NFL teams with most prime-time games 2026: Rams, Bills, Chiefs lead the way; five teams with none

With the NFL Draft concluding last month, the NFL season is slowly but surely gaining some steam. With teams' schedules set to be released officially on Thursday, it's time to look at which teams will play the most on a national scale in prime time.

Topping this year's charts at the No. 1 spot are none other than the Los Angeles Rams. This will likely be quarterback Matthew Stafford's last season in the NFL, so a farewell tour in a prime TV slot would be a hot commodity to gain viewership during these hours. Behind the Rams are five teams with six prime-time games.

At the bottom of the list, a whopping five teams will not have a single game in prime time this season. The number seems shocking, but a lot of NFL teams had rather lackluster seasons a year prior, and the schedule signifies the belief that the league doesn't believe they will improve much, if at all. That being said, games do have the possibility of being flexed into or out of the prime-time slots, so the numbers at the end of this season will most likely be different from what they are before Week 1.

The Sporting News has you covered with a breakdown of teams with the most and fewest prime-time games in the 2026 NFL season.

MORE: Which teams will win the most games during the 2026 NFL season?

NFL teams with most prime-time games 2026

The Rams stand alone with seven prime-time games during the 2026 season, tying the all-time record (Chiefs in 2025 and Bills in 2023). Despite losing in the NFC Championship Game last season to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL believes Los Angeles is here to stay.

Five teams are tied for the second-most prime-time games with six. Four of those teams come from the NFC, while the Kansas City Chiefs are the lone AFC team. With Patrick Mahomes expected to return fully healthy, the Chiefs should be able to return near the top of the AFC, as they traditionally have. While Travis Kelce is getting old, Kansas City is one of the best squads to play on the gridiron when they are at their best.

Closing out the list are the Super Bowl 60 participants: the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Chicago Bears. New England will be looking to build upon a strong season after falling just short against Seattle last February. With the likely addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown appearing imminent, that might be what can bring the Patriots over the edge this season.

MORE: Where do the Rams and Eagles stand in the power rankings after the 2026 draft?

NFL teams with fewest prime-time games 2026

This season, five teams have no games appearing in prime-time slots. One team's appearance is more surprising than others in the Las Vegas Raiders. No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will not be appearing in any prime-time games during his rookie season. This will surprise the NFL audience, especially those who won't be tuning into every Raiders game.

Along with Las Vegas, five other teams that drafted in the top 10 of this year's draft will have one or fewer prime-time games. The other team, the Miami Dolphins, fell just outside the top 10 and also traded away their pick closest to the top of the draft board.

MORE: What grades did the Raiders and Jets receive based on their draft class?