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Boise State Athletics
NFL Broncos: Week One
9/8/2026 4:00:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – The 2026 NFL season kicks off this week and 10 Boise State products are set to represent the Broncos at the game's highest level. Defending champions George Holani and DeMarcus Lawrence start the year with a Super Bowl rematch, taking the Seattle Seahawks into a showdown with the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The game will air nationally on NBC at 6:20 p.m. MT. Five players are set to play Sunday, including Ahmed Hassanein, who will make his NFL debut for the Detroit Lions in an 11 a.m. MT matchup against Bronco legend Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints. In the final contest of the weekend, rookie Kage Casey will make his NFL debut and reunite with JL Skinner for the Denver Broncos, who take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC West battle will start at 6:15 p.m. MT on ABC and ESPN. Full Week One game information can be found below. All times listed are Mountain.
WEDNESDAY
Seattle Seahawks (George Holani, DeMarcus Lawrence) vs. New England Patriots – NBC, 6:20 p.m.
Holani and Lawrence lead the defending champion Seahawks into a Super Bowl rematch, hosting the Patriots for a primetime matchup to start the 2026 season. Holani appeared in 11 regular season games during his sophomore campaign, totaling 475 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He saw action in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl, tallying 44 yards from scrimmage. Lawrence earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod, totaling 53 tackles, 11 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for touchdowns. His dominance continued throughout Seattle's' title run, when he added 2.0 sacks, three TFLs and three forced fumbles.
SUNDAY
New Orleans Saints (Kellen Moore) at Detroit Lions (Ahmed Hassanein) – FOX, 11 a.m.
Kellen Moore enters his second season as the Saints' head coach after guiding them to a 6-11 season in 2025. New Orleans won four of its final five games, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough collecting a 5-4 record. Ahmed Hassanein is primed to make his NFL debut with the Lions after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury. Across the 2025 and 2026 preseason, he totaled 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) at Houston Texans – CBS, 11 a.m.
Khalil Shakir returns to Buffalo for his fifth season after leading the squad in catches (72) and yards (719) in 2025. The Bills earned their eighth playoff berth in the last nine seasons after a 17-year drought. In two playoff games, Shakir totaled a team-best 19 receptions for 157 yards. He forced 25 missed tackles and collected 665 yards after catch in the regular season and postseason, ranking second among NFL wide receivers in both categories.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) vs. Cleveland Browns – CBS, 11 a.m.
Ezra Cleveland enters his seventh season in the NFL and third full season with the Jaguars, who acquired him via trade with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. He ranked second on the team with 1,110 offensive snaps last season, helping Jacksonville win the AFC South title and post the league's sixth-best scoring offense (27.9 ppg). The left guard's Pro Football Focus pass blocking efficiency was 97.7, highest among the team's offensive linemen.
Las Vegas Raiders (Ashton Jeanty) vs. Miami Dolphins – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Ashton Jeanty begins his sophomore campaign after totaling 1,321 yards from scrimmage, most among rookies in 2025. He tied for second among rookies with 10 total touchdowns, scoring five each as a rusher and receiver. He ranked eighth in the league with 815 yards after contact and forced 84 missed tackles. The Raiders will be led by first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks in 2025.Â
Washington Commanders (John Bates) at Philadelphia Eagles – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
John Bates returns to the Commanders for his sixth season after catching 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in 2025. He started a career-high 11 games for Washington, scoring his first touchdown since 2022. He played over 50 percent of the team's offensive snaps for the first time in his career, adding a career-high 179 snaps on special teams.
MONDAY
Denver Broncos (Kage Casey, JL Skinner) at Kansas City Chiefs – ABC/ESPN, 6:15 p.m.
Kage Casey begins his NFL career with Denver after being selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He appeared in all three preseason games, seeing time at both guard positions. In the Broncos' final preseason contest, he posted a team-high 88.6 PFF offensive grade. JL Skinner is back for his fourth season with the Broncos after playing all 17 games in 2025. He posted 12 total tackles and recovered a fumble, playing 340 special teams snaps. Denver matched its franchise record with 14 wins, capturing the AFC West title and appearing in the AFC Championship.
--BroncoSports.com--
WEDNESDAY
Seattle Seahawks (George Holani, DeMarcus Lawrence) vs. New England Patriots – NBC, 6:20 p.m.
Holani and Lawrence lead the defending champion Seahawks into a Super Bowl rematch, hosting the Patriots for a primetime matchup to start the 2026 season. Holani appeared in 11 regular season games during his sophomore campaign, totaling 475 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He saw action in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl, tallying 44 yards from scrimmage. Lawrence earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod, totaling 53 tackles, 11 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for touchdowns. His dominance continued throughout Seattle's' title run, when he added 2.0 sacks, three TFLs and three forced fumbles.
SUNDAY
New Orleans Saints (Kellen Moore) at Detroit Lions (Ahmed Hassanein) – FOX, 11 a.m.
Kellen Moore enters his second season as the Saints' head coach after guiding them to a 6-11 season in 2025. New Orleans won four of its final five games, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough collecting a 5-4 record. Ahmed Hassanein is primed to make his NFL debut with the Lions after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury. Across the 2025 and 2026 preseason, he totaled 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) at Houston Texans – CBS, 11 a.m.
Khalil Shakir returns to Buffalo for his fifth season after leading the squad in catches (72) and yards (719) in 2025. The Bills earned their eighth playoff berth in the last nine seasons after a 17-year drought. In two playoff games, Shakir totaled a team-best 19 receptions for 157 yards. He forced 25 missed tackles and collected 665 yards after catch in the regular season and postseason, ranking second among NFL wide receivers in both categories.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) vs. Cleveland Browns – CBS, 11 a.m.
Ezra Cleveland enters his seventh season in the NFL and third full season with the Jaguars, who acquired him via trade with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. He ranked second on the team with 1,110 offensive snaps last season, helping Jacksonville win the AFC South title and post the league's sixth-best scoring offense (27.9 ppg). The left guard's Pro Football Focus pass blocking efficiency was 97.7, highest among the team's offensive linemen.
Las Vegas Raiders (Ashton Jeanty) vs. Miami Dolphins – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Ashton Jeanty begins his sophomore campaign after totaling 1,321 yards from scrimmage, most among rookies in 2025. He tied for second among rookies with 10 total touchdowns, scoring five each as a rusher and receiver. He ranked eighth in the league with 815 yards after contact and forced 84 missed tackles. The Raiders will be led by first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks in 2025.Â
Washington Commanders (John Bates) at Philadelphia Eagles – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
John Bates returns to the Commanders for his sixth season after catching 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in 2025. He started a career-high 11 games for Washington, scoring his first touchdown since 2022. He played over 50 percent of the team's offensive snaps for the first time in his career, adding a career-high 179 snaps on special teams.
MONDAY
Denver Broncos (Kage Casey, JL Skinner) at Kansas City Chiefs – ABC/ESPN, 6:15 p.m.
Kage Casey begins his NFL career with Denver after being selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He appeared in all three preseason games, seeing time at both guard positions. In the Broncos' final preseason contest, he posted a team-high 88.6 PFF offensive grade. JL Skinner is back for his fourth season with the Broncos after playing all 17 games in 2025. He posted 12 total tackles and recovered a fumble, playing 340 special teams snaps. Denver matched its franchise record with 14 wins, capturing the AFC West title and appearing in the AFC Championship.
--BroncoSports.com--
Players Mentioned
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