The third week of the 2026 NFL season brings a packed schedule to Sky Sports viewers across the UK and Ireland, with eight games spread across four days and multiple broadcast channels.
Kicking off the week is a Thursday morning fixture featuring the Atlanta Falcons visiting the Green Bay Packers. The Packers, still searching for their opening victory of the campaign, will host the Falcons in the early hours of Friday morning. Coverage begins at midnight on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event, with kickoff scheduled for 1.15am.
Sunday's slate opens with an exclusive primetime encounter as the Buffalo Bills welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to Orchard Park. Sky Sports NFL will broadcast this matchup live from 5.30pm, with the 6pm kickoff offering UK viewers prime evening viewing. Running concurrently, the Cincinnati Bengals make the short trip to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, available on Sky Sports Football from 5.30pm.
The afternoon window sees two further matchups. The Arizona Cardinals travel west to take on the San Francisco 49ers, while the Las Vegas Raiders head to New Orleans to face the Saints. Both games kick off at 9.25pm BST, with the Cardinals-49ers clash shown on Sky Sports Football and the Raiders-Saints encounter available on Sky Sports+.
International Series game in Brazil
The standout fixture of the weekend takes place in Brazil, where the Baltimore Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. According to the Dallas Cowboys official announcement, this Week 3 international game will kick off at 9.25pm BST on Sunday evening. Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event will carry the action live from 9.15pm, bringing American football to one of South America's most iconic venues.
Following Sunday's action, the Los Angeles Rams travel to Denver to face the Broncos in a late-night Monday morning fixture. Kickoff comes at 1.20am on Monday, with coverage beginning at 1.10am on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event.
Monday Night Football concludes the week
The week concludes with Monday Night Football as the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles journey to Chicago to face the Bears. According to Yahoo's Week 3 schedule guide, this matchup represents the final game of a 16-game slate running from Thursday 24 September through Monday 28 September. Coverage begins at 1am on Tuesday morning, with the 1.20am kickoff available on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event.
Comprehensive Sky Sports coverage
Sky Sports continues its position as the home of NFL coverage in the UK and Ireland, broadcasting more than half of all regular season games live throughout 2026. The broadcaster's offering extends beyond the standard Sunday evening double-headers and primetime slots to include NFL Redzone, the International Series, Thanksgiving Day fixtures, the entire playoff bracket and Super Bowl LXI.
The schedule reflects Sky Sports' commitment to delivering choice and accessibility. The broadcaster secures the first-pick exclusive game on Sunday at 6pm, currently the Bills-Chargers encounter, alongside the opening selection for the 9pm Sunday slot. Additional coverage includes a second 6pm game and up to two further 9pm games shown concurrently across Sky Sports channels.
For the 2026 campaign, Sky Sports has expanded its operational footprint in the United States. The broadcaster is increasing on-the-ground production and live reporting from across the league, bringing viewers enhanced storytelling and closer access to the action from American football's heartland.
Presenting team and broadcast infrastructure
The regular Sunday presenting roster features Neil Reynolds, Phoebe Schecter and Jason Bell, while Bridget Condon and Ndamukong Suh lead Sky Sports' live broadcast output from the United States. This dual-location approach strengthens the broadcaster's ability to deliver comprehensive coverage throughout the season.
The dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel operates year-round during the regular season, providing round-the-clock coverage across linear television in the UK and Ireland. This continuous service runs all the way through to Super Bowl LXI, which will be broadcast live from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday 14 February 2027.
According to the NFL's official Week 3 schedule page, the Falcons-Packers Thursday night game kicks off at 8.15pm ET, translating to the 1.15am Friday morning slot for UK viewers. This schedule was confirmed as current on 22 September 2026, ensuring all broadcast times and matchups remain accurate for the week ahead.
Viewers can access the full 2026 NFL season on Sky Sports, with every playoff game and Super Bowl LXI included in the coverage. Flexible viewing options are available through various Sky Sports packages and streaming services.
