The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles kick off the defence of their title and the beginning of the 2018 season by hosting the Atlanta Falcons on September 6, the league announced on Thursday.

The clash will be a rematch of the NFC divisional round playoff game which was won by the Eagles 15-10.

The NFL announced their 2018 schedule on Thursday, and the New York Jets visit the Detroit Lions on September 10 in the first Monday night game. The other game of the Monday double header will be the Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders.

The New England Patriots open their season by hosting the Houston Texans on September 9.

Three divisional games will be played on American Thanksgiving day with Detroit hosting the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys at home against the Washington Redskins and Atlanta at the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL also announced details of their international schedule, including three games in London, England.

The Seattle Seahawks and Raiders begin the three-game series in London when they battle it out at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 14.

The Tennessee Titans will face the Los Angeles Chargers at Wembley Stadium on October 21 and the Eagles challenge the Jacksonville Jaguars at the same venue on October 28.

This season’s Mexico City game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Rams at Estadio Azteca will take place on November 19.

The Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens kick off the preseason schedule with the Hall of Fame Game on August 2.