Samwise NFL Newsletter
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Craig Morton, First QB to Start Super Bowls for Two Teams, Dies at 83
Craig Morton, the first quarterback to start Super Bowl games for two different franchises, died Saturday in Mill Valley, California at the age of 83. The Denver Broncos announced his passing Monday. Morton spent 18 seasons in the NFL, guiding Dallas to Super Bowl V in 1971 and steering Denver to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XII after the 1977 season. He quarterbacked the Broncos from 1977 to 1982, setting a career-high 3,195 passing yards in 1981. Morton was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988. Tributes poured in from former teammates and league officials throughout Monday.
2026 NFL Season Kicks Off Wednesday Sept. 9 with Champion Seahawks
The NFL confirmed Tuesday that the 2026 regular season will open on Wednesday, September 9, with reigning Super Bowl LX champion Seattle hosting a primetime game at Lumen Field on NBC. The midweek opener—only the fifth Wednesday kickoff in NFL history—accommodates a stacked Week 1 slate that includes an international game in Australia the following night. The Seahawks’ specific opponent will be revealed with the full schedule release Thursday, May 14. Seattle finished 2025 at 14–3 and beat New England in Super Bowl LX, making this the league’s marquee opening act as the defending champions host the season opener.
Sources: NFL.com, CBS Sports
Giants to Host Cowboys in Week 1 Sunday Night Football Opener
NBC confirmed Monday that the New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys in the Week 1 Sunday Night Football opener on September 13 at MetLife Stadium, kicking off at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game marks John Harbaugh’s debut as Giants head coach after 18 seasons with Baltimore. It will be the eighth time in 15 years these NFC East rivals have met to open a season. FOX also locked in the Cowboys hosting the Eagles on Thanksgiving in Week 12, giving Dallas two confirmed nationally televised games before the full schedule releases Thursday, May 14.
49ers and Rams to Play NFL's First-Ever Game in Melbourne Australia
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Australia when they meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, September 11. The game airs on Netflix at 8:35 p.m. ET Thursday night in North America. The MCG seats more than 100,000 spectators and will host this NFC West divisional matchup as part of the NFL’s record nine international games in 2026. Australia is one of the league’s fastest-growing markets, and the NFL has committed to a multi-year presence in Melbourne. This will be the first NFL game ever played on Australian soil.
Sources: NFL.com, CBS Sports
Cowboys and Ravens Set for NFL's Historic First Game in Rio de Janeiro
The Baltimore Ravens will face the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, September 27, at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. The Week 3 game airs on CBS at 4:25 p.m. ET. Brazil is home to more than 36 million NFL fans, making it one of the league’s fastest-growing international markets. The NFL has committed to at least three Rio games over the next five years. It is the third confirmed nationally aired game for Dallas before the full schedule even releases, underscoring the Cowboys’ central role in the league’s global broadcast strategy.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Lions to Face Bills in Week 2 Thursday Night Opener at New Buffalo Stadium
The Detroit Lions will visit the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 on September 17, Prime Video confirmed Monday as part of the pre-schedule release rollout. The game will be played at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium, which the Bills open this season after completing their $1.4 billion facility. Detroit finished 2025 at 8–8 and missed the playoffs, while Buffalo posted 12–5. The Lions–Bills matchup is among several high-profile games confirmed ahead of the complete 2026 NFL schedule release on Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Sources: NFL.com
2026 NFL Season to Feature Record Nine International Games
The NFL confirmed Tuesday that the 2026 season will feature a record nine international regular season games across four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums. All nine locations will be officially unveiled Wednesday, May 13, on “Good Morning Football” at 9 a.m. ET on NFL Network. The slate already includes the first-ever games in Melbourne, Australia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The full schedule releases Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network and ESPN2. The record international slate reflects the league’s push to grow football globally through multi-year venue partnerships signed across Europe, South America, Australia, and Asia.
Sources: NFL.com
NFL Reveals Top 10 Marquee Games of 2026 Ahead of Full Schedule Release
With the full 2026 NFL schedule releasing Thursday, NFL.com published its top 10 marquee matchups Monday. The list features multiple potential rematches of last season’s playoff games, including the Super Bowl LX matchup between Seattle and New England. The Rams, Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills each appear twice across the top matchups. The Cowboys feature in at least three confirmed nationally aired games—Week 1 at the Giants on NBC, Week 3 against Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro on CBS, and Thanksgiving hosting Philadelphia on FOX. The complete 162-game regular season schedule drops Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Sources: NFL.com
AFC Divisions
AFC East (2025 Season Final)
1. New England Patriots — 14–3
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10
4. New York Jets — 3–14
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4
2. Houston Texans — 12–5
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14
NFC Divisions
NFC East (2025 Season Final)
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–8–1
3. Washington Commanders — 4–13
4. New York Giants — 3–14
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–6–1
3. Detroit Lions — 8–9
4. Minnesota Vikings — 8–9
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 7–10
3. Atlanta Falcons — 7–10
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3 🏆
2. San Francisco 49ers — 12–4
3. Los Angeles Rams — 11–5
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–14
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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