NFL Week 1 2021 schedule: How and where to watch every game
Discover every NFL Week 1 matchup in this comprehensive list, including which games are expected to be can’t-miss television.
In less than a week, the Dallas Cowboys will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the inaugural game of the 2021 NFL season at Raymond James Stadium.
Aside from the fanfare that comes with any Super Bowl champion opener, the game is one of the most anticipated matchups of Week 1. Fans throughout the NFL are curious to see if Dak Prescott can triumph over injury battles and if the Buccaneers are on their way to “running it back.”
However the Cowboys-Buccaneers game shakes out, there’s still a full slate of thrilling matchups scheduled over the weekend.
Here is the Week 1 viewing schedule for the 2021 NFL season.
Thursday, Sept. 9 (8:20 p.m. ET)
Sunday, Sept. 12 (1:00 p.m. ET)
- Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts on Fox
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans on CBS
- Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons on Fox
- Los Angeles Chargers at Washington Football Team on CBS
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills on CBS
- San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions on Fox
- Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals on Fox
- New York Jets at Carolina Panthers on CBS
- Arizona Cardinals vs Tennessee Titans on CBS
Sunday, Sept. 12 (4:25 p.m. ET)
- Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs on CBS
- Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots on CBS
- Denver Broncos at New York Giants on Fox
- Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints on Fox*
Sunday, Sept. 12 (8:20 p.m. ET)
Monday, Sept. 13 (8:15 p.m. ET)
*Note: Due to Hurricane Ida damage in New Orleans, this game has been relocated to Jacksonville, Florida.
Aside from the Thursday Night Football premiere in Tampa Bay, the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams presents the debut of two heralded quarterbacks. Skilled veteran Matthew Stafford leads a Rams team that enters the season a strong Super Bowl contender, while the prospect of starting rookie Bears quarterback Justin Fields is more than enough to animate the entire fanbase if Matt Nagy is willing to hand him the reins.
Other games to watch include a matchup between AFC powerhouses Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, Zach Wilson’s New York Jets debut against a vengeful Sam Darnold on the Carolina Panthers, and Trevor Lawrence’s first start as a Jacksonville Jaguar versus the Houston Texans.
Aside from the Denver Broncos and New York Giants game, all 4:25 p.m. ET matchups will have implications on the NFL postseason — these are all playoff-caliber teams that are expected to play until January 2022.