NFL Regular Season
The NFL season begins each year in early September and ends in early January. The league has 32 teams, and each team plays 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks, with one bye week.
Most games are played on Sunday afternoons, with additional games on Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and selected Saturday games later in the season. Special games are also played on Thanksgiving Day and during the holiday season.
NFL TV Coverage
NFL games are broadcast by several national TV and streaming partners:
- CBS – AFC games
- FOX – NFC games
- NBC – Sunday Night Football
- ESPN & ABC – Monday Night Football and selected games
- Prime Video – Thursday Night Football
- NFL Network – Selected exclusive games and NFL coverage
How Does the NFL Schedule Work?
The NFL uses a scheduling formula to ensure a fair schedule for every team. Each team plays:
- 6 games against division rivals (home and away)
- 4 games against another division in its own conference
- 4 games against a division from the other conference
- 2 games against teams from the same conference that finished in the same place the previous season
- 1 additional interconference game based on the league’s rotating schedule
This format creates a 17-game regular season for every team.
International Games
The NFL regularly hosts games outside the United States as part of its international series. Recent games have been played in London, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, and Canada, helping grow the sport around the world.
NFL Schedule Changes
The NFL can adjust game dates or locations because of severe weather, stadium issues, or other unexpected events. Flexible scheduling is also used later in the season to feature the most important games in prime-time television slots.
The NFL schedule is designed to create competitive matchups and provide exciting football for fans from Week 1 through the Super Bowl.