The 5 worst primetime NFL games of 2026, featuring too much AFC North

The Giants will counter by throwing a litany of highly regarded pass rushers at an increasingly immobile Matthew Stafford. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Arvell Reese and maybe Kayvon Thibodeaux if he's still on the roster, will get the chance to attack LA's iffy tackle situation and force a 38-year-old to thrive through the chaos around him. This could be a playoff preview, but it also looks like to produce a lot of quick-hit throws and held breath as we wait for offensive linemen to help their quarterbacks from the turf.

Week 4, Thursday night: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

This is a storied rivalry but, in 2026, not an especially compelling one. These two teams will (likely) have a mix of tarnished star veterans and lightly regarded young prospects at quarterback. They'll face two ferocious pass rushes attempting to reclaim their past glory. Highlights may include but not be limited to:

a) Shedeur Sanders running 30 yards backward to avoid T.J. Watt before doing the electric slide directly into Alex Highsmith

b) Aaron Rodgers exploded into 1,000 pieces by Myles Garrett

c) an NFL game in which every point is scored via fumble return touchdown

Alright, you know what? I take it back, that sounds awesome.

Week 4, Monday night: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

Another wonderful rivalry with the capacity to disappoint. Tyler Shough takes on Tua Tagovailoa (or perhaps Michael Penix Jr., fresh off a partially torn ACL) in primetime in a series where both teams have scored at least 20 points only once in their last seven matchups.

To New Orleans' credit, Shough outperformed expectations as a rookie and now commands an offense that added Trevor Etienne and first round wideout Jordyn Tyson this offseason. But the last time these teams met we got a 19-17 finish that featured nearly twice as many field goals as touchdowns and an Atlanta offense that barely cracked 200 total yards.

Week 11, Monday night: Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders

This game could be absolutely incredible. Two dynamic quarterbacks face two bottom five passing defenses right as the playoff race rounds into shape. Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels could put on an absolute laser show.

Or! Zac Taylor's team could fall apart once again, with or without a healthy Burrow -- it's been three seasons since Cincinnati has made the postseason. Daniels could struggle with a limited playmaking corps and make 2024 a true outlier in the Commanders quest for mediocrity. We're probably due for fireworks. Will that series of explosions have an actual impact on the playoff race, or will this be a battle between sub-.500 also-rans?

Week 13, Sunday night: Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers

Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) react after a fumble was returned for a touchdown during the second half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

We've got six different standalone Steelers games this season; four primetime games, one international game in the morning and then the Black Friday game the NFL has foisted upon us in its quest to figure out just how much football it can cram into our brains. From a fanbase standpoint, that's reasonable. Few franchises have the cache of the Steelers. You can't move to a major metropolitan U.S. city without there being a designated Steelers bar somewhere.

But this is also a team being held hostage by a man who will turn 43 years old before Week 13 happens and who was 2025's 22nd-best quarterback. If Aaron Rodgers doesn't play, the offense will belong to either Mason Rudolph, Will Howard or Drew Allar. If things have gone poorly, the reins will likely be turned over to one of those young, modestly regarded prospects to prove their future worth against a defense surpassed only by the Super Bowl champions in 2025. It could truly be a mess.

The last time these teams met, Pittsburgh gained 175 total yards of offense and was outscored by the Houston defense 14-6 in a 30-6 Wild Card loss. That was enough to convince Mike Tomlin to seek out greener pastures. On Sunday night, it could be enough to convince a nation to get a head start wrapping its Christmas presents.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 worst primetime NFL games of 2026, featuring too much AFC North