The NFL will release the full 2026 regular season schedule on Thursday, featuring every game including primetime and holiday matchups. Each of the 32 teams has one wish for their schedule, with notable mentions like a potential Commanders vs. Cowboys game on Christmas.
Key points
NFL will release the 2026 regular season schedule on Thursday
Every team has one schedule wish ahead of the release
Speculation includes a Commanders vs. Cowboys game on Christmas
Creating a fair schedule for all 32 teams is challenging
Washington CommandersDallas CowboysNFL
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On Thursday night, the NFL will release the entire 2026 regular season schedule, including every game for primetime, holidays, international and everything inbetween.
As you can imagine, making an equally fair schedule for each of the league's 32 teams is an almost impossible task. It's inevitable that every team will have at least one gripe about its schedule. Conversely, every team will surely have something that positively sticks out. With that in mind, we decided to come up with one schedule wish for each NFL team ahead of Thursday night.
What is the significance of the NFL's 2026 schedule release?
The 2026 schedule release is significant as it outlines all matchups for the season, impacting team preparations and fan expectations.
Which teams have specific schedule wishes for 2026?
Every NFL team has expressed one specific wish for their 2026 schedule, highlighting their preferences for matchups and timing.
Will the Commanders play the Cowboys on Christmas in 2026?
There is speculation about a potential Commanders vs. Cowboys matchup on Christmas, which is one of the highlighted wishes for the schedule.
What challenges does the NFL face in creating a fair schedule?
The NFL faces challenges in creating a fair schedule due to the diverse needs and preferences of all 32 teams, leading to inevitable complaints and praises.
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The owner of the league's hardest strength of schedule, Arizona, would benefit from hosting one of its weaker opponents in Mike LaFleur's coaching debut. That means the Raiders or the Jets. A Week 1 matchup with the Raiders would be a showdown of two first-time coaches in LaFleur and Klint Kubiak.
Schedule wish: Non-divisional opponent for international game
The NFL already announced that the Falcons to host a December game in Spain. The Falcons play in one of the NFL's most competitive divisions and would surely prefer to play their divisional home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium rather than on a neutral site.
Baltimore started the previous two seasons with daunting, primetime road openers. In both games (at Kansas City in 2024 and at Buffalo in 2025), the Ravens lost close games that contributed to slow starts in both seasons. The Ravens would like to avoid a three-peat of that scenario for 2026.
Schedule wish: Home vs. Patriots or Chiefs in Week 1
The NFL should take advantage of Buffalo's new stadium unveiling by giving the Bills a home game against a formidable opponent in Week 1. Bills fans would likely prefer to see the opponent be either division rival (and defending AFC champion) New England or Kansas City, the team's other rival in recent years. The Patriots might make more sense, though, given the fact that they dethroned the Bills as the AFC East champs in 2025.
Schedule wish: Early games vs. cold-weather road opponents
The Panthers face one of the league's toughest schedules, partly because of four road games against cold-weather teams, including Green Bay. Carolina would undoubtedly prefer to get these games out of the way earlier in the season (especially Green Bay).
Because the Bears and Chiefs have marketing rights in Spain, there is a good chance that the NFL chooses one of those teams for the December game in Madrid. If chosen, it would be a pretty big advantage for the Bears. They have nine home games and will also play a neutral-site game against a team (the Falcons) that doesn't traditionally travel well.
Schedule wish: No primetime road game in Baltimore
Cincinnati would surely prefer to avoid having a primetime game in Baltimore for a fourth-straight year. The Bengals lost in Baltimore on prime time in 2023 (the game where Joe Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury) and in 2024. In 2025, the Bengals did extract a measure of revenge by blowing out the Ravens in Baltimore on Thanksgiving night.
Schedule wish: Home season opener against an AFC North opponent
Cleveland could benefit from hosting one of their division rivals in Week 1. The Browns found past success against Joe Burrow-led Bengals teams early in the season. Cleveland also enjoyed considerable success at home against the Steelers in recent years, with the Steelers last winning in Cleveland in Ben Roethlisberger's final season (2021). A Week 1 game against Baltimore would be a matchup between two new coaches in Todd Monken and Jesse Minter.
Schedule wish: Not another Week 1 primetime away game Not facing Micah Parsons in primetime
Dallas was going to wish for not having yet another Week 1 road game on primetime, but that went out the window with Monday's announcement that the Giants will host the Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football." Dallas is 2-4 in season openers this decade, with a 1-4 record in Week 1 road prime-time games over that span.
Another possible wish could be avoiding a primetime game in Green Bay, which would surely be billed as another revenge game for Micah Parsons.
Schedule wish: More home than away prime time games
As one of the NFL's best teams in 2025, and with a talented young quarterback to boot, the Broncos are expected to be featured on prime time quite a bit in 2026. If that's the case, Denver could find itself in multiple primetime road games. The Broncos getting just as many, or more, home games in primetime would be a compromise.
The Lions will be the designated home team for their upcoming game in Germany. The Giants, Buccaneers and Patriots are the favorites to be their opponent. One would think the Lions want to face the Giants, who have built just one winning season since 2017.
Green Bay has an interesting list of road opponents from a weather standpoint. Ideally, the Packers would travel to New England, Chicago and New York early in the season and travel to Tampa Bay later in the year. Green Bay would also probably prefer to avoid the Rams in primetime, given the West Coast travel.
Houston hasn't had much luck with bye weeks in recent years. They had a Week 6 bye in 2022 and in 2025, a Week 7 bye in 2023 and a Week 14 bye in 2024. It's safe to say the Texans would prefer a bye that falls closer to the middle of the season (weeks 8-11) this time around.
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Away
Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minnesota Vikings
Washington Commanders
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Schedule wish: More primetime games
After getting just one primetime game in 2025, the Colts should be in line for more marquee time slots in 2026. Indianapolis started 8-3 last year, after all, before Daniel Jones' injury led to a six-game slide to finish the season.
Jacksonville will play in consecutive games in London during Weeks 5 and 6. The Jaguars face division rival Houston in Week 6. The Jaguars will likely face either the Browns or Titans in Week 5. The Titans, however, are a better option as they are coming off a dreadful 3-14 season. They also don't have Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The Chiefs played a league-high seven primetime games in 2025. After a 6-11 season and possible Chiefs fatigue from viewers, there's a very good chance that Kansas City will see fewer opportunities. The Chiefs should welcome it, given how many times they've been asked to play at night over the past several years.
This is a very specific ask for a very specific reason. Kirk Cousins will probably begin the season as Las Vegas' QB1, but at some point, fans will inevitably call for Fernando Menzoda. A home game against a weak opponent fresh off a bye week would be the ideal time to make such a change.
An early-season matchup against the Chiefs would increase the odds of not facing Patrick Mahomes, who is still in recovery from ACL surgery. It's safe to assume the Chargers would also want a favorable time slot (and later in the season) when they travel to Tampa to face a team that's beaten them four consecutive times.
Schedule wish: No Thursday night game vs. Seahawks
Given how exciting last year's Thursday night showdown between the two teams was, it wouldn't be a surprise if the NFL had another Thursday night showdown this year between the Rams and Seahawks in Seattle. The Rams, however, would probably prefer that the NFL not repeat history.
The Dolphins possess the league's second-hardest strength of schedule. The NFL may feel compelled to put Miami's road game against the Packers on primetime, given the likely intrigue of Malik Willis and Jeff Hafley's return to Green Bay. If nothing else, Miami would undoubtedly prefer for that trip to be made sooner in the season rather than later.
Of Minnesota's four primetime games in 2025, three were on the road. The Vikings went 2-1 in those games, but they would probably desire an easier path this time as they work Kyler Murray into the mix.
After an offseason of unwanted attention, the Patriots would definitely benefit from a nice season-opening win. The Steelers were selected, given New England's history of success against them in season-openers. The Patriots are 3-0 against the Steelers at home in Week 1 since 2002.
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
Arizona Cardinals
Las Vegas Raiders
Away
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Giants
Schedule wish: More premier time slots
The Saints didn't have a single primetime game in 2025 and had just five games outside of the congested 1 p.m. window. But after a 4-1 finish to close out the season, Saints fans should expect to see their team in better time slots in 2026.
This wish is a nod to the 40th anniversary of the Giants' first Super Bowl win, which came at Washington's expense after the Giants blanked them (17-0) in the NFC title game before blowing out John Elway's Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. A primetime home game against Washington would give the Giants an opportunity to honor their first Super Bowl championship team.
The Jets started the 2025 season with seven straight losses and ended it with five consecutive defeats. In between, they won just three games while recording the franchise's 10th consecutive losing season. A strong start would likely do wonders for a young team that is slated to have up to 11 new starters. Conversely, another slow start could lead to yet another disparaging season for Gang Green.
Schedule wish: Don't face the 49ers on a short week
It's hard enough to face a good team after a long flight, let alone on a short week. That would be the scenario the Eagles would face if they were to face the 49ers on a Thursday night or on a Sunday following a Monday night game.
Schedule wish: No Thursday night road game vs. AFC North opponent
The NFL gave the Steelers a road Thursday night game against a division opponent in three of the last four years. Pittsburgh lost all three, including last year against the Bengals. The Steelers' other two Thursday night losses occurred in Cleveland.
Schedule wish: Favorable follow-ups after international games
The 49ers face the Rams in Australia in Week 1 before playing in Mexico City in Week 11. The Dolphins are the rumored foe there. One would expect the NFL to give the 49ers a home game in Week 2 and a potential Week 12 bye.
Schedule wish: Play Eagles and Commanders in consecutive weeks
Since the Seahawks have to go to the East Coast, it would make sense for them to make one trip instead of two while playing Philadelphia and Washington in back-to-back games. It'll be interesting to see if the NFL obliges.
The Buccaneers had four occasions last year when they played consecutive road games, including the first two games of the year, which were also against divisional opponents. Tampa Bay won its first three road games before losing each of its last five. It goes without saying that the NFL likely won't give the Buccaneers such an odd road schedule this year.
Tennessee's rocky 2025 season started with five of its first eight games being on the road. Tennessee went 1-7 over that span en route to a 3-14 campaign. More early home games would help a hungry Titans team eager to turn the corner in 2026.
Schedule wish: Dec. 24 or 25 home game vs. Cowboys
The NFL loves putting the Cowboys in marquee games, so there's certainly a chance this wish comes true. After a down 2025 season, Washington hopes to mimic the success of 2024, when it reached its first NFC title game since 2024. A home win against the Cowboys during Christmas would be the perfect gift for Washington's fan base.
