CBS Sports ranks 2026 NFL Thursday Night Football matchups
The Week 1 opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers tops the list of 15 standalone fixtures, with Amazon retaining exclusive broadcasting rights for the season.
CBS Sports has published a ranking of the 15 standalone Thursday Night Football matchups for the 2026 NFL season, excluding the special Thanksgiving slate. The publication identifies the Week 1 opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers as the most compelling fixture of the year. Amazon retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2026 season, with all Thursday Night Football games scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET.
The ranking covers matchups from Week 1 through Week 17 and highlights narrative angles such as new head coaches and quarterback competitions. In Atlanta, the Falcons face a question mark at quarterback with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. competing, while the Packers aim to improve upon their NFC seeding. The article notes that Lambeau Field will host the game on October 29, creating a distinct environment for the early-season contest.
Other notable ranked games include the Buffalo Bills versus Detroit Lions, described as a potential Super Bowl preview. This late-season clash at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park follows a previous meeting where the teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense in a 48-42 shootout. The piece also highlights the Kansas City Chiefs versus Los Angeles Rams, featuring a matchup between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford.
The article notes various team dynamics, including new head coaches such as Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh and John Harbaugh in New York. It is reported that the Los Angeles Rams have the highest preseason win total in the NFL at 11.5 wins, tied with the Baltimore Ravens, despite Baltimore coming off an 8-9 season in 2025. The Patriots are expected to face the sixth-toughest schedule in the NFL in 2026, following the easiest strength of schedule since 1999 in 2025.
The ranking excludes the special Thanksgiving games, which include the Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys, and the Buffalo Bills at the Kansas City Chiefs. The piece mentions that the NFL has confirmed an expanded holiday slate, including a Wednesday night Netflix broadcast featuring the Los Angeles Rams versus Green Bay Packers. The standalone Thursday Night Football games are positioned as a consistent fixture in the league calendar, distinct from the holiday specials.
