There are no NFL games scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7. The 2026 regular season begins midweek, and the first Monday Night Football broadcast is set for Sept. 14, when the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
- There are no NFL games on Monday, Sept. 7; the regular season begins Wednesday, Sept. 9.
- Week 1 opens with Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
- Monday Night Football resumes Sept. 14 with Broncos at Chiefs, and will run weekly through Week 17.
Quick answer: no game tonight
Multiple U.S. outlets report that Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, has no NFL slate. The preseason concluded Aug. 29 and the regular season opens Wednesday, Sept. 9, meaning fans should not expect live NFL action this evening.
What kicks off Week 1
The 2026 regular season opens on Wednesday, Sept. 9 with a rematch of Super Bowl LX: the New England Patriots at the Seattle Seahawks. That game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Other Week 1 kickoff times documented by U.S. outlets include two late-window national games — San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams and Dallas at New York Giants — and a full Sunday slate across CBS, Fox and other broadcasters.
Notable Week 1 matchups and national windows (reported)
- New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks — Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC).
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams — evening national window (streaming on Netflix listed by outlets).
- Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants — Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC).
- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs — the first Monday Night Football game, Sept. 14, prime time on ESPN/ABC.
Daily game lists published by U.S. newsrooms note the typical regional slate on Sunday afternoon across CBS and Fox, with afternoon and evening national windows covered by marquee broadcast partners.
Monday Night Football: when it returns and what to expect
Contrary to some years in which Monday night had games beginning earlier in September, the 2026 Monday Night Football schedule begins on Sept. 14. U.S. reporting indicates the long-running ESPN/ABC package will begin that night with the Broncos at the Chiefs, with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling the 2026 season through Super Bowl 61.
One outlet notes that the league will stage one Monday night game each week from Week 1 through Week 17, all at the evening national slot (around 8:15–8:20 p.m. ET), and lists the first several Monday matchups scheduled later in the season.
Why there’s no game tonight
Sources say the NFL set a midweek opener for 2026 rather than using Labor Day as an NFL primetime spot. With the preseason finished and the regular season beginning on Wednesday, the Monday of Labor Day week remains off the schedule.
Practical implications for fans
- If you were planning to watch NFL football tonight, you can instead use the time to prep for the regular-season opener on Wednesday (Patriots at Seahawks) or the Monday Night Football kickoff on Sept. 14 (Broncos at Chiefs).
- Check your local listings: national windows (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN/ABC) carry marquee matchups, but regional early-afternoon games will air on local affiliates and streaming partners vary by market.
- For cord-cutters, note that some national games are listed as streaming-only in certain outlets’ published schedules; verify your preferred game’s platform ahead of time.
Timeline: key early-season dates reported
- Aug. 29 — NFL preseason ends (reported).
- Sept. 7 — No NFL games scheduled (Labor Day).
- Sept. 9 — Regular season opens: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
- Sept. 14 — First Monday Night Football game of 2026: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN/ABC).
What’s unresolved
Publishers cited here supply consistent scheduling details for Week 1 and Monday Night Football, but local broadcast availability and streaming rights can vary by market and could affect how you watch particular games. Always confirm final kickoff times and platforms with your provider or the NFL’s official schedule closer to game day.
“There is not a ‘Monday Night Football’ game tonight,” one summary of the schedule concluded.
We relied on U.S.-based reporting of the 2026 NFL schedule to verify these items. If you need a customized TV or streaming checklist for your market, tell us your city and provider and we’ll prepare one ahead of Wednesday’s opener.
