The NFL’s 2026-27 season kicks off tonight with an unusual Wednesday game featuring the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET. This marks only the fifth Wednesday game since 1948, as the league expands its reach to different days and locations worldwide.
In a move to dominate each day of the week, the NFL scheduled this Super Bowl rematch ahead of a significant matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. This trend suggests a potential shift towards more non-traditional game days. With games on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and even a new Wednesday game on the schedule, the NFL is expanding its presence across the week.
Moreover, the upcoming season will witness a record nine games played outside the United States in seven different countries. New hosts like Paris join returning cities such as London, Madrid, Munich, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro. Notably, the NFL has not held a regular-season game in Canada since 2013 when the Bills discontinued their annual game in Toronto.
While the league’s global expansion is exciting, there is a concern that oversaturation might diminish the NFL’s appeal. The scarcity of NFL games on TV has always been a draw for fans, and too much exposure could potentially dilute the excitement.
Despite these considerations, the NFL continues to captivate audiences with compelling storylines for the upcoming season. Questions linger around teams like the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and star players like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow.
Additionally, Canadian football fans can keep an eye on several players making an impact in the league. Notable names include Chase Brown, Chuba Hubbard, Josh Palmer, Elic Ayomanor, Theo Johnson, and Matthew Bergeron, who are set to play key roles in their respective teams this season.
