Chiefs lose prime-time spotlight in 2026 NFL schedule predictions

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.

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.

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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. New York Jets – Arch Manning, QB, Texas

2. Miami Dolphins – Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

3. Arizona Cardinals – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

4. Atlanta Falcons – Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

5. Tennessee Titans – Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU

7. Cleveland Browns – CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

8. New York Giants – Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

9. New Orleans Saints – Colin Simmons, DE/OLB, Texas

10. Washington Commanders – Dylan Stewart, DE/OLB, South Carolina

11. Jets (from IND) – KJ Bolden, S, Georgia

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon

13. Pittsburgh Steelers – Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State

14. Jets (from DAL) – Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

15. Carolina Panthers – Quincy Rhodes, DE/OLB, Arkansas

16. Cincinnati Bengals – Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama

17. Minnesota Vikings – Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

18. Detroit Lions – Will Heldt, DE, Clemson

19. Baltimore Ravens – Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State

20. Houston Texans – Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Trey'Dez Green, TE, LSU

22. Philadelphia Eagles – Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

23. Cowboys (from GB) – Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana

24. San Francisco 49ers – Koi Perich, S, Oregon

25. Jacksonville Jaguars – David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

26. Buffalo Bills – Damon Wilson II, DE, Miami (Fla.)

27. Los Angeles Chargers – A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

28. Chicago Bears – Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (Fla.)

29. New England Patriots – Whit Weeks, LB, LSU

30. Los Angeles Rams – Princewill Umanmielen, DE/OLB, LSU

31. Denver Broncos – A.J. Holmes Jr., DT, Texas Tech

32. Seattle Seahawks – Mateen Ibirogba, DT, Texas Tech

1 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

1. New York Jets – Arch Manning, QB, Texas

1 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

1. New York Jets – Arch Manning, QB, Texas

2 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

2. Miami Dolphins – Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

3 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

3. Arizona Cardinals – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

4 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

4. Atlanta Falcons – Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

5 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

5. Tennessee Titans – Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

6 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU

7 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

7. Cleveland Browns – CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

8 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

8. New York Giants – Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

9 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

9. New Orleans Saints – Colin Simmons, DE/OLB, Texas

10 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

10. Washington Commanders – Dylan Stewart, DE/OLB, South Carolina

11 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

11. Jets (from IND) – KJ Bolden, S, Georgia

12 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon

13 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

13. Pittsburgh Steelers – Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State

14 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

14. Jets (from DAL) – Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

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Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

15. Carolina Panthers – Quincy Rhodes, DE/OLB, Arkansas

16 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

16. Cincinnati Bengals – Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama

17 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

17. Minnesota Vikings – Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

18 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

18. Detroit Lions – Will Heldt, DE, Clemson

19 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

19. Baltimore Ravens – Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State

20 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

20. Houston Texans – Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

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Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Trey'Dez Green, TE, LSU

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Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

22. Philadelphia Eagles – Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

23 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

23. Cowboys (from GB) – Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana

24 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

24. San Francisco 49ers – Koi Perich, S, Oregon

25 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

25. Jacksonville Jaguars – David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

26 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

26. Buffalo Bills – Damon Wilson II, DE, Miami (Fla.)

27 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

27. Los Angeles Chargers – A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

28 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

28. Chicago Bears – Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (Fla.)

29 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

29. New England Patriots – Whit Weeks, LB, LSU

30 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

30. Los Angeles Rams – Princewill Umanmielen, DE/OLB, LSU

31 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

31. Denver Broncos – A.J. Holmes Jr., DT, Texas Tech

32 / 32

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look

32. Seattle Seahawks – Mateen Ibirogba, DT, Texas Tech

2026 NFL schedule predictions

Who 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.

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.

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?

• Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots
• Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants

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.

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?

• Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
• New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders
• Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers

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.

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.

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?