There’s something about Sunday afternoons in the fall that feels like a national ritual. This week’s NFL schedule is packed with divisional matchups, and we’ve pulled together all the game times, TV channels, and streaming options so you don’t miss a snap.

4 related posts

Games per week: 14 (typical regular season week) · NFL week begins: Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET · Primary TV networks: CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network · Games on Sunday: 10–14 games

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Schedule for upcoming week released Tuesday evening (ESPN NFL Schedule)
  • Printable schedules available from Gridiron Games (Gridiron Games)

Six key data points define the week’s structure—three of them revolve around the Sunday window.

Metric Value
Games per week (typical) 14
Week start Tuesday 4:00 p.m. ET
Thursday game 1 game
Sunday games 10–14 games
Monday game 1 game
Week 1 start date Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Kickoff game Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20 PM NBC
International game 49ers vs Rams in Melbourne, 8:35 PM Netflix
Sunday Night Football Week 1 Cowboys at Giants, 8:20 PM NBC
Monday Night Football Week 1 Broncos at Chiefs, 8:15 PM ESPN

The pattern: nearly half the league plays on Sunday, but the week’s real anchors are the prime-time windows.

What day does a new NFL week start?

The NFL operates on a Tuesday-to-Monday cycle. A new regular-season week officially begins every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, when the league releases the upcoming week’s schedule (ESPN NFL Schedule).

What time will the NFL schedule be released?

  • The full regular-season schedule is typically released in early May or late April (CBS Sports).
  • Weekly schedule announcements (including game times and TV assignments) come out on Tuesday evenings (ESPN NFL Schedule).

The implication: if you’re planning ahead, Tuesday evening is the moment to lock in your viewing plans. Waiting until Sunday could mean missing a late flex or time change.

Who is playing football tonight?

For the 2026 season, Thursday Night Football kicks off the week’s prime-time action. In Week 1, the Thursday game is a matchup still to be announced, but the 8:20 p.m. ET slot on Amazon Prime Video is confirmed (CBS Sports).

What are the NFL games tomorrow?

Sunday’s slate includes 10–14 games split into two main windows: 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET. Week 1 features several marquee matchups:

  • Bears at Panthers (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET) (CBS Sports)
  • Ravens at Colts (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET) (CBS Sports)
  • Bills at Texans (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET) (CBS Sports)
  • Saints at Lions (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET) (CBS Sports)

NFL games today TV schedule Sunday

Sunday Night Football in Week 1 is Cowboys at Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC (CBS Sports).

Why this matters

The Sunday afternoon window is where most casual fans tune in, but the evening slot draws the largest audience. Knowing which network carries each game saves you from a last-minute channel scramble.

The trade-off: Sunday afternoon offers variety; Sunday night offers the week’s highest-stakes matchup.

Where is the first game of the 2026 NFL season?

The 2026 NFL season opens with a Wednesday night game: the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC (Sports Media Watch). That’s a departure from the traditional Thursday kickoff, but it’s the league’s way of extending the opening weekend.

Who has the hardest NFL schedule in 2026?

Based on opponent win percentage from the previous season, the hardest schedule is often awarded to a team in a tough division. The 2026 strength-of-schedule rankings are not yet finalized, but historically the teams facing the AFC North and NFC South combinations tend to have the toughest road (CBS Sports).

The catch

Hardest schedule lists are backward-looking and don’t account for offseason changes. A team that was weak last year might be a contender this year, flipping the difficulty.

The pattern: the defending champion hosts the first game of the season, but the 2026 opener in Seattle is an exception—the Seahawks are not defending champions. The league chose a marquee market for the kickoff.

Who is the wealthiest NFL owner?

According to the latest Forbes rankings, Stan Kroenke (owner of the Los Angeles Rams) is the wealthiest NFL owner, with an estimated net worth of $16.5 billion (ESPN NFL Schedule — note: Forbes data referenced via ESPN). Kroenke’s fortune comes from a mix of real estate, sports teams, and entertainment properties.

Who is the least rich NFL owner?

The least wealthy NFL owner is often the Green Bay Packers—but they’re publicly owned. Among individual owners, the lowest net worth on the Forbes list is typically around $1–2 billion, though exact figures fluctuate yearly (CBS Sports).

Who’s richer, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

Tom Brady’s net worth is estimated at $300 million, while Peyton Manning’s is around $250 million (Sports Media Watch). The gap comes from Brady’s post-playing ventures including his TB12 brand and media deals.

The upshot

Owner wealth doesn’t correlate with team success—Kroenke’s Rams have a Super Bowl win, but the Packers, with no single wealthy owner, are perennially competitive.

What this means: fan interest in owner wealth is a curiosity, not a predictor of on-field performance.

Do NFL fans get to keep footballs?

Yes, generally. Any ball that goes into the stands during an NFL game belongs to the fan who catches it (CBS Sports). This includes extra points, field goals, and punts.

However, there are exceptions. Milestone balls—such as a player’s first touchdown, a record-breaking pass, or a game-winning kick—are often retrieved by team personnel in exchange for a signed jersey or other compensation (ESPN NFL Schedule). The league’s unwritten rule: the ball is yours, but the team may ask nicely for it back.

Bottom line: Fans can keep most game balls that enter the stands. Exceptions are rare and usually involve historic milestones. If you catch a record-breaking ball, expect a team representative to approach you.

The pattern: fans can keep most balls, but teams will negotiate for milestone ones.

Timeline: Your week at a glance

Five anchor moments structure the NFL week. Knowing them keeps you ahead of the schedule.

  • Tuesday evening: Schedule for upcoming week released (ESPN NFL Schedule)
  • Thursday night: Thursday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video) (CBS Sports)
  • Sunday (1:00 p.m. & 4:25 p.m. ET): Main slate of games (CBS Sports)
  • Sunday night: Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) (CBS Sports)
  • Monday night: Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) (CBS Sports)

The implication: Tuesday is your planning day; Thursday through Monday is your viewing window.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • NFL regular season weeks start on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN NFL Schedule)
  • Thursday Night Football airs on Amazon Prime Video (CBS Sports)
  • Monday Night Football airs on ESPN/ABC (Sports Media Watch)

What’s unclear

  • Exact schedule for future weeks beyond the current week (ESPN NFL Schedule)
  • 2026 season opener location not yet confirmed as of 2025 (Sports Media Watch)
  • Strength of schedule rankings for 2026 are not finalized (CBS Sports)
  • Sunday games are split into 1:00 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. ET windows (CBS Sports)

The pattern: most week-to-week details are confirmed, but long-term specifics remain flexible.

What the experts say

“The 2026 NFL schedule is published week-by-week with game times and TV listings on major sports schedule pages.”

ESPN NFL Schedule

“Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the Patriots at Seahawks at 8:20 PM on NBC.”

Sports Media Watch

“CBS Sports describes the 2026 NFL schedule as a complete week-by-week list for all 272 games.”

CBS Sports

For fans planning their week, the key is to check the schedule on Tuesday evening when the week’s games are confirmed. Miss that window, and you might end up watching the wrong channel. For those who want a printable version, Gridiron Games offers a one-click download (Gridiron Games). The choice is simple: plan ahead, or risk missing the big play.

Related reading: U20 Rugby World Cup 2026: Winners, Schedule, How to Watch

Additional sources

bracketfox.com, paramountplus.com, si.com, gridirongames.com

For a complete guide to the Week 18 games, the NFL Week 18 schedule includes all the necessary broadcast details.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How many NFL games are there in a regular season week?

Typically 14 games, with 10–14 on Sunday and one each on Thursday and Monday.

What streaming services carry NFL games?

Amazon Prime Video (Thursday), ESPN+/ABC (Monday), Paramount+ (CBS games), fubo (Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN), and NFL+.

Can I watch NFL games on mobile devices?

Yes, through the NFL app, Yahoo Sports app, and each network’s streaming platform.

How do I find the NFL schedule on my local TV?

Use the NFL’s official schedule page or check your local listings on nfl.com/schedules.

When do NFL games start on Sunday?

Most games start at 1:00 p.m. ET, with a second window at 4:25 p.m. ET, and Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET.

What is the difference between Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football?

Thursday Night Football is a single game on Amazon Prime Video; Monday Night Football is a single game on ESPN/ABC. Both are stand-alone prime-time events.

Bottom line: The pattern: the FAQ covers the most common scheduling and viewing questions.