Week 1 of the NFL regular season is shaping up to be an absolute thriller, and the schedule reveal on Thursday night has given us plenty to look forward to. While we're still waiting to see if rookie sensation Fernando Mendoza will get the starting nod at quarterback for the Raiders, we now know his potential debut will come against the Miami Dolphins at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 13, airing on Fox.
Mendoza, the first overall pick, will have to beat out veteran Kirk Cousins for the starting job in Las Vegas. On the other side, the Dolphins are expected to debut offseason acquisition Malik Willis. Both teams will also feature new head coaches making their regular-season debuts: Klint Kubiak, hired by the Raiders in February, and Jeff Hafley, who took over in Miami in January. It's a fresh start for two franchises looking to make a statement.
The late-afternoon window is packed with divisional drama. The Green Bay Packers will visit the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North showdown on CBS, while the Washington Commanders head to Philadelphia to renew their rivalry with the Eagles on Fox. Also in that 4:25 p.m. slot, the Arizona Cardinals will travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers on CBS. Arizona's quarterback situation remains murky, with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, or rookie Carson Beck all in the mix.
The early 1 p.m. ET games are just as exciting. The Buffalo Bills head to Houston to take on the Texans, while the Cleveland Browns visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Indianapolis Colts host the Baltimore Ravens, the New Orleans Saints travel to Detroit to face the Lions, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Cincinnati for Dexter Lawrence's debut as a Bengal. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers will kick off the Mike McCarthy era—with or without Aaron Rodgers—at home against the Atlanta Falcons.
Previously reported matchups include the New York Jets visiting the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears heading to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers. The CBS slate for the 1 p.m. window features Jets-Titans, Bills-Texans, Ravens-Colts, and Browns-Jaguars, while Fox will carry the rest of the early games.
Week 1 officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Gear up for an unforgettable opening week—it's going to be a wild ride.