{"id":1028,"date":"2026-08-24T11:41:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T11:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/?p=1028"},"modified":"2026-08-24T16:02:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:02:47","slug":"the-10-best-nfl-games-to-attend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/the-10-best-nfl-games-to-attend\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best NFL Games to Attend During the 2026 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 10 best NFL<\/a><\/strong> games to attend in 2026 include the Seahawks vs. Patriots season opener (September 9, Lumen Field), Chiefs vs. Broncos Monday Night Football (September 14, Arrowhead Stadium), Bears vs. Packers at Soldier Field (October 11), all three Thanksgiving matchups (November 26), Bears vs. Packers at Lambeau on Christmas Day, Rams vs. Seahawks Christmas night at SoFi Stadium, Bills vs. Broncos Christmas afternoon at Highmark Stadium and a potential Chiefs-Bills playoff rematch in January 2027. Tickets for every game are available at boxofficeticketsales.com<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 NFL season might be the most compelling schedule in a decade. A Super Bowl LX rematch on a Wednesday night to open the season. Patrick Mahomes returning from a torn ACL on Monday Night Football. The Bears and Packers meeting three times in a single season, including on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field. Three holiday games that are rematches of last year’s playoff matchups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn’t a normal NFL season. The storylines, the stadiums and the stakes align in a way that makes 2026 a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be in the building for something that matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re a die-hard fan planning your entire fall around your team, or someone looking for the perfect game-day experience, this is your complete guide to the 10 best NFL games to attend in 2026<\/a>\u2014with everything you need to know about tickets, stadiums and what makes each one unmissable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes an NFL Game Worth Attending in Person?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not every great TV game is a great game to attend in person. Here’s what we factored into this list: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When building this list, we considered five factors that set a truly great live experience apart from just another game on TV. Storyline matters most\u2014games with compelling narratives like rivalries, rematches, and comeback stories generate an electricity in the stadium that a standard matchup simply can’t match. Stadium atmosphere plays an equally important role, since some venues are demonstrably louder, more beautiful, or more historically significant than others. We also weighed ticket value, highlighting games that offer the best balance of experience versus cost. Occasion is another key factor, because holiday games carry an energy that makes the experience feel bigger than a standard Sunday afternoon. Finally, stakes change everything\u2014games with playoff seeding, division title, or rivalry implications hit differently when you’re in the building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 NFL schedule has an unusual concentration of all five factors. Here are the 10 games worth traveling for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #1: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lumen Field, Seattle, WA | September 9, 2026 (Wednesday Night)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 NFL regular season opens on September 9 with the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/strong> hosting the New England Patriots<\/a><\/strong> in a Super Bowl LX rematch\u2014on a Wednesday night, only the second time in NFL history a season has opened on a Wednesday. Super Bowl rematches in Week 1 are rare. Reigning champion home openers under the lights are electric. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Patriots lost Super Bowl LX 29-13. They’re coming to Seattle with revenge motivation. That alone makes the atmosphere at Lumen Field different from any other Week 1 game in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lumen Field<\/a><\/strong> is one of the loudest stadiums in NFL history by decibel measurement\u2014a feature of its physical design that traps crowd noise inside the bowl. The Seahawks’ fanbase, known as the “12s,” is among the most passionate in the league. Visiting fans consistently describe the atmosphere as overwhelming. For any NFL fan, a primetime game at Lumen Field is a bucket-list experience. A Super Bowl rematch on the second Wednesday of the league’s history makes it essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #2: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO | September 14, 2026 (Monday Night Football)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> vs. Denver Broncos<\/a><\/strong> matchup is one of the most emotionally charged regular season games on the entire 2026 NFL calendar. Patrick Mahomes’ torn ACL caused the Chiefs to miss the playoffs for the first time in years and finish 6-11 last season. His return is the biggest individual story in the NFL in 2026, and Kansas City gets its first major test against a familiar AFC West rival in the Denver Broncos. The NFL scheduled Chiefs vs. Broncos for Monday night, closing out opening week with one of the season’s most anticipated divisional matchups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrowhead Stadium<\/a><\/strong> is one of the most iconic venues in American sports. Consistently ranked among the loudest stadiums in the world, with a tailgate culture that rivals any in the NFL, it’s a destination even before kickoff. A packed Arrowhead for a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos rivalry game should make the atmosphere even more intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in the building when Mahomes takes his first snap back, with the Chiefs facing the division-rival Broncos under the Monday night lights, is the kind of memory that lasts decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #3: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL | October 11, 2026<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Bears-Packers meeting in Chicago is one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season. After three meetings in a 34-day span last December and January\u2014including a Wild Card win by the Chicago Bears<\/a><\/strong> when the Green Bay Packers<\/a><\/strong> held a 99.5% win probability with two minutes remaining\u2014the Packers enter 2026 desperate for revenge. The Bears enter as NFC North champions riding an unprecedented wave of momentum behind third-year quarterback Caleb Williams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bears-Packers isn’t just the oldest rivalry in professional football. In 2026, it’s the hottest rivalry in football. Two genuinely good teams. Genuine animosity. The game’s most historic venue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldier Field<\/a><\/strong> opened in 1924 and sits on the Chicago lakefront with Lake Michigan and the city skyline as its backdrop\u2014one of the most scenic NFL settings in America. The atmosphere for Bears-Packers at Soldier Field is as electric as any regular season NFL environment you’ll find anywhere in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #4: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving, 8:20 PM ET)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> vs. Buffalo Bills<\/a><\/strong> matchup has become one of the NFL’s premier modern rivalries. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have delivered memorable games year after year, and anytime the Chiefs and Bills meet, there is plenty of anticipation. Add Thanksgiving night, a national primetime audience, and the debut season of the brand-new Highmark Stadium<\/a><\/strong>, and this becomes one of the standout games on the 2026 NFL calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Buffalo Bills fans, this is also an opportunity to experience one of the biggest games of the new stadium’s inaugural season. New Highmark Stadium opened in 2026, and hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving night gives the venue a marquee rivalry matchup during its first year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Thanksgiving games carry an atmosphere all their own, and Chiefs vs. Bills<\/strong> brings even more excitement to the holiday stage. With Kansas City and Buffalo meeting under the primetime lights, two of the AFC’s biggest names will have the national spotlight for one of the season’s most anticipated games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #5: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ford Field, Detroit, MI | November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving, 1:00 PM ET)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thanksgiving Day Lions game is one of football’s oldest and most beloved traditions. In 2026, it carries genuine stakes. The Chicago Bears<\/a><\/strong> and Detroit Lions<\/a><\/strong> meet on Thanksgiving afternoon as two NFC North rivals with genuine animosity and playoff implications. The Lions won both matchups against Chicago last season, and the Bears will be looking for revenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detroit has transformed from a Thanksgiving perennial punching bag to a legitimate NFC contender. With the Bears-Lions rivalry intensifying alongside the Bears-Packers war, this has become one of the most compelling NFC divisional games on the annual schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ford Field<\/a><\/strong> is one of the NFL’s best indoor stadiums, loud and intimate for its 65,000-fan capacity, set in the heart of downtown Detroit. The Thanksgiving atmosphere at Ford Field is uniquely festive, with elaborate holiday-themed production elements added to the standard game-day experience. This is a great first NFL game experience for any fan\u2014and an even better one for Bears or Lions diehards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #6: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving, 4:30 PM ET)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Philadelphia Eagles<\/a><\/strong> vs. Dallas Cowboys<\/strong><\/a> rivalry is among the most passionate and contentious in football, a game that splits families and fills stadiums with an intensity few regular-season matchups can match. Thanksgiving afternoon makes the atmosphere bigger. Two massive national fanbases traveling to the same stadium on a holiday create a crowd that no regular Sunday can replicate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles come in as a team that lost Super Bowl LX to the Seahawks and are hungry for a championship run. The Cowboys arrive with their own playoff motivations and a fanbase that travels exceptionally well. Combine those factors with genuine NFC East playoff implications, and this becomes one of the most attended NFL games of the fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #7: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI | December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day, 1:00 PM ET)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chicago Bears<\/a><\/strong> vs. Green Bay Packers<\/a><\/strong> on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field<\/a><\/strong> is the most historically rich regular season game on the entire 2026 NFL schedule. The two oldest rivals in professional football. The most iconic stadium in the NFL. Christmas Day. All three factors combine to create an experience that no other game in 2026 can match for pure football romance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lambeau Field is one of the bucket-list NFL experiences in America\u2014the “Frozen Tundra” of Green Bay, Wisconsin, steeped in NFL history from Vince Lombardi to Brett Favre to Jordan Love. A winter game at Lambeau on Christmas Day is the closest thing American sports offers to a pilgrimage. The cold, the history, the rivalry and the occasion make this the single most emotionally resonant game to attend on this entire list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Packers lost to the Bears 27-21 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last season. They haven’t forgotten. Being in Lambeau when this one kicks off will be unlike any other regular season game anywhere in the NFC in 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #8: Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day, Evening)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas night closes out with a rematch of the 2026 NFC Championship game: the Los Angeles Rams<\/a><\/strong> versus the Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/strong> at SoFi Stadium<\/a><\/strong>, with both teams positioned as prime Super Bowl LXI contenders entering the season. The Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship game on their way to the Super Bowl title. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua made his feelings clear afterward: “I hate everybody on the Seahawks. Everybody over there can catch the smoke anytime.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That bulletin board material turns a Christmas night primetime game into something genuinely combustible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This game takes place at SoFi Stadium, the same venue that will host Super Bowl LXI on Valentine’s Day 2027. Watching the Rams and Seahawks battle for their Super Bowl positioning in the building where the championship will be decided adds a unique layer for fans planning to attend both games. The Rams and Seahawks also meet again in Week 18, making this one of the most watched series in the NFC all season long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #9: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day, Afternoon)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buffalo Bills<\/a><\/strong> and Denver Broncos<\/a> <\/strong>meet on Christmas Day afternoon in a rematch of their 2025 Divisional Round playoff game, which Denver won in overtime 33-30, ending Buffalo’s season. Bills Mafia revenge tour. A brand-new stadium. A Divisional Round rematch. Christmas afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a Bills fan, this game is circled in permanent marker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is only the second major home game at the new Highmark Stadium<\/a><\/strong> in a marquee slot, with a full-capacity Bills crowd in playoff-race conditions. The Bills fanbase is one of the most passionate and creative in football. Being in Highmark Stadium on Christmas Day with Bills Mafia will be a uniquely memorable NFL experience whether you’re a Buffalo loyalist or a neutral fan looking for atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game #10: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills, Divisional or Championship Playoff Round <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

TBD, Playoff Seeding Dependent | January 2027<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the educated wild card pick. The Kansas City Chiefs<\/a><\/strong> and Buffalo Bills<\/a><\/strong> are both projected playoff contenders, and the Chiefs-Bills rivalry has produced some of the most memorable games of the Mahomes-Allen era. If both teams return to postseason form in 2026\u2014as widely expected\u2014a playoff meeting in January 2027 is the most anticipated potential matchup in the AFC bracket.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regular-season Thanksgiving night meeting at Highmark Stadium<\/strong> may not be enough. A playoff edition of Chiefs-Bills, possibly an AFC Divisional or Championship rematch, would be one of the most watched NFL games in years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playoff tickets go on sale to the general public the moment the bracket is set, typically on the Sunday of Wild Card weekend. Acting within the first hour of availability gives you the best selection of inventory. Set a reminder now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus: Super Bowl LXI, <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | February 14, 2027<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027\u2014Valentine’s Day\u2014at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California<\/strong>. It will be the first Super Bowl ever broadcast on ESPN and ABC simultaneously, with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling the game. Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles. One of the most unique Super Bowl occasions in recent memory.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets are available through verified resale. The earlier you plan, the better your options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment\u2014This Is It <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 NFL season has something for every kind of football fan. Mahomes’ comeback moment. Bears-Packers at Lambeau on Christmas Day. New Highmark Stadium’s debut Thanksgiving night. Three holiday rematches from last season’s playoffs. The road to Super Bowl LXI visible from the stands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are the 10 games worth getting off the couch for and heading to the stadium. The best ones sell fast, especially the holiday slate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse all 2026 NFL game tickets\u2014regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl LXI\u2014at boxofficeticketsales.com<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 10 best NFL games to attend in 2026 include the Seahawks vs. Patriots season opener (September 9, Lumen Field), Chiefs vs. Broncos Monday Night Football (September 14, Arrowhead Stadium), Bears vs. Packers at Soldier Field (October 11), all three Thanksgiving matchups (November 26), Bears vs. Packers at Lambeau on Christmas Day, Rams vs. Seahawks …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[37,38],"class_list":["post-1028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-football","tag-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1028"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1077,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028\/revisions\/1077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boxofficeticketsales.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}