Ranking every international game on the 2026 NFL schedule

49ers–Rams is a doozy: The second game of the season, and the first ever in Australia, will offer lots at stake.

A high-level showing in Rio de Janeiro: Lamar Jackson and the Ravens take on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in a clash between two revamped playoff hopefuls.

Two tough matchups for the Jaguars: Jacksonville's consecutive London games offer two difficult opponents in the Eagles and Texans.

The NFL has hosted 55 international regular-season games over the last two decades. Teams and their fanbases back home may understandably dislike how these games can throw their season out of rhythm with excessive travel and unfamiliar surroundings in a foreign country.

However, with nine international games on the calendar this season, including the NFL’s first expedition to Australia, the overseas slate will only continue to grow over the coming years. London, the league’s regular outpost, has become a relatively safe bet for travelling teams. Having hosted 42 international games since 2007, the NFL has refined the voyage across the Atlantic down to a fine art, even if growing pains will remain as the league expands into first-time host nations.

Before ranking this year’s games, it’s worth asking whether these contests actually play out any differently from those on U.S. soil. International matchups have developed a bit of a reputation for the wacky and wonderful over recent years. They’ve also garnered a reputation for serving up underwhelming matchups between teams with losing records.

In terms of offensive output, though, these games are totally ordinary. Yards per play, plays per game, conversion rates and points scored all closely mirror what we see during a typical Sunday in the United States.

What about how teams approach the game itself? Do they slow down the tempo, lean more heavily on the run or empty the playbook with trick plays? Not really. Coaches generally stick to what they tell reporters all week by “approaching this like any other game.” There is no overseas voodoo causing more footballs to be dropped or more field goals to be missed.

With that myth put to bed, let’s rank the 2026 international slate.

1. San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams

Melbourne, Australia | Thursday, Sept. 10

The most audacious offering on the international calendar is also the first, and the best. It’s one of only two international fixtures matching up teams who are inside the top 10 in preseason Super Bowl odds, and it doubles as an NFC West showdown that could decide the order in the sport’s most stacked division.

The loser of this game will receive the benefit of the doubt given the logistics involved. Both teams will travel roughly 16 hours, and cross the International Date Line to play a game at approximately 10:30 am on a Friday morning.

The football itself should be worth the trip, though. The Rams and 49ers finished first and third in PFF offensive grade last season, respectively, while also boasting PFF’s top two run-blocking units. With Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan on opposite sidelines, this is clearly the tactical highlight of the international schedule.

The big matchup worth watching comes in the trenches. Trent Williams and Myles Garrett have only faced one another twice in their careers, on just 32 total passing snaps. Garrett certainly holds the upper hand, having generated eight pressures and a sack during those opportunities. That works out to a 25.0% pressure rate. For reference, Williams has surrendered pressure on just 4.5% of his pass-blocking snaps across six seasons with San Francisco.

2. Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots

Munich, Germany | Nov. 15

The other matchup featuring two teams inside the top ten in preseason Super Bowl odds lacks the divisional stakes of the Melbourne opener, but it occurs much closer to the business end of the season.

It also showcases two of the NFL’s most efficient passing attacks. The Patriots and Lions ranked first and fifth, respectively, in passing yards per attempt last season, and this is a game where both offenses can easily trade scores into the 30s.

Both franchises have enormous fanbases in Central Europe — the Patriots due to their success during the boom of football in Europe, while Amon-Ra St. Brown’s German lineage has attracted swathes of supporters new to the sport.

3. Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Sept. 27

Star power alone earns this game a place near the top of the rankings. The name brand of these franchises also make it an easy sell before even considering the atmosphere a first-time game in Rio should provide.

One key to the showdown will be Dallas’ ability to limit explosive runs from Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Last season, 15.1% of Baltimore’s rushing attempts gained at least 10 yards, the highest explosive run rate in the NFL. Meanwhile, Dallas surrendered gains of 10 or more yards on 15.8% of opposing rushing attempts, the third-worst mark in the league. Dallas has invested additional bodies into its run support, including Rashan Gary and first-round pick Caleb Downs, but major question marks remain.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles

London, England | Oct. 11

No active player has become more synonymous with international football than Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars quarterback is set to take his 500th career snap in London this October. Almost 10% of all snaps Lawrence has played in the NFL have taken place in London.

Lawrence has generally performed well overseas too, posting a 78.5 PFF overall grade across his London appearances. Jacksonville’s familiarity with the annual trip may be becoming a genuine competitive advantage rather than just a novelty.

The challenge this time, however, is considerably steeper. The Eagles once again field one of the league’s deepest rosters and are among the highest-quality opponents Jacksonville has drawn on the international stage since the London series began.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

London, England | Oct. 18

It may feel like the quintessential London NFL fixture, but these AFC South rivals have only brought their divisional matchup overseas once before, with Houston cruising to a 26-3 victory back in 2019.

The top defensive performer in international games over the last decade belongs to, perhaps unsurprisingly, Josh Hines-Allen. His 39 pressures and 90.7 PFF pass-rushing grade in overseas contests both rank first among active players.

Jacksonville’s pass protection will certainly be tested over its two-week London stay. Both of the Jaguars’ opponents ranked inside the league’s top six in total pressure rate last season.

Whether remaining in London between games proves beneficial for the Jaguars will be interesting. This is the fourth consecutive year where a team will remain in Europe between games, and such sides are currently 3-0 in the second matchup.

6. New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Paris, France | Oct. 25

Paris finally joins the NFL map this season with a game that features an interesting clash of offensive identities. With Aaron Rodgers returning at quarterback, the Steelers are expected to continue leaning on a quick passing game designed to create yards after the catch. Pittsburgh averaged 6.5 yards after the catch per reception last season, the highest figure in the NFL.

The Saints sat at the opposite end of the spectrum. They averaged just 4.3 yards after the catch per reception, the league’s lowest mark, instead relying on Tyler Shough to generate far more of the offense through the air.

D.K. Metcalf has only played in two international games but has already made quite the impression. His 90.0 PFF receiving grade and 197 receiving yards both rank among the best overseas performances by any active receiver.

7. San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Mexico City, Mexico | Nov. 22

This Nov. 22 meeting is the latest an international game has appeared on the NFL calendar since 2013. By that stage of the season, playoff races are beginning to take shape, making the scheduling decision a slight gamble. The league is probably approaching the latest point at which it can comfortably stage international games without the risk of sending a mathematically eliminated team abroad for what would effectively become a glorified exhibition.

From a travel perspective, it’s also among the least disruptive trips of the year. Minnesota faces less than five hours in the air and no time-zone adjustment whatsoever. Yet Mexico City’s altitude presents a different challenge. The stadium sits roughly 2,300 feet higher above sea level than Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High, making conditioning arguably the toughest test.

Justin Jefferson is also closing in on a unique milestone. He needs just 12 more receiving yards to become the first player in NFL history to reach 500 career receiving yards on foreign soil.

8. Washington Commanders vs. Indianapolis Colts

London, England | Oct. 4

This game quietly offers one of the more intriguing schematic contrasts on the schedule. Washington played at breakneck speed throughout last season. The Commanders’ 58.6% no-huddle rate was more than double that of every other offense in the league, forcing opposing defenses to communicate without a chance to substitute or regroup.

Indianapolis played vastly differently. The Colts reserved their up-tempo offense for obvious two-minute situations, preferring to huddle and control the pace for the vast majority of the game.

Whether either side adjusts its usual rhythm after traveling across the Atlantic will be worth monitoring, even if history suggests neither coaching staff is likely to reinvent itself for one week.

9. Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Madrid, Spain | Nov. 8

It feels slightly unfair ranking any game last considering Joe Burrow is involved. Madrid should provide another spectacular backdrop, and Burrow alone gives this contest plenty of entertainment value. But compared to the rest of this year’s international slate, it is slightly lacking.

One player with an excellent overseas résumé is Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom. He is the highest-graded active player in international games, having appeared in three overseas contests with Atlanta. Lindstrom has produced an outstanding 92.8 PFF overall grade in those affairs.