Best, worst of 2026 NFL schedule: Rams tie primetime record, Ravens get soft launch

AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsNFL Newsletter2026 NFL ScheduleKey GamesBest Schedule Release Videos2027 NFL Free AgentsPower RankingsNFL Schedule The Rams will play seven times on prime time, including four times in the first five weeks. Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Share articleAt last, the NFL unveiled the schedule for the 2026 regular season, and now, like kids on Christmas Day, NFL fans are basking in the joy sparked by all of the goodies they unwrapped. The NFL always delivers compelling drama, and this year’s slate is full of highlights. My colleagues Jayna Bardahl and Saad Yousuf already dished out their rankings of all 32 schedule-release videos, but here are the ones I did and didn’t like and a look at some of the best and worst aspects of the coming season. Schedule release day is Super Bowl Sunday for NFL social media teams. They pull out all the stops and deliver some of the greatest displays of creativity and wit as they reveal the slate for their upcoming seasons. There were plenty of exceptional deliveries, with the Seattle Seahawks’ cologne commercial, the Chicago Bears’ Rome Odunze-Bob Ross spin, the Cleveland Browns’ Streetfighter-themed video and the Tennessee Titans’ man-on-the-street, look-alike contest ranking among them. Still, the Raiders took the cake, as new quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza flexed their acting skills and nailed the “Step Brothers” spoof. You don't get it. It's the 2026 Schedule Release! 📰 https://t.co/CIxG8eTk9u pic.twitter.com/O4h2dbM5ZN — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 14, 2026 The Jaguars sat Trevor Lawrence and his flowing locks down in a barber chair and appeared to clip away at them while revealing opponents one snip at a time. The quarterback wound up with what looked like a really bad haircut. As it turns out, it was a stunt, and the haircut was fake. Rest easy, his shoulder-length tresses remain. The Cut 💈  @Kissimmee | 🎟️: https://t.co/EpEGvYmb92 pic.twitter.com/A6iDwbpMqW — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) May 14, 2026 They’ll ease their way into things with the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, who are rebuilding and starting over with new head coaches. Then comes a murderer’s row of the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, with five of those seven contests coming on the road (although the “road” game against the Rams is in their shared SoFi Stadium). That’s five playoff teams from 2025, plus two-time MVPs Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Rookie head coach Jesse Minter receives the luxury of being able to cut his teeth on an opening slate that features six opponents that posted a combined .369 winning percentage in 2025. Dates with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns could make for a favorable confidence-building run for the revamped Ravens. The Niners will log more than 38,105 air miles while criss-crossing the globe in 2026. They have two East Coast swings, facing the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants. On top of that, they have two international contests, opening their season against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and later facing the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City. The Rams have the second-most travel miles awaiting (34,847), but the Texans rank a distant third with 28,470 miles on tap. The Rams will find themselves squarely in the spotlight this season. Not only will they play the first NFL game in Australia, but their schedule also features a record-tying seven prime-time contests. Trailing with six nationally televised games apiece are the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. These five teams went a combined 19-66 in 2025, and the NFL schedule-makers believe that it’s best to keep them tucked away from the national stage for the next year at least. Perhaps a lack of primetime games will ease pressure on these teams, four of which (Titans, Raiders, Cardinals, Dolphins) have new head coaches this season. This is a “Sunday Night Football” rematch between AFC wild-card opponents. On Jan. 11, the Patriots sent the Chargers packing with a 16-3 victory. Now they’ll face again, and the Chargers just may have added some extra fuel to New England’s fire with a few subtle shots at Mike Vrabel during L.A.’s schedule-release video. The “Monday Night Football” slate starts with a bang as the Broncos and Chiefs face off in Week 1. Apparently, the league feels confident Patrick Mahomes will have completed his return from his 2025-ending knee surgery. The best Monday night matchup, though, may be the Week 5 tilt between the Bills and Rams in Los Angeles. Josh Allen vs. Matthew Stafford, rookie coach Joe Brady versus the still-fresh-faced, yet accomplished Sean McVay. Fireworks should ensue. “Thursday Night Football” is definitely must-see TV based on the lineup the league rolled out Thursday. The best showdown could wind up being this matchup between the Chiefs and the Rams. Super Bowl preview? Turkey Day features divisional showdowns and potential playoff previews with the Bears and Detroit Lions (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS) kicking off the day before handing off to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). You just can’t beat a potential AFC Championship preview and legendary shootout between Mahomes and Allen as the nightcap. The NFL will treat its fans to three playoff-rematch showdowns on Christmas Day. The Packers face the Bears at 1 p.m. on Netflix. Buffalo visits Denver at 4:30 p.m. on Netflix. The league will save the best for last as the Rams and Seahawks clash in the evening game. They say good things come to those who wait, and the Rams-Seahawks game certainly will represent a long-anticipated showdown. Christmas represents the first meeting of the season between the NFC West rivals, who ranked among the best teams in the league in 2025 and project as Super Bowl contenders again this season. Looking to rebound from the 7-10 campaign that got Mike McDaniel fired and prompted the team to move on from one-time franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins had best buckle up as they reach the latter portions of the season. Mounting a playoff push may prove challenging. The Dolphins close out the season with a seven-game stretch run that features six straight 2025 playoff teams (Broncos, Bears, Packers, Chargers, Bills and Patriots). Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms