How does the NFL determine the Commanders' 2026 opponents?

AFC SOUTH GAMES

The Commanders face an AFC division each season, and this year's rotation has them facing each team in the AFC South (Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans). Two games will be at home (Colts and Texans), while the other two (Jaguars, Titans) will be on the road.

Three final games

Having accounted for 14 of their 17 games, all NFL teams then have three additional games included on their regular-season schedule. Two games will be against two other teams within the same conference and one from the other conference. These three final opponents are determined according to teams finishing in the same place in their respective divisions. Consequently, the Commanders, having finished third in the NFC East in 2025, will face the Vikings (away), Falcons (home), and Bengals (home), each one having finished in third place in their divisions last year.

BYE WEEK

So, each team will have 17 games, scheduled over 18 weeks, providing each team with one "bye week" during its regular season. During the 18-week season, the NFL has unfortunately spread out the bye weeks for all teams from Week 5 to Week 14. It's a way the NFL can have as many teams playing each week as possible. However, the downside remains one team with an entire week of rest while the other opponent does not.

FULL WEEKS of Games

In recent seasons, the NFL has typically scheduled a full slate of 16 games (all 32 teams) to be played during the first four weeks of the season, and then during the final four weeks.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: How does the NFL determine all 32 schedules?