Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season arrives with several intriguing matchups, including division rivalries, quarterback showdowns and a number of teams trying to avoid an 0-2 start.
The Sunday schedule features 14 games, followed by the Giants and Rams meeting Monday night.
Sunday, September 20
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans — 1:00 p.m. ET
Philadelphia heads to Tennessee looking to build momentum early in the season. The Eagles’ speed and offensive balance will challenge a Titans defense that must prevent explosive plays.
Key: Philadelphia’s offensive line and running game against Tennessee’s front seven.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots — 1:00 p.m. ET
The Steelers arrive at Foxborough at 1-0, while New England is looking for its first victory. The Patriots are opening their home schedule against a Pittsburgh team that already has an important win under its belt.
New England Patriots
Key: Pittsburgh’s pass rush versus New England’s protection.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m. ET
An NFC North matchup with plenty of early-season importance. Minnesota will try to establish its offensive rhythm, while Chicago gets the advantage of playing at home.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons — 1:00 p.m. ET
The NFC South rivals meet with both clubs looking to establish themselves inside the division.
Key: Turnovers and red-zone efficiency.
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets — 1:00 p.m. ET
Green Bay’s Jordan Love enters after throwing for 387 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. The Jets counter with Geno Smith, who threw for 215 yards in the opener.
Key matchup: Love and Green Bay’s receiving corps vs. the Jets secondary.
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens — 1:00 p.m. ET
Baltimore opened the season with a convincing victory and now returns home.
The Saints face a difficult challenge containing Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s multi-dimensional offense.
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans — 1:00 p.m. ET
One of Week 2’s marquee games. Cincinnati enters 1-0, while Houston is trying to rebound from its opening-week defeat.
Joe Burrow’s health is a major storyline after he was listed as limited in practice.
Key: Cincinnati’s passing game against Houston’s pressure package.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 1:00 p.m. ET
Both teams are searching for their first victory. Cleveland’s defense will have to contain Tampa Bay’s passing attack while the Browns try to establish the run.
Afternoon Games
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos — 4:05 p.m. ET
Jacksonville enters 1-0, while Denver is 0-1. The Broncos return home needing a strong defensive performance against an improving Jaguars offense.
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers — 4:05 p.m. ET
The Chargers are coming off an opening-week loss to Arizona, while Las Vegas defeated Miami in Week 1.
Key: The Chargers need to protect the quarterback and avoid giving Las Vegas short fields.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals — 4:25 p.m. ET
Both teams enter at 1-0. Arizona’s upset of the Chargers was one of Week 1’s biggest surprises, while Seattle opened its season with a victory over New England.
Seattle’s quarterback situation deserves attention after Sam Darnold’s hip injury affected the Week 2 outlook.
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys — 4:25 p.m. ET
One of the week’s biggest games.
Both NFC East rivals are 0-1, making this an important early-season opportunity. Jayden Daniels and Dak Prescott each threw two touchdown passes in Week 1, but neither team came away with a victory.
Key matchup: Daniels’ mobility vs. Dallas’ ability to contain him.
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers — 4:25 p.m. ET
San Francisco enters at 1-0, while Miami is trying to recover from its opening-week loss.
The 49ers’ ability to control the line of scrimmage could determine whether Miami’s speed-heavy offense gets enough possessions.
Sunday Night Football
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs — 8:20 p.m. ET
The Colts travel to Kansas City for a difficult prime-time assignment. The Chiefs are coming off a Week 1 victory and will look to maintain their early AFC momentum
Key matchup: Indianapolis’ offensive line against Kansas City’s pass rush.
Spotlight: Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing game will be under the prime-time microscope.
Monday Night Football
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams — 8:15 p.m. ET
The Giants are one of Week 1’s surprise winners after defeating Dallas, while the Rams are trying to rebound from their season-opening loss in Australia.
New York has an opportunity to demonstrate that its opening-week performance was more than a one-game breakthrough. Los Angeles, meanwhile, returns home needing a response.
Key: Can the Giants pressure the Rams quarterback without sacrificing coverage?
Three Games to Circle
1. Bengals at Texans — Burrow’s health and two playoff-caliber AFC teams make this a major early test.
2. Commanders at Cowboys — An NFC East rivalry with both teams desperate to avoid 0-2.
3. Colts at Chiefs — Indianapolis faces one of the league’s most difficult road environments in prime time.
Injury Watch
The official NFL injury report lists several Week 2 situations worth monitoring, including Burrow’s limited participation, Seattle’s quarterback situation and multiple defensive injuries across the league.
Week 2 theme: It’s still early, but the difference between 2-0 and 1-1—or 1-1 and 0-2—can dramatically change the tone surrounding a team heading into September.
