Since head coaches Sean McVay (Rams) and Kyle Shanahan (49ers) have been each employed in 2017, San Francisco leads the sequence 10-7, with Los Angeles profitable the lone playoff assembly and 4 of the previous 5 within the common season. Each groups have additionally carried out effectively in worldwide video games, with the Rams profitable three consecutive and averaging 30.7 factors per sport in the course of the span. The Niners, in the meantime, are 3-0 all-time, placing each streaks on the road.
One other sport pitting divisional foes who made the postseason final season, this might have an early playoff environment contemplating its potential significance to the AFC South standings. The Jaguars have made London one thing of a second residence over time.
They’ll start a two-week UK residence stand in opposition to the Texans, who used an exhilarating come-from-behind 2025 Week 10 win over Jacksonville to kick-start a 10-game win streak, reaching the AFC divisional spherical after starting the season 0-3. One can solely hope the upcoming Week 6 sport resembles that greater than Houston’s most up-to-date London sport, when it blew out Jacksonville, 26-3, in 2019.
After two video games in Sao Paulo, the NFL’s Brazil sequence shifts to Rio de Janeiro, the place two of final 12 months’s most disappointing groups look to seize an early assertion win. Whereas the Ravens and Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs in 2025, each have the expertise to be elements within the hunt this 12 months. Per ESPN, Baltimore is even favored to win the AFC.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t misplaced to Dallas in two earlier video games, with the latest in 2024, when Baltimore raced out to a 28-6 highway lead earlier than holding on for a 28-25 win. The Cowboys and Ravens do not typically play overseas, combining for 3 worldwide video games heading into this season, making this a deal with for the Brazilian viewers.
5. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 5 • Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Community – London)
One other high quality matchup, Eagles-Jaguars (colloquially often known as the Doug Pederson Bowl), is a 3rd worldwide sequence sport pitting two 2025 playoff groups in opposition to one another. Each groups have questions getting into 2026; nevertheless, with Philadelphia’s offense a curiosity, with extensive receiver A.J. Brown’s commerce scenario unresolved.
How will the Eagles look if he’s finally dealt? What does the inconsistent unit do below first-year coordinator Sean Mannion, the crew’s fifth in as many seasons?
The Jags misplaced key contributors on offense (working again Travis Etienne Jr.) and protection (cornerback Greg Newsome II, linebacker Devin Lloyd) in free company, and the way shortly they fill these holes can be key to their AFC South repeat bid. This sport will present an early standing report.
This sport may very well be decrease if Aaron Rodgers retires, however each groups may discover themselves within the playoff hunt. Pittsburgh gained the AFC North final 12 months, whereas the Saints are trending up below second-year coach Kellen Moore, who ranks fourth in Coach of the Yr odds.
They play within the winnable NFC South, which despatched the 8-9 Carolina Panthers to the playoffs in 2025 (h/t ESPN). Moore additionally served as Steelers coach Mike McCarthy’s offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys for 3 seasons earlier than being fired in 2023, including gas to the midseason tilt.
The offensive firepower when the Bengals and Falcons meet can be a sight to behold. From Bengals extensive receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to Falcons wideout Drake London and working again Bijan Robinson, this might actually flip right into a observe meet.
However fewer groups have been lower than the sum of their elements than the Bengals and Falcons in recent times, giving us trepidation that this sport can be nearly as good because it appears to be like on paper.
The Colts and Commanders have been shock tales the previous two seasons, as Washington made an surprising run to the NFC Championship Recreation in 2024 and Indianapolis performed like the perfect crew within the AFC for greater than half of 2025 earlier than ending the 12 months on a seven-game shedding streak.
Indy’s unsure quarterback scenario — Daniel Jones is recovering from a torn Achilles — makes the early season sport much less engaging, as does Jayden Daniels’ sturdiness considerations after lacking 10 video games as a consequence of a number of accidents final 12 months.
The 49ers get an extended break between worldwide video games, with their final additionally the ultimate of the 2026 slate. The Vikings are a a lot much less compelling opponent than the Rams, nevertheless, after a disappointing 2025 and offseason roster teardown. Maybe free-agent quarterback Kyler Murray will shock and have Minnesota within the playoff hunt, however that is not a guess we might be snug making.
