NFL Nerd

Independent reporting on the schedule ~ unaffiliated with the NFL ~ see Highlights for my key updates

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

The 2026 Schedule by team & week 🏈

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

10 Sundays until Week 1 🏈

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

For the past three seasons, Schedule Release Day has landed right around 3 weeks after the draft

If the league sticks with that pattern, we’re looking at Wed May 19th or Thu May 20th, 2027

[NFL @NFL]

Mark your calendars 📅

The 2027 #NFLDraft in Washington D.C. will take place April 29 - May 1!

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

Here are the five preseason games that will be nationally televised (all games at 8pm ET)
Thu Aug 6 - CAR vs ARI - NBC
Thu Aug 20 - LV at HOU - ESPN
Sun Aug 23 - SEA at TEN - FOX
Thu Aug 27 - NE at CLE - Prime
Fri Aug 28 - CIN at PHI - CBS

The preseason schedule team-by-team ⬇️

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

@geoffpilkington Yes, but SF-LAR isn’t truly a home primetime game as it’s being played in Australia

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

A few schedule nuggets I found interesting

🏈 The 2026 Bills are the 1st team ever scheduled for 5 primetime games vs inter-conference opponents. No other team has ever been scheduled for even 4

🏈 The 2026 Seahawks are scheduled to play on 6 different days of the week, becoming just the 2nd team since the merger to do so (after the 2024 Chiefs)

🏈 The 2026 Ravens are only the 3rd team since 1983 to open their season with 7 straight games against teams that finished below .500 the year before (others: 2025 Panthers & 1983 Falcons)

🏈 The 2026 Packers and 2026 Seahawks are both set to host 5 primetime games. Only 1 team has ever done that before if we include flexes: the 2008 Chargers

🏈 The 2026 Dolphins are the 1st AFC team to be scheduled for more FOX games than CBS since the CBS-AFC deal began in 1998. The 2023 Buccaneers were the 1st NFC team to be scheduled for more CBS games than FOX since the FOX-NFC deal began in 1994

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

The NFL can now stage up to 11 international games in 2027 after owners approved the expanded slate today, inching closer to their previously stated goal of 16 international games each season (1 game per team each season)

Another key change to come from today: teams will no longer be able to protect any opponents from being designated for international play. Previously, teams could protect two opponents each season

With that restriction gone, you can expect more premium matchups to appear on the international slate moving forward

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

The 2027-28 Opponents

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

17 Sundays until Week 1

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

When teams will match up against playoff teams from last year

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

Rest Day Differential 2002-2026

3 with best advantage - DET, CAR, DAL
3 with worst advantage - PHI, LAC, ATL

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

2026 Net Rest Days

3 with best advantage - CHI, BUF, DAL
3 with worst advantage - LAC, PHI, LV

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

Rest Day Differential 2002-2026

3 with best advantage - DET, CAR, DAL
3 with worst advantage - PHI, LAC, ATL

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

2026 Net Rest Days

3 with best advantage - CHI, BUF, DAL
3 with worst advantage - LAC, PHI, LV

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

Primetime games + other metrics from the Grid

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

@letsgobuffalo_1 Yes, I’ll post the standings when I get around to it

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

It was a good day.

I’ll be back tomorrow to share some cool stats I find on the schedule 🫡

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

All opponents are correct and confirmed 🫡

[Ozzy @OzzyNFL]

And after 5 years... a PERFECT grid. @NerdingonNFL

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

IN ALL ITS GLORY…

Our completed Schedule Grid for 2026

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

Correction:

Week 4 Monday Night Football will be Falcons at Saints, NOT Titans at Ravens

Sorry… had to make a few guesses on the primetime schedule!

[NFL Nerd @NerdingonNFL]

💯

[Ozzy @OzzyNFL]

And after 5 years... a PERFECT grid. @NerdingonNFL