NFL 2026 Preview: Five Biggest Talking Points Before Kick-Off

The NFL is back this week, with the 2026 regular season beginning with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and defending champions Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday 9th September.

That is only the start of a season packed with major storylines. Seattle have a title to defend, Patrick Mahomes is returning from a serious knee injury and the Los Angeles Rams have assembled one of the most eye-catching rosters in the league. There is also plenty for UK fans to follow, with three regular-season games heading to London in October.

Experience the 2026 NFL London Games with Eventmasters

Eventmasters is offering NFL London hospitality for all three games taking place in the capital this season. The Indianapolis Colts face the Washington Commanders at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 4th October, before the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at the same venue a week later. Jacksonville then move across London to face AFC South rivals the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 18th October.

Hospitality options are available at both venues, including Premium Seats, NFL Fan Favourites and Premium Restaurant packages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, alongside Sideline, Huddle, MVP and Private Box options at Wembley Stadium.

With the new season about to begin, here are five of the biggest storylines to follow across the NFL in 2026.

1. Can Seattle defend the Super Bowl?

Seattle return as the team everyone wants to beat after defeating New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX in February.

Quarterback Sam Darnold enjoyed a remarkable first season with the Seahawks, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Seattle will now discover whether last season was the beginning of a sustained spell at the top or a campaign that will prove difficult to repeat.

There has also been a significant change in their backfield. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for 135 yards against the Patriots, left Seattle to join Kansas City during free agency. His departure gives the champions an immediate problem to solve as they prepare to face the same New England side in their opening game.

The Patriots have made changes of their own after falling one victory short last season. Their biggest addition is former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who joins quarterback Drake Maye as New England attempt to return to the Super Bowl.

2. The Rams have gone all-in on winning at home

Few teams have made a bigger statement ahead of 2026 than the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams acquired Myles Garrett from Cleveland after the defensive end set a new NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025. They then added another extraordinary name to their defensive front, with three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to return to Los Angeles.

Those two will join a team led by reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford, who threw for a league-high 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns last season. It leaves Sean McVay with a roster carrying clear Super Bowl expectations.

There is an added incentive. Super Bowl LXI will take place at the Rams’ own SoFi Stadium on Sunday 14th February 2027. Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI at the same venue five years earlier, and their aggressive offseason has left little doubt about their ambitions of doing it again.

3. What does Patrick Mahomes’ comeback look like?

For most of Patrick Mahomes’ career, the question heading into an NFL season has been whether anybody can stop the Kansas City Chiefs. The circumstances are very different in 2026.

Mahomes suffered ACL and LCL injuries in Kansas City’s Week 15 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers last season, a result which also confirmed that the Chiefs would miss the playoffs for the first time during his time as their starting quarterback. The three-time Super Bowl MVP has since been fully cleared to return to training and is preparing for the new campaign.

Kansas City have also strengthened the supporting cast around him. The arrival of Kenneth Walker III gives the Chiefs a running back coming directly from a Super Bowl MVP performance, providing Andy Reid with another option as Mahomes returns from the most significant injury of his NFL career.

Their first test will not be straightforward. Kansas City open against the Denver Broncos, the team that ended their nine-year run as AFC West champions, on Monday 14th September.

4. Jacksonville’s London double-header could shape the AFC South

No team will have a bigger presence in London this season than the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville finished 13-4 in 2025 and will arrive in the UK with a roster featuring quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter. Their first London assignment comes against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 11th October.

Philadelphia will look slightly different following the offseason departure of A.J. Brown to New England, but the Eagles still possess major offensive threats including Hurts, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith.

Jacksonville’s second London game could have even greater consequences for their season. They face AFC South rivals the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium just seven days later. Houston went 12-5 last season and entered the new campaign with one of the NFL’s strongest defences, meaning the meeting could become an important early battle in the race for the division.

Two games, two different London venues and a divisional contest to finish the trip make the Jaguars one of the most interesting teams for UK fans to follow this year.

5. Can Jayden Daniels rediscover his rookie form?

Jayden Daniels was one of the biggest stories in the NFL in 2024. The Washington quarterback won Offensive Rookie of the Year after helping the Commanders reach their first NFC Championship Game since the 1991 season, producing 4,459 combined passing and rushing yards with 31 offensive touchdowns.

His second season could hardly have been more different. Knee, hamstring and elbow injuries restricted Daniels to seven appearances as Washington dropped to 5-12, having gone 12-5 during his rookie campaign.

That makes his return one of the more intriguing individual stories heading into 2026, and UK supporters will have the chance to see him early in the season. Washington face the Indianapolis Colts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 4th October, with Daniels set to come up against a Colts team featuring Daniel Jones and star running back Jonathan Taylor.

Indianapolis also have their own quarterback comeback story. Jones helped the Colts begin last season 7-1 before injury disrupted their campaign, adding another interesting element to the first NFL London game of 2026.

NFL London returns for three huge games in 2026

London remains a major part of the NFL’s international programme, with three games taking place in the capital as part of a record nine international regular-season fixtures across the 2026 campaign. Games will also be staged in Australia, Brazil, France, Spain, Germany and Mexico as the league continues to expand its international schedule.

For UK supporters, attention will turn to October and three consecutive Sundays of NFL action. Eventmasters offers hospitality for Colts v Commanders, Eagles v Jaguars and Texans v Jaguars, with packages available at both the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium.

NFL 2026 FAQs

When does the 2026 NFL season start?

The 2026 NFL regular season begins on Wednesday 9th September when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots. The fixture is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, which Seattle won 29-13 in February.

Which NFL teams are playing in London in 2026?

Six teams feature across the three NFL London fixtures: the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, with Jacksonville playing twice. The games take place across three consecutive Sundays in October.

When are the 2026 NFL London Games?

The Colts face the Commanders on Sunday 4th October, the Eagles meet the Jaguars on Sunday 11th October and the Texans play the Jaguars on Sunday 18th October. All three games are regular-season fixtures.

Where are the NFL London Games being played?

Colts v Commanders and Eagles v Jaguars will both take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Texans v Jaguars will then be staged at Wembley Stadium.

Can I book NFL London hospitality with Eventmasters?

Yes. Eventmasters offers hospitality packages for all three NFL London Games in 2026, with a range of options available at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium. Packages combine match access with premium hospitality facilities, with the exact inclusions depending on the chosen option.