The First Sunday Slate: 13 Games, Three Networks

The banner has been raised, the passport stamped, and the long wait finally broken. A loaded Sunday schedule of 13 games stands ready, following a strange prelude that saw the Seahawks rally without Sam Darnold in a Super Bowl rematch against New England. Then came the league’s first game in Australia, played on a Thursday that felt like a Friday morning in Melbourne. Now, the clock resets. This is the day football was meant to be played.

Scott Hanson, the voice of NFL RedZone, has been defrosted. He is ready to guide fans through a slate that includes a new head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a debut for Kyler Murray with the Vikings, and the coaching debut of John Harbaugh with the Giants. The menu is full. The choices are heavy. Start/sit decisions loom large, and the witching hours of Sunday afternoon are already casting long shadows over the week.

A Full Menu of Sunday Football

Thirteen games are scheduled for Sunday, September 13, spread across three traditional networks. The 1 p.m. ET window is packed, featuring eight matchups including the Steelers vs. Falcons, Bengals vs. Buccaneers, and Lions vs. Saints. CBS and Fox split the early slate, while the late afternoon slots bring the Chargers, Vikings, Raiders, and Eagles. The day closes with the Giants and Cowboys taking the field at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

According to GN sports/nfl (en-US), the broadcast landscape remains familiar, with CBS, Fox, and NBC carrying all 13 games. Cord cutters have ample options to follow the action. Fubo, which offers a free trial, carries all three networks, allowing viewers to watch from the first kickoff to the final seconds of Sunday Night Football. Peacock serves as an additional streaming option for those focused on the Giants and Cowboys matchup.

The Week Begins With Upsets

The season kicked off with surprises. On Wednesday, September 9, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 13-10 in a game that felt like a rematch of a past glory. The following day, the San Francisco 49ers dominated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the league's first international game. These early results set the tone for a season that refuses to follow a predictable script.

Monday Night Continues the Story

The football week does not end on Sunday. On Monday, September 14, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to face the Denver Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC, providing a capstone to a busy first week. The narrative threads started on Sunday will continue to unravel, offering fans another chance to witness the season's early drama unfold.