The 2018 NFL season, the 99th in league history, kicked off on September 6, 2018, with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Atlanta Falcons in the Kickoff Game. The season culminated in Super Bowl LIII on February 3, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3 to claim their sixth championship and third title in five years. The league's salary cap rose to $177.2 million per team (up from $167 million in 2017), fueling a busy free agency period with over 550 players eligible. Notable quarterback moves included Kirk Cousins signing with Minnesota, Case Keenum heading to Denver, and Sam Bradford joining Arizona, while defensive stars like Richard Sherman and Ndamukong Suh also switched teams. A major trade sent wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami to Cleveland for a fourth-round pick, highlighting the aggressive roster reshuffling. Overall, the season was marked by significant player movement and a low-scoring, defensive Super Bowl that cemented the Patriots' dynasty.