ESPN staff May 14, 2026, 08:00 PM ET The 2026 NFL schedule has dropped, checking off a major offseason milestone as the countdown to kickoff continues. Several marquee highlights were revealed ahead of the full release Thursday night, including a season-opening Super Bowl rematch between the defending champion Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. The Wednesday opener helps accommodate the NFL's first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, part of a record nine international games across seven countries in 2026. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will meet Sept. 10 in Australia, and the NFL will also head to Paris for the first time in Week 7 when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France. The Green Bay Packers will visit the Rams in the league's first Thanksgiving Eve game, and the Dallas Cowboys are set to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day. As has become tradition, the schedule release has become a competition.…