Free up some space on the refrigerator door and make sure those pens have ink. The 2026 NFL schedule release is almost here, and with it, new fridge magnets and new dates to circle for those meaningful rivalry matchups.
We already know who each team will play at home (and away) during the 2026 season, and the league has already announced one international matchup. Designated home teams for the remainder of the international series have also been determined.
Advertisement
Still to be revealed is the full list of dates and times for each game during the NFL’s 18-week 2026 season. Those won’t be announced until later this month. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported at the end of April that the official reveal date will be between May 12 and May 14.
NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast
In the meantime, fans and analysts can only predict how the schedule will look. Which teams will play the most (and fewest) prime-time games? Which teams will be chosen to play on Thanksgiving alongside the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions? Who will play on Christmas?
USA TODAY Sports looked into its proverbial crystal ball to take a shot at predicting how the 2026 NFL schedule might look.
1 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
New York Jets – Arch Manning, QB, Texas
1 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
New York Jets – Arch Manning, QB, Texas
2 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Miami Dolphins – Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
3 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Arizona Cardinals – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
4 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Atlanta Falcons – Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
5 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Tennessee Titans – Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
6 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Las Vegas Raiders – Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
7 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Cleveland Browns – CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
8 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
New York Giants – Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
9 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
New Orleans Saints – Colin Simmons, DE/OLB, Texas
10 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Washington Commanders – Dylan Stewart, DE/OLB, South Carolina
11 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Jets (from IND) – KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
12 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
13 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Pittsburgh Steelers – Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
14 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Jets (from DAL) – Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
15 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Carolina Panthers – Quincy Rhodes, DE/OLB, Arkansas
16 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Cincinnati Bengals – Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
17 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Minnesota Vikings – Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
18 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Detroit Lions – Will Heldt, DE, Clemson
19 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Baltimore Ravens – Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
20 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Houston Texans – Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
21 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Kansas City Chiefs – Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
22 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Philadelphia Eagles – Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
23 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Cowboys (from GB) – Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
24 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
San Francisco 49ers – Koi Perich, S, Oregon
25 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Jacksonville Jaguars – David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
26 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Buffalo Bills – Damon Wilson II, DE, Miami (Fla.)
27 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Los Angeles Chargers – A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
28 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Chicago Bears – Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (Fla.)
29 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
New England Patriots – Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
30 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Los Angeles Rams – Princewill Umanmielen, DE/OLB, LSU
31 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Denver Broncos – A.J. Holmes Jr., DT, Texas Tech
32 / 32
Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look
Seattle Seahawks – Mateen Ibirogba, DT, Texas Tech
2026 NFL schedule predictionsWho will play the most prime-time games in 2026?
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs stood alone as the kings of prime time with seven such matchups – tied for the most in a season in NFL history. That seven-game prime-time schedule included one on Christmas as well as an additional standalone game against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Advertisement
This year, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes coming off of a knee injury and the Chiefs coming off of a lost season, they’re getting replaced.
The Los Angeles Rams are among the most exciting teams in the NFL entering 2026. They’re coming off of an NFC championship game appearance and a season in which their quarterback just won NFL MVP as the offense led the NFL in total yards and points per game.
Los Angeles was among the top contenders last year. Only adding to the intrigue is the excitement of Stafford as a reigning MVP, the return of veteran receiver Davante Adams after leading the league with 14 touchdowns, the rising stardom of Puka Nacua and the addition of rookie quarterback Ty Simpson in the draft.
Who will play the fewest prime-time games?
New Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan stripped down the team’s roster to its barest bones during the offseason. Gone is the leading offensive trio of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and top receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Out the door went edge rusher Bradley Chubb and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Advertisement
Even with new quarterback Malik Willis in the building, alongside new head coach Jeff Hafley, the Dolphins don’t inspire much intrigue. The 13 players they added in the 2026 NFL Draft will all be competing to be the foundational pieces of a new core to be built around in the coming seasons, but that’s about the most intrigue Miami has to offer in 2026.
Until the Dolphins’ new roster proves itself, don’t expect to see Miami featured frequently in prime time.
Which teams will play on Thanksgiving?
The NFL’s Thanksgiving schedule has featured at least one divisional matchup every season since 2011. The Lions have played a divisional game on each of the last three Turkey Days, but the Cowboys took on the Chiefs in an interconference game last year.
Advertisement
This year, it could be that the NFL shakes things up a bit and gives the Lions an interesting interconference matchup with the reigning AFC champions. As for the Cowboys’ opponent, the Eagles haven’t played on Thanksgiving since 2015 and haven’t played in Dallas on a Turkey Day since 2014.
Rounding things out in prime time is what could be a very intriguing interconference clash loaded with storylines. Daniel Jones plays his former team, led by his successor, Jaxson Dart, for the first time. Meanwhile, new Giants coach John Harbaugh would seek redemption for his Ravens‘ Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals last year in prime time.
Which teams will play on Christmas?
Netflix and Prime Video tried to make the most of their exclusive NFL streaming rights on Christmas last year when the NFL scheduled three divisional clashes on the holiday. Unfortunately for the league and the streaming giants, five of the six teams involved in those games were struggling by the time Week 17 rolled around.
Advertisement
This year, the league might try to take another swing at the intradivisional-heavy stack of games with some safer bets all around.
The Packers and Bears rivalry got an extra dose of heat last year with Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s anti-Packers comments and a playoff matchup. The Giants and Commanders clash would give Big Blue double duty in holiday matchups with all of the intrigue they have with Dart and Harbaugh leading the charge, and a healthy Jayden Daniels could help Washington look like contenders again in 2026.
Rounding things out in prime time, No. 1 overall pick/rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders could host Justin Herbert and the Chargers, led in part by new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Which team will have the best schedule release content?
The Los Angeles Chargers’ social team has gone pedal to the metal with schedule release content over the years, consistently earning top marks among fans and analysts alike for their creativity in schedule release content.
Advertisement
In 2022 and 2023, they put together anime-inspired videos full of nods to the Japanese medium and jabs at their upcoming opponents. In 2024, they used The Sims video game to poke fun at their opponents, and they stuck with the video game theme with last year’s Minecraft-based video.
We’re expecting more excellence from the Chargers’ social team in 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL schedule release predictions: Who will dominate prime time?