Predicting Which Teams Will Be The Hottest Tickets During the 2026 NFL Schedule Release

The start of the 2026 NFL regular season is now less than three months away, and we'll get our first look at the entire schedule in just a few days.

The 2026 schedule release is scheduled at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.

We've only been given tidbits to this point. However, we know that the 2026 schedule will feature some intriguing quirks, like a Wednesday opener, a regular-season game in Australia, and a Friday night Christmas tripleheader.

We also know that some teams will get more time in the spotlight than others. Last season, for example, the Kansas City Chiefs got seven prime-time games on the initial schedule and the Dallas Cowboys got six, while the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans received zero.

Why the discrepancy? Simply put, the NFL expects some teams to be much bigger draws than others. Which teams are likely to be featured in prime time the most in 2026? Let's make some predictions.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo

The Baltimore Ravens only received four prime-time games in 2025, which was a bit of a surprise, considering they were coming off a second straight AFC North title.

AFC North rivalry games often make for thrilling prime-time programming.

However, the Ravens got five prime-time games during the initial 2024 schedule release, and there's a good chance they'll get similar exposure in 2026. We know one game that won't be in prime-time—a Week 3 game against Dallas in Rio de Janeiro—but there are plenty of reasons to put Baltimore under the bright lights.

Lamar Jackson isn't coming off an MVP season, as he was in 2024, but he remains one of the most exciting players in football. The Ravens also have a new head coach in Jesse Minter, who should help revitalize Baltimore's defense alongside new additions like Trey Hendrickson and Zion Young.

Expect the Ravens to be a hot ticket once again.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Bears QB Caleb Williams

A year ago, the Washington Commanders were the hot new team in the NFC, and they received five prime-time games at schedule release as a result. This year, the Chicago Bears are poised to take Washington's place as the conference's up-and-coming contender.

Chicago took a big leap last season after pairing head coach Ben Johnson with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. This season, the Bears will try to repeat as NFC North champions, while Williams will look to firmly establish himself as one of the league's elite quarterbacks.

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently placed Williams on his list of potential first-time MVP candidates for 2026.

The Commanders weren't able to replicate their 2024 success last season, largely due to injuries. It'll be interesting to see if the Bears fare better, especially after they engineered seven fourth-quarter comebacks in 2025. Add in the intensity we usually see in NFC North rivalry games, and we can expect Chicago to be a significant draw.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs were vulnerable in 2025, even before Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL that ended his season. The team that had ruled the AFC for the better part of a decade (seven straight AFC title game appearances) simply never felt threatening last season.

While Kansas City made a couple of intriguing additions this offseason, there's no guarantee that they'll jump right back into title contention. Yet, we shouldn't expect the NFL to thrust the Chiefs into darkness.

Even if the Chiefs aren't championship-caliber this season, they'll still be interesting. Mahomes' recovery is a massive storyline. He's one of the league's brightest stars, and he's likely to be available early in the regular season.

"My understanding is he believes he can be ready fr Week 1, talking to doctors, with no restrictions," Bleacher Report's James Palmer recently said (beginning around the 1:15 mark):

Unfortunately for fans who have grown weary of Kansas City, another substantial dose of the Chiefs is likely to come.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Patriots QB Drake Maye

The New England Patriots were the AFC's surprise contender in 2025. While New England failed to put up much of a fight in Super Bowl LX and could very easily regress this season, the Patriots are still likely to be featured in prime-time.

New England is, after all, the Super Bowl runner-up—a status that has traditionally gotten time in the spotlight. Kansas City got seven prime-time games last year, while the San Francisco 49ers got six games in 2024, and the Philadelphia Eagles got five games in 2023.

The Patriots also have a legitimate MVP candidate in quarterback Drake Maye, and they may soon pair him with star Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.

"I still think that once we get to June, that these two sides will get together and complete a trade that'll send AJ Brown to the New England Patriots," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show.

Whether Brown is in the fold or not, plenty of folks will be interested in seeing whether the Patriots can repeat as AFC East champions and if the long-dreaded New England dynasty is truly back.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

The Eagles failed to defend their Super Bowl title and were bounced during the wild-card round last season. However, they remain a high-profile team that will carry intrigue into the 2026 season.

Will A.J. Brown be with Philadelphia by Week 1? Will head coach Nick Sirianni be on the hot seat if the Eagles struggle early? Will inexperienced offensive coordinator Sean Mannion be in over his head? How will new additions like Marquise Brown and Makai Lemon fit into the offense?

Can Philly and quarterback Jalen Hurts continue to co-exist in what ESPN's Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler called a "crossroads" season?

Fans will have questions about the defending NFC East champs, and the NFL knows that they'll tune in to have them answered. On top of that, the league has a tendency to spotlight the NFC East—we can probably pencil Philly in for a pair of divisional prime-time games right now.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Christian McCaffrey

Like the Cowboys, the 49ers are a brand that the NFL just loves to feature when it makes sense to do so. Despite having an injury-plagued six-win campaign in 2024, San Francisco still got five prime-time games at the initial 2025 schedule release.

After overcoming more injuries to reach 12 wins and the divisional round in 2024, the 49ers are unlikely to suddenly step out of the spotlight. Let's not forget that starting quarterback Brock Purdy missed eight games last season, and the 49ers still had a chance to claim the NFC's No. 1 seed in Week 18.

There's a very real chance that, if healthy, the 49ers will be one of the conference's top contenders again in 2026. On top of that, they feature bona fide stars like Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, and George Kittle—even head coach Kyle Shanahan can be considered a television draw at this point.

We already know that San Francisco will battle the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10 in Melbourne. Expect several more prime-time games to dot the 49ers' schedule.

Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Bills QB Josh Allen

Ever since Josh Allen became one of the league's best signal-callers, the Buffalo Bills have become a big-ticket item. Allen hasn't been able to push Buffalo into the Super Bowl, but he's made the team a legitimate AFC contender and a lot of fun to watch.

The Bills were one of eight teams to receive five prime-time games during last year's initial schedule release.

Interest in Buffalo should remain high this season, despite a few changes. Allen, one of the league's most thrilling dual-threats, will continue to helm the offense. However, the Bills have a new head coach in Joe Brady and traded for a big-play receiver in D.J. Moore. In addition, the Bills are set to debut the new Highmark Stadium this season.

The Bills are hoping that some offensive shuffling will finally get them into the big game—or, at least, back to the top of the AFC East. Expect the NFL to place Buffalo's quest, and its new venue, in the limelight early and often this season.

Prime-Time Prediction: Six Games

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jerome Miron, File

Cowboys WR George Pickens

The Cowboys failed to make the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but there are reasons to believe that they'll regularly be featured in standalone games this season.

For one, Dallas is almost always considered a big draw. The Cowboys got six prime-time games in each of the past two seasons, and while they may not get that many in 2026, they won't be fading into obscurity.

The NFL will likely make a big production out of the Rio game against Baltimore, and Dallas always gets to shine on Thanksgiving.

Beyond the fact that the Cowboys are an attention-grabbing and divisive team—plenty of folks tune in to see them lose—is the reality that they could be back in the playoff conversation this season.

Dallas fielded the league's second-ranked offense last season but also had the league's worst scoring defense. This offseason, though, the Cowboys added players like Rashan Gary, Dee Winters, Caleb Downs, and Malachi Lawrence to help their defense play catch-up.

With even an average defense, Dallas should be an NFC threat and a team the NFL wants you to track.

Prime-Time Prediction: Six Games

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, even if head coach Mike Macdonald isn't necessarily looking to defend anything.

"We're a new team, and we have to rebecome the team that we're destined to be," Macdonald said, per John Boyle of the team's official website. "...we're not defending anything."

Macdonald isn't completely wrong. While stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Devon Witherspoon are returning, several key contributors did depart this offseason.

Seattle may be looking to replace veterans like Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen with rookies like Jadarian Price, Bud Clark, and Julian Neal. The turnover could end up being just as big a part of the Seahawks' 2026 story as their elite defense or Darnold's ongoing redemption arc.

We know that, as defending champions, the Seahawks will open the 2026 season in prime-time. That should only be the first of many.

Prime-Time Prediction: Six Games

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Rams QB Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay

The Seahawks may have won the NFC West and their conference in 2025, but no one should be surprised if the rival Rams are featured even more prominently by the NFL this season. L.A. narrowly fell to Seattle in January's NFC title game, and many expect the Rams to be the better team this season.

As the schedule release approaches, the Rams are the odds-on Super Bowl favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Indeed, Los Angeles boasts a roster that doesn't have any glaring holes, especially after cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson were both added this offseason. Those two should help round out a roster that ranked first in scoring and 10th in points allowed last season.

In addition to having a balanced and talented roster, the Rams are loaded with star power. Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jared Verse, Kyren Williams, and even head coach Sean McVay are household names. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, of course, is the reigning MVP and a future Hall of Famer.

The league has every reason to make Los Angeles a fixture of prime-time programming in 2026, and not just because Super Bowl LXI will be played at SoFi Stadium—though getting to preview the championship venue will be a bonus.

Prime-Time Prediction: Seven Games