Seahawks Set for Rare Wednesday Opener as Rams and 49ers Clash in Australia
The 2026 NFL schedule is shaping up with some exciting matchups, despite its official release not occurring until May. The season is set to commence on Wednesday, September 9, marking just the second midweek opener in 75 years. Following this, a historic Thursday night game will take place on September 10, featuring the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Key Details: Seahawks will host the Wednesday opener at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The NFL has allowed this exception despite the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday opener, which this year will be a unique Wednesday game. The last Wednesday game in Week 1 occurred in 2012 with the Cowboys facing the Giants. The Seahawks' opponent will be one of the following teams: Cardinals, Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Chiefs, Chargers, or Patriots. A Super Bowl rematch against New England is a possibility, although uncertainty regarding Patrick Mahomes’ availability could impact the matchup against the Chiefs. As for the Rams and 49ers, the kickoff time in Melbourne is still under consideration, as the game will have to start at 10:20 a.m. on Friday in Australia, corresponding to 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday in the U.S. Notably, there will be no Friday games in Week 1 due to restrictions set by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which prevents the NFL from airing games on Fridays or Saturdays during the high school and college football season. This year’s scheduling complexities mean that fans will have to wait until 2029 for another Friday game in Week 1.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-17