2026 NFL schedule: Breaking down a strong slate of international games, including Steelers-Saints in Paris

Games in London have become a staple of the NFL regular season. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

(Adam Davy - PA Images via Getty Images)

Week 3: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It has been a while since the Cowboys got roped into the international series. Their last international game was 2014 in London against the Jaguars. It’s an interesting game between two marquee teams that were down and missed the playoffs last season but are expected to bounce back this season. Given the star power of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Cowboys as a whole, this is a fun matchup. Unlike many of the other international games that kick off early, this will be part of the late-afternoon time slot kicking off at 4:25 p.m. Eastern.

Week 4: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders at London, England

The Commanders are going overseas for the second straight season. Last season they played in Madrid. This is their first London game since 2016, when they played the Bengals to a 27-27 tie. The Colts will be going to Europe for a second straight season. They got a 31-25 overtime win over the Falcons in Germany last season.

Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at London, England

Week 6: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at London, England

The Jaguars have made London their second home for a while now, and they get their normal two games overseas. One is a game that could end up deciding the AFC South. The Jaguars barely won the division last season at 13-4, edging out the Texans at 12-5. It should be a good divisional matchup for London. The first game for the Jaguars is another fantastic matchup against an Eagles team that won a Super Bowl two seasons ago and won the NFC East last season. It’s a pretty good run for London, which gets two straight weeks of matchups with playoff teams from last season.

Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints at Paris, France

The NFL is making its way to Paris for the first time. The game will be at Stade de France, the largest stadium in the country. The NFL is sending the Pittsburgh Steelers (and perhaps Aaron Rodgers?) to Paris to face the Saints, who were announced as the first team for the Paris game months ago. All three of the Saints’ previous international games happened in London. The Steelers have played two international games, one in London and one last season in Ireland. The Steelers won that game in Dublin, beating the Vikings 24-21. Steelers fans always travel, so expect to see plenty of terrible towels in Paris.

Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons at Madrid, Spain

The NFL said this year’s game in Spain is part of a multi-year agreement to hold games at Bernabéu Stadium. The first NFL game in Madrid happened last season, with the Dolphins beating the Commanders 16-13 in overtime. The Falcons lost to the Colts in Germany last season and are 1-3 in international games. The Bengals haven’t been part of the international series since 2019, a year before Joe Burrow was drafted.

Week 10: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions at Munich, Germany

The Lions’ last time playing an international game was 2015. They return to play at FC Bayern Munich Stadium, which hosted games in 2022 and 2024. The NFL will return to Germany in 2028 as well. This season the league gave Germany a prime matchup. The Lions didn’t make the playoffs last season but should rebound and are one of the NFL’s most exciting teams. They take on a Patriots team that made the Super Bowl last season and has an exciting star in quarterback Drake Maye.

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers at Mexico City, Mexico

This will be the sixth NFL regular-season game in Mexico City and the 49ers have been a part of three of them. The NFL announced there will be games in Mexico City each of the next three seasons. The Vikings beat the Browns 21-17 in London last season. This will be Minnesota’s seventh international game, tying the Dolphins for second-most all-time, only behind the Jaguars. This will be a Sunday night game.