle to a divisional clash in the Australian outback, Week 1 is designed to be the biggest opening weekend in sports history.
Below is the confirmed Week 1 schedule and our signature “low-ink” printable Pickem sheet.
Printable 2026 NFL Week 1 Pickem Sheet (PDF)
Whether you are running an office pool, a bar competition, or just competing with friends, our Week 1 Pickem sheet is the gold standard for utility.
- Ink-Saving Design: Optimized for black-and-white home and office printers (while you will see basic colors, print in black and white.
- Tiebreaker Included: Features a total-points tiebreaker for the Monday Night Football clash between Denver and Kansas City.
- Live Update Ready: This preliminary version includes the six confirmed marquee matchups; check back tomorrow night for the fully populated 16-game slate.
2026 NFL Week 1 Schedule & TV Broadcast Highlights
The 2026 NFL Week 1 season opener breaks tradition with a Wednesday Night Season Opener featuring the defending Super Bowl champions.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV / Streaming |
| NE Patriots @ SEA Seahawks | Wed, Sept 9 | 8:20 PM | NBC (Season Opener) |
| SF 49ers vs. LA Rams | Thurs, Sept 10 | 8:35 PM | NETFLIX (Melbourne, AUS) |
| DAL Cowboys @ NY Giants | Sun, Sept 13 | 8:20 PM | NBC (Sunday Night Football) |
| DEN Broncos @ KC Chiefs | Mon, Sept 14 | 8:15 PM | ABC / ESPN (Monday Night Football) |
Note: The remaining 12 games of the Sunday afternoon slate (CBS/FOX) will be revealed during the full schedule drop on Thursday, May 14.
New for 2026: The Streaming Shift
Fans should note that the Thursday Night “Melbourne Game” between the 49ers and Rams is a Netflix Exclusive. This marks the first time the world’s largest streaming platform has hosted a Week 1 game, signaling a massive shift in how the NFL reaches global audiences.
Join the $BRACKETS League Outreach!
Want to turn your football knowledge into rewards? We are hosting a Community Outreach Weekend in the $BRACKETS League.
- The Contest: We are giving away $10 USDC/SOL to the Top 2 Contributors in our Telegram from Friday to Sunday!
- How to Enter: Follow us on X, Quote Post our pinned contest tweet with your Week 1 predictions, and join the conversation in our Telegram.
- Join the Community: SportsBrackets Telegram | SportsBrackets X Account
NFL Planning Resources
- 2026 NFL Weekly Schedule Hub: Download Team Schedules and more.
- 2026 NFL Bye Week Schedule: Plan your fantasy roster around the designated off-weeks for all 32 teams.
- 2026 NFL International Series Tracker: Complete kickoff times and broadcast info for games in Melbourne, Rio, London, and Paris.
2026 NFL Pickem & Schedule FAQ
How do I use the Total Points tiebreaker? In the event of a tie in total correct picks, pool managers typically use the combined score of the final game of the week (usually Monday Night Football). Enter your predicted total score in the box provided. The person closest to the actual total—without going over—wins the tiebreaker.
Why are these sheets labeled as “Low-Ink”? Our PDFs are specifically designed for office and home printers. By removing heavy color blocks and high-resolution background graphics, we ensure your sheets look professional while using 60-70% less toner than standard colored schedules.
What is the difference between a “Preliminary” and “Final” sheet? Preliminary sheets are released during “Leak Week” and include the marquee matchups confirmed by major networks and the NFL. Final sheets are updated and released the moment the full 272-game schedule is finalized by the league.
Are these pickem sheets updated for “Flex Scheduling”? The NFL begins “flexing” games (moving Sunday afternoon games to Sunday Night) later in the season. While our printable PDFs are accurate at the time of release, always check the “Live Update” section of our Weekly Hub for any late-season time changes.
Do these sheets include international games? Yes. For 2026, we have included the Melbourne (Australia), Rio (Brazil), London (UK), and Paris (France) matchups with their specific international kickoff times and designated streaming platforms (like Netflix and Amazon Prime).
Can I use these for “Against the Spread” (ATS) pools? While our standard sheets are “Straight Up” (picking the winner), the clean layout provides ample margin space for pool managers to manually write in the current betting lines or spreads next to the team names.
