Worst video games on 2026 NFL schedule: Will you watch these contests?

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The NFL revealed the whole lot of its 2026 regular-season schedule a little bit greater than per week in the past. And whereas it’s enjoyable to circle dates on the calendar that appear like the perfect matchups of the 12 months, discover who’s taking part in on the vacations − and, uh, the night time earlier than Thanksgiving − and get a way of what the prime-time lineups will seem like, it may also be enjoyable to try to discover a hate watch or two. Or seven.

Granted, that is the NFL − king of all North American sports activities. Fantasy, betting and, this 12 months particularly, the ramifications for the next draft – notably because it pertains to the dangerous groups – imply nearly no sport is really irrelevant … notably if there may be an Uber-Manning take form in Austin. Yet we’ve actually discovered just a few contests that might get ugly − even when discounting Week 18 video games, many inherently lopsided and/or laborious given the potential climate points and probability good gamers could possibly be resting when that possibility is on the desk amid unbalanced matchups.

So, with out additional ado – and at this untimely date – these are the seven contests shaping up because the worst of the 2026 season, listed chronologically:

It’s a gathering of head coaches, Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, who beforehand served collectively as coordinators in Detroit. It’s a matchup of disparate squads, Glenn’s Jets the worst staff within the league by the tip of the 2025 season and Johnson’s NFC North-winning Bears amongst its hardest. And given Johnson isn’t one to take his foot off the accelerator, it wouldn’t be a shock if his present staff makes his former colleague’s outfit look fairly dangerous.

The Chiefs’ disastrous 2025 season concluded with a loss in Sin City – a sport injured QB Patrick Mahomes missed. However the three-time Super Bowl MVP is 6-0 in his profession at Allegiant Stadium – together with Super Bowl 58 – the Chiefs averaging 33 factors in these defeats of the Raiders. And whereas the Silver and Black have added numerous items this offseason, together with No. 1 draft decide Fernando Mendoza, for his or her rebuild, a Week 4 sport towards a dynasty may get ugly … because it usually has towards Mahomes and Co.

We’re not purposefully selecting on the Cards, however c’mon. They went 0-6 of their division final 12 months – little shock given the 2025 NFC West is the one one in league historical past to characteristic three groups profitable at the least 12 video games apiece, Arizona the lone exception. It appears fairly possible the Cardinals take one other divisional bagel in 2026, however their journey to L.A. could possibly be the ugliest. Since Sean McVay turned their coach in 2017, the Rams are 16-3 towards Arizona – together with six wins at dwelling by double digits.

Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos, Nov. 22

Flash again to final season’s Thursday night time sport in Denver, when the Broncos outlasted the Raiders 10-7, then you’ve some sense of how ugly this was and could possibly be once more. However, this time round, the defending AFC West champion Broncos can be popping out of a bye week after they host the Raiders, who can be on the street for the third time in a four-week span … and probably with Mendoza within the lineup and tasked to face one of many league’s nastiest defenses. Mismatch or not, could possibly be fairly ugly aesthetically.

Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers, Dec. 20

What seems like a nasty staff, one used to Florida’s local weather, heads to Wisconsin to face a perennial playoff staff the day earlier than winter formally begins – and with a quarterback, Malik Willis, the Pack know properly. What may go incorrect?

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 20

These groups are projected to be two of the league’s most inept in 2026, so this sport could possibly be horrific on its face. And given the Week 15 slotting, it may theoretically additionally characteristic a pair of rookie quarterbacks if the Jets are assessing Cade Klubnik by then and/or if Carson Beck has entered the Cards’ lineup. Yet, unimportant as this matchup is perhaps when it comes to Super Bowl 61 implications, the draft ramifications could possibly be large – it would even be deemed the Arch Manning Bowl by the point it kicks off.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, Dec. 27

By the time Week 16 rolls round, the Bolts will possible be jockeying for playoff place … whereas Miami can be settling into draft place. The climate shouldn’t be oppressive for the California-based Chargers, however they is perhaps in a suppressive temper of their very own. After all, former Fins coach Mike McDaniel, who was fired after final season, can be operating the offense for Los Angeles – and this sport will happen three years after McDaniel’s Dolphins hung 70 factors on the Broncos, solely the fourth time an NFL staff had ever scored that many factors in a single sport. Think he’d have any downside doing it once more? Against a rebuilding group that may possible be significantly overmatched? As the Bolts try to spherical into postseason type? Happy holidays.

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