With the Seattle Seahawks fresh off a Super Bowl title, the countdown to the 2026-27 NFL season is already generating buzz. Here’s what fans need to know about how the schedule comes together.
How the Season Is Structured
- 18-week regular season, 17 games per team, with one bye week each
- Divisional matchups home and away, plus rotating interconference and intraconference games
- Seven playoff spots per conference, leading into the postseason and the Super Bowl
The NFL typically releases its full schedule in mid-May, factoring in the previous season’s results, prime-time slots and international games in London, Germany, Brazil and beyond.
Defending Champions Under the Spotlight
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season as defending Super Bowl champions after beating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, their second title in franchise history. First-year head coach Mike Macdonald led a defense that finished the 2025 season with the league’s top scoring unit, and expectations will be high as the Seahawks look to defend their crown.
Broadcast and Streaming
NBC and Peacock return with Sunday Night Football for the 2026-27 season, joining the usual rotation of CBS, Fox, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video coverage that spreads games across nearly every night of the week during the fall.
Storylines to Watch
The Patriots will look to bounce back after their Super Bowl LX defeat, while teams that missed the playoffs entirely will use the offseason to retool. Fans who enjoy tracking the sport’s biggest single day should also check our full Super Bowl guide covering everything from Super Bowl LX and beyond, and our roundup of the best sporting events around the world for how the NFL stacks up globally.
The Bottom Line
The NFL schedule is the engine behind America’s most-watched sport, and with a new champion in Seattle, the 2026 season promises fresh storylines from Week 1 through the playoffs.