Thirty-two teams set off into the marathon of a 107th season, each of them working to a salary cap of $301.2 million. Nine international fixtures across seven countries are scheduled this year, and global appetite for the NFL is at its peak, with Melbourne, Paris and Rio de Janeiro hosting the league for the first time. The Los Angeles Rams start as the outstanding favourites. The California franchise has strengthened an already deep roster by trading for Myles Garrett and welcoming Aaron Donald back from retirement. Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles follow in their slipstream.
The league's five best players are Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Myles Garrett. Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs' star quarterback, returns to action after tearing ligaments in his knee. One school of thought holds that the injury dents the team's championship prospects. Another still counts them among the outright contenders.
The season begins on 9 September at Lumen Field in Seattle, where the Seahawks host the New England Patriots in the opening fixture. The regular season closes on 10 January 2027, with the play-offs starting six days later, on 16 January. The historic Super Bowl LXI follows on 14 February at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
