May 14, 2026, 11:57 p.m. ET
There are games that grab the eye as soon as one sees them on the NFL schedule. Then there are those that are sneaky good, even great.
This exercise will look at some of the matchups in the 2026 NFL regular season that will deliver big. The teams may be on the rise or they may quietly have been playing solid football.
Expect some of these to be stellar contests because the teams have a lot of talent and should be playing for important playoff positioning. Remember, when there are 17 games in a season every one of them can make a big difference.
Joe Brady and his offense will go up against the ferocious defense of the Texans in a wonderful matchup to open the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, Sept. 20
Mike McCarthy and his Steelers will head to Foxboro to face the team that represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. All the chaos around Mike Vrabel will be pushed to the side when these classic franchises meet.
The teams combined to go 27-7 last year in the regular season and each won its respective division. That sets up a powerhouse matchup.
What is more exciting than a Dallas Cowboys game on a Thursday night? Whether they are playing well or poorly, Dallas generates interest like few other franchises. It doesn’t hurt either that Tampa Bay could make it exciting.
Will the Panthers continue to grow? Will the Eagles maintain their dominance and find a way to get back on top of the NFL? This is the kind of game that will tell a lot about both teams.
The Battle of Los Angeles.
The Ravens disappointed immensely last year. Now, under Jesse Minter, what kind of team will they be? A threat in the AFC North or another season of struggles. Either way, the Jaguars figure to be a nice test.
Not about to say the Saints will be so improved they can menace. However, the Bears are a team that has to prove last year was not a fluke due to a kind schedule. This is one of the games where the NFC North team needs to take care of business.
Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers, Nov. 27
The Broncos go to Pittsburgh for a Black Friday game. Will the Mike McCarthy’s Steeler defense knock the stuffing out of Sean Payton’s team. A lot of eyes will be on this one.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers, Dec. 17
The Chargers get a stiff test from a team in the best division in football. The 49ers have precious little wiggle room because of how strong the Rams and Seahawks are. Stakes figure to be high here.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Dec. 31
Nice way to close the year with AFC North rivals battling in a game that could have a lot of say in the divisional race … or maybe not.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, TBD
Okay, okay, but maybe this one will have a role in determining the NFC South. It never seems to take much for that to him toward the end of the season in this division.