The NFL season is still quite some time away, and fans are already clamoring for their favorite game to return. The NFL schedule release has done nothing but fan the flames of excitement for the 2023 NFL season.

Before we start thinking about potential playoff and Super Bowl contending teams, let’s take a look at the Week 1 schedule for opening weekend and highlight some of the biggest matchups.

NFL Week 1 Schedule Rumors: When Is Week 1 in the NFL?

The first NFL game, preseason not included, will be played on Thursday night, Sept. 7, 2023. Then, an entire 14-game slate will be played on Sunday, with the last Week 1 game on Monday. Here is the NFL’s opening weekend lineup.

Note: not all games have been confirmed, they are subject to change. 

Thursday Night Football | Sept. 7
Detroit Lions at Kansas City
NBC | 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept. 10 | Week 1
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Sunday Night Football
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Monday Night Football | Sept. 11
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
ESPN | 8:15 p.m. ET

NFL Week 1 Schedule Packed With Exciting Games

Obviously, some of the crown jewels of the first week of the 2023 NFL season are being played in prime time. The Thursday Night Football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions should be the perfect way to start the year. Two high-powered offenses dueling it out under the bright lights. Patrick Mahomes looking to defend the team’s Super Bowl victory against a young, scrappy Lions team looking to make a name for themselves.

On Sunday, the daytime slate has a couple of divisional games that should be fun to watch. The Carolina Panthers will be facing NFC South foes, the Atlanta Falcons. First overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young should see his first game and will be playing against the Falcons’ young QB Desmond Ridder. More importantly, though, will be the debut of Atlanta’s first-round pick, running back Bijan Robinson.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have already announced that their home game will be in honor of Tom Brady as they celebrate the numerous championships he brought to the city.

“The greatest player in the history of the game played right here in Foxborough, and I’m happy to tell you … I invited him back to come here and be with us at the opening game,” team owner Robert Kraft told Good Morning Football on Thursday morning.

NFL’s Week 1 schedule and opening weekend comes to an end with Monday Night Football, and did the schedule makers give us a good one? Aaron Rodgers, now a New York Jet, will be hosting the defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills. Will Rodgers shine when the lights are the brightest? Or, will Josh Allen and crew put a damper on the veteran QB’s first game as a Jet?