As most NFL fans know, the league uses a rotating schedule that lays out which teams are playing where, which is known years in advance. But when the league added the 17th regular-season game a few years ago, that created three “flex games” for each team. The opponents for those games are determined by standings, with a team in one division playing the same-place finisher in another division.
With the end of the 2025 regular season, those standings became final, and now each team’s full list of home and away opponents is known.
Let’s take a look at each division to see how things shook out. But keep in mind: the actual schedule won’t be released until May, so this is just an advance preview of who is playing where next year.
(Note: each AFC team will have eight regular-season home games in 2026, and each NFC team will have nine regular-season home games in 2026. Except the Rams, Falcons, Commanders, and Lions, who will each host an international game next year, which means giving up one home game).
AFC EAST
TEAM | 2026 HOME OPPONENTS | 2026 ROAD OPPONENTS |
BUFFALO BILLS | Baltimore (flex), Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets | Denver, Green Bay, Houston (flex), Las Vegas, L.A. Rams (flex), Miami, Minnesota, New England, N.Y. Jets |
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati (flex), Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, New England, N.Y. Jets | Buffalo, Denver, Green Bay, Indianapolis (flex), Las Vegas, Minnesota, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco (flex) |
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Buffalo, Denver, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Miami, Minnesota, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh (flex) | Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville (flex), Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Seattle (flex) |
NEW YORK JETS | Buffalo, Cleveland (flex), Denver, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Miami, Minnesota, New England | Arizona (flex), Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Miami, New England, Tennessee (flex) |
The AFC East will play the NFC North and AFC West in 2026. Which means the Bills, Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each AFC East team will host the same-place finisher from 2025 from the AFC North, and play the same place finisher from the AFC South and NFC West on the road.
Looking at the breakdown, the biggest games that came from these assignments are Ravens at Bills, Steelers at Patriots, Patriots at Seahawks, and Bills at Rams.
AFC NORTH
The AFC North will play the AFC South and NFC South in 2026. Which means the Bengals, Browns, Ravens, and Titans will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each AFC North team will host the same place finisher from 2025 from the AFC West, and play the same place finisher from the AFC East and NFC East on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Chiefs at Bengals, Ravens at Bills, Ravens at Cowboys, and Steelers at Eagles.
AFC SOUTH
The AFC South will play the AFC North and NFC East in 2026. Which means the Colts, Jags, Texans, and Titans will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each AFC South team will host the same place finisher from 2025 from the AFC East, and play the same place finisher from the AFC West and NFC North on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Patriots at Jaguars, Jaguars at Bears, Colts at Chiefs, and Texans at Packers.
AFC WEST
The AFC West will play the AFC East and NFC West in 2026. Which means the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, and Raiders will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each AFC West team will host the same place finisher from the AFC South, and play the same place finisher from the NFC South and AFC North on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Jags at Broncos, Broncos at Steelers, Chiefs at Bengals, and Chargers at Ravens.
NFC EAST
The NFC East will play the AFC South and NFC West in 2026. Which means the Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each NFC East team will host the same place finisher from the AFC North and NFC South, and play the same place finisher from the NFC North on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Ravens at Cowboys, Cowboys at Packers, Steelers at Eagles, and Eagles at Bears.
NFC NORTH
TEAM | 2026 HOME OPPONENTS | 2026 ROAD OPPONENTS |
CHICAGO BEARS | Detroit, Green Bay, Jacksonville (flex), Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia (flex), Tampa Bay | Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Detroit, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota, Seattle (flex) |
DETROIT LIONS | Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants (flex), N.Y. Jets, Tampa Bay, Tennessee (flex) | Arizona (flex), Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota |
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas (flex), Detroit, Houston (flex), Miami, Minnesota | Chicago, Detroit, L.A. Rams (flex), Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, Tampa Bay |
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Indianapolis (flex), Miami, Washington (flex) | Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco (flex), Tampa Bay |
The NFC North will play the AFC East and NFC South in 2026. Which means the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each NFC North team will host the same place finisher from the AFC South and NFC East, and play the same place finisher from the NFC West on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Eagles at Bears, Bears at Seahawks, Cowboys at Packers, Packers at Rams, and Vikings at 49ers.
NFC SOUTH
TEAM | 2026 HOME OPPONENTS | 2026 ROAD OPPONENTS |
ATLANTA FALCONS | Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City (flex), New Orleans, San Francisco (flex), Tampa Bay | Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington (flex) |
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver (flex), Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle (flex), Tampa Bay | Atlanta, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia (flex), Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay |
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Arizona (flex), Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Las Vegas (flex), Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay | Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, N.Y. Giants (flex), Tampa Bay |
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, L.A. Chargers (flex), L.A. Rams (flex), Minnesota, New Orleans, Pittsburgh | Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas (flex), Detroit, New Orleans |
The NFC South will play the AFC North and NFC North in 2026. Which means the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, and Saints will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each NFC South team will host the same place finisher from the AFC West and NFC West, and play the same place finisher from the NFC East on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Chiefs at Falcons, Panthers at Eagles, and Bucs at Cowboys.
NFC WEST
The NFC West will play the AFC West and NFC East in 2026. Which means the Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks will each play all of the teams in those two divisions, either at home or on the road. In addition, each NFC West team will host the same place finisher from the AFC East and NFC North, and play the same place finisher from the NFC South on the road.
The biggest games from these flex assignments are Bills at Rams, Packers at Rams, Vikings at 49ers, Bears at Seahawks, and Patriots at Seahawks.
NEXT STEPS
It will still be four months until the full NFL schedule is released, but for those planning to follow their teams on the road next season, you at least now know which stadiums your team will be playing in. Of course, there’s no need to book hotels or make any other travel plans until the schedule is released, but if you’ve been hoping to catch your team at a stadium you haven’t been to yet, you can already see if that’s going to be possible in 2026.
