'The NFL Today' Crew Previews a Blockbuster 2026 Season

The NFL returns to CBS on Sunday, September 13, highlighted by a matchup that captures the excitement of a new season when the Green Bay Packers visit the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North showdown at 4:25 p.m. ET.

The divisional matchup sets off a 2026 NFL ON CBS schedule that will feature more than 100 regular-season games, 10 national doubleheader windows and some of the biggest rivalries in football. It also launches a new season for The NFL Today, as Russell Wilson and Kyle Long join James Brown, Bill Cowher and Nate Burleson, and the show heads to more NFL cities than ever before.

Storylines to Watch This Season

For Cowher, opening the season with a divisional game raises the stakes from the start. “We're talking about a Minnesota team now with Kyler Murray trying to rejuvenate his career with Kevin O'Connell, who's kind of a quarterback whisperer. And Matt LaFleur and the Packers have been a team that has been knocking on the door for the last few years,” he said. “I just think Opening Day is a great day, because I think everyone's excited and kind of sets the tone. And then you get a divisional game, that takes it to another level.”

Burleson has his eye on a crowded group of AFC contenders led by some of the league’s top quarterbacks. “I'm looking at the Ravens, the Bills, the Bengals. It's almost like I want to fast forward and see who they have become towards the end of the year because that's usually how we measure what a playoff run or even a Super Bowl run will look like,” he said. “And those teams are all anchored by their quarterbacks, who at any point could play like the best quarterback in all of football.”

Wilson will also be watching the competition in both conferences. “The Seahawks, the Rams watching those two teams in the NFC West battle. I think in the AFC, I’m watching the Buffalo Bills,” he said. “I think one of the tougher defenses is the Houston Texans. Can CJ Stroud have a great year this year? I believe he's super talented. Houston is kind of a dark horse team, but I think they’ve got some crazy talent on defense.”

Marquee Matchups Throughout the Season

The 4:25 p.m. ET national game window – the most-watched program in all of television – will feature a lineup of high-profile games all season long, including Ravens vs. Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3, Chiefs at Broncos in Week 8, Steelers at Eagles in Week 11, Bills at Patriots in Week 13, Cowboys at Rams in Week 15 and 49ers at Chiefs in Week 16.

One of the biggest weekends arrives in Week 15. The Bills will host the Bears in an exclusive national primetime game on Saturday, December 19, at 8:20 p.m. ET. The following day, the Cowboys will visit the Rams at 4:25 p.m. ET, following an AFC North rivalry game between the Ravens and Steelers at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Long, who spent seven seasons in Chicago, is particularly looking forward to the Bears’ appearance on CBS. “I’m really excited about that one because we obviously cover the AFC so heavily, but being a former Bear, I jump at the opportunity to talk about the Bears. So that kind of marries two of my worlds. I'm really excited for the Bears games.”

Chicago will also visit Detroit on Thanksgiving. The two NFC North rivals have combined to win the division in each of the past three seasons, with the Bears taking the title last year after the Lions won it the previous two years.

Taking The NFL Today Closer to the Game

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Alongside the marquee matchups, The NFL Today will visit more NFL cities than ever this season. After staging two regular-season road shows in 2024, the show traveled to Green Bay, Kansas City, Buffalo and Denver last year before covering the AFC Championship Game on-site.

For Brown, being surrounded by fans brings a different intensity to the broadcast. “I'm so happy to see how the number of the road games have ratcheted up because there's a natural enthusiasm, a natural intensity and excitement associated with it,” he said. “And the fans behind us, I'm just imagining them behind us now, yelling and screaming and really getting into it. It's a real thrill.”

Burleson remembers the impact of the show’s first regular-season trips. “The response we got from the viewers and the fans that showed up at the stadium was really awesome. But more importantly, though, the feeling we had when we were on the road during the regular season, it just brought us closer to the game,” he said.

Being on-site also allows the team to reflect the traditions and personality of each host city. “I look forward to being on the road and engaging with the fans and then also figuring out what we're going to do to make it unique to that city and that stadium,” Burleson added. “Whether it's being in Green Bay doing the Lambeau Leap or eating Buffalo wings and jumping through tables in Buffalo. I’m open for it. I want to do more in the mix.”

Nate Burleson smashing tables with Buffalo Bills fans

For Long, those connections begin hours before the broadcast. “There's an excitement and passion and energy that you're filled with... you're obviously one of the first people on the property... and you see the first men and women that arrive at the stadiums,” he said. “And these are some passionate people. And you get to have conversations before you go on air. There is nothing like getting to introduce yourself.”

Welcoming Wilson and Long to the Desk

As the show expands its presence on the road, Wilson and Long bring two new perspectives to an established team.

Burleson has already worked extensively with Long and believes his conversational approach will connect with viewers. “Having him on The NFL Today more consistently, it's going to work wonders for our show. He's so good at what he does,” Burleson said. “High football IQ, but he makes you feel like you're just sitting at a bar with him talking ball, which is always great for our audience.”

Burleson is equally excited for audiences to see Wilson’s personality and football knowledge. “I've been a fan of his and a friend of his for so long. I know the cool Russ and I also know the football version of him,” Burleson said. “I'm looking forward to fans getting to see both sides of Russ. Seeing the game through his lens. Being a quarterback that played the game at such a high level, in my opinion, a Hall of Famer. He's going to bring just another layer, just more texture to our coverage.”

Wilson, for his part, is looking forward to translating his experience for audiences. “Continuing to talk about the game I love and being able to simplify it for the viewer in fifteen seconds, that's the cool part,” he said. “All the experience and all the love you have for the game, and being able to break that down for the fan.”

The new role also brings Wilson back to the Sundays he spent watching CBS with his father as a child. “I used to watch the NFL ON CBS with my dad and sit at home in Virginia watching the games and the pregame show,” he said. “So now I get to take that from my living room when I was a young kid to your living room, and I think that's special for me.”

Long is approaching the opportunity with a team-first mentality of an offensive lineman. “I am very excited about learning from the greats like James Brown, who has been a stalwart in this industry, and a guy like Coach Cowher, who is an absolute legend. And obviously, 10x Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, a guy like Nate Burleson who can literally do everything under the sun,” he said. “And I'm just trying to be a good teammate. And if I can make Coach laugh or if I can get Russell going a little bit, so be it. I'm just going to try to fit in and get in where I can. Classic O-line behavior.”

Building on a Record-Breaking Season

The new season follows a historic year for CBS Sports. In 2025, the NFL ON CBS delivered its most-watched regular season ever, averaging 21.252 million viewers and ranking as the NFL’s top overall package.

CBS Sports’ 4:25 p.m. ET national game window averaged 25.827 million viewers and remained the most-watched program on television for the third consecutive year. And last year’s Thanksgiving game between the Chiefs and Cowboys drew 57.231 million viewers, becoming the most-watched regular-season game in NFL history.

All games will air on the CBS Television Network and stream live in local markets on Paramount+. For the complete 2026 NFL schedule, visit CBS Sports.