2026 NFL schedule: 5 groups that deserve fewer prime-time video games

• The Dolphins and Cardinals are rebuilding, making them much less compelling for a nationwide viewers.
• Despite the market they play in, the Jets may even see an additional lower in prime-time appearances, too.

The NFL’s regular-season schedule may be an intricate puzzle, however any notion of fairness rapidly falls by the wayside on the subject of optimizing the printed slate.

For as a lot because the league touts its pervasive parity, that dynamic not often extends to the steadiness – or lack thereof – in how prime-time video games are distributed. Franchises in key markets and enormous audiences stay fixtures of the standalone slate, whereas others are left to battle for scraps.

But the allotment can range enormously from season to season as expectations shift for every group. Ahead of this 12 months’s schedule launch, listed here are 5 groups that deserve fewer prime-time video games in 2026:

Atlanta Falcons

With 5 prime-time video games and a standalone window for his or her Germany matchup in 2025, the Falcons obtained a significant vote of confidence from the league. A breakthrough for Atlanta and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by no means materialized, and Arthur Blank cleaned home in response to the frustration.

Even with new coach Kevin Stefanski aboard, the Falcons hardly qualify as must-see TV. A quarterback competitors between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa seemingly will not transfer the needle with viewers or produce a lot better outcomes via the air. A stagnant Atlanta roster has additionally been handed up by its competitors within the NFC South, with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints exhibiting severe indicators of progress. It’s time to unfold the wealth within the division, which might simply be achieved by bumping the Falcons right down to a slate befitting a workforce caught in impartial.

Miami Dolphins

The NFL made all of it the best way to Week 16 final 12 months earlier than flexing a prime-time matchup, giving the rudderless Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals the boot. That was maybe a harbinger of how the league may deal with the previous this spring after reserving 5 such slots for the workforce in 2025.

First-year basic supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan has left little question that Miami goes full bore with its teardown, which has despatched away the likes of Tagovailoa, extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, edge rusher Bradley Chubb and extra. All that is left within the rubble: numerous low-cost holdovers, discount free-agent signings and rookies looking for their method. And whereas quarterback Malik Willis gives some panache along with his big-play capabilities as a runner and downfield thrower, he is certain to be inhibited by a receiving corps missing any established choices. This seems like a season that will likely be spent toiling and tweaking earlier than the Dolphins can set up any actual aggressive credentials. It’s most likely greatest for the group to try this away from the limelight.

Washington Commanders

In 2025, the league’s schedule-makers embraced a Washington workforce coming off an surprising run to the NFC championship recreation, giving the franchise 5 prime-time video games together with a Christmas slot and a standalone worldwide window. The Commanders went on to lose all seven of these contests, although three of these defeats had been solely sealed on the final play.

Is {that a} signal of a fast re-emergence? With Jayden Daniels getting a contemporary slate after a spate of accidents spoiled his sophomore marketing campaign, there’s cause to consider Washington ought to be much more formidable in 2026. Yet the Commanders will likely be working in two first-time coordinators, with David Blough instituting what seemingly will likely be a extra methodical offense that emphasizes extra under-center work. That’s not precisely a scintillating setup for a workforce that did not do a lot from a personnel standpoint to assist Daniels, who nonetheless lacks a viable No. 2 goal alongside Terry McLaurin.

The Commanders ought to discover a extra steady resting level between the excessive of 2024 and final season’s nadir. But Washington stays decidedly exterior of the NFC’s prime class of contenders, and its schedule ought to replicate that actuality.

Arizona Cardinals

Since eliminating its mandate for each workforce to be scheduled for at the least one prime-time recreation, the NFL hasn’t been shy about conserving a few of its duller and fewer aggressive operations out of the highlight. That may imply bother for Arizona, which obtained two prime-time appointments in 2025 however could possibly be blanked this fall.

First-year coach Mike LaFleur may see higher fortune on the well being entrance – the Cardinals completed final season with 24 gamers on injured reserve – and in shut contests than predecessor Jonathan Gannon did. Yet the workforce that completed with the worst level differential within the NFC (-133) stays a great distance off from difficult anybody in its division after going 0-6 in opposition to NFC West foes final 12 months. No matter whether or not Jacoby Brissett holds onto the beginning quarterback job or provides technique to third-rounder Carson Beck, the offense seems sure to be boxed in by its limitations behind heart. And whereas the arrival of Jeremiyah Love may spark some gentle intrigue, working room seemingly will likely be exhausting to return by – as will any recreation instances exterior of Sunday afternoons.

New York Jets

Maybe this appears harsh for a workforce that was already pushed to the fringes, with their prime-time tally being razed from six in 2024 to 2 final 12 months. Yet even matching that quantity this fall can be beneficiant for a regime that also hasn’t conjured a cause for others to tune in.

Gang Green very effectively may be a extra competent operation after absorbing some mandatory classes from Aaron Glenn’s turbulent first 12 months on the helm. But are the Jets any extra compelling than they beforehand had been? The protection nonetheless appears caught in a transitional section after dealing away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at midseason, and the brand new pairing of quarterback Geno Smith and coordinator Frank Reich does not encourage a ton of confidence for an offensive surge.

The Jets, after all, are too huge a model to be shunted apart fully. But whereas a “Thursday Night Football” recreation in opposition to an AFC East rival may be cheap, something past that may be a stretch.