The NFL released its schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday, and five teams emerged without having a single primetime game next season.
Four of those five teams finished in last place in their respective divisions last season, and all five are projected to be picking in the top 10 of the 2027 NFL draft next offseason.
Below are the five teams who were snubbed from the NFL’s 2026 primetime schedule.
After cutting polarizing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins’ roster was more talent starved than it was last year.
Outside of new head coach Jeff Hafley, $67 million QB Malik Willis, and $64 million running back De’Von Achane, there’s not much to be excited about in Miami. Not even games against the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, or Green Bay Packers were enough to land the Dolphins on national TV.
Not even No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza nor former Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins were enough to convince the league’s schedule-makers to feature the Raiders on national television.
Vegas has two matchups against the Chiefs, a Week 6 matchup against the Bills, a Week 9 matchup against the 49ers, and a Week 10 contest against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but the NFL deemed none of them worthy of a primetime slot.
Unlike the other teams on this list, the Titans actually have a young team that could surprise a lot of people next season.
New head coach Robert Saleh, quarterback Cam Ward, No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate, and an emerging defense featuring No. 31 overall pick Keldric Faulk, former first-round pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson, and All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has Tennessee in position to potentially make some noise.
Even still, the NFL schedule-makers seemingly don’t trust the Titans enough to feature them in primetime despite high-profile opponents like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions.
Despite the young, emerging talent the Jets have in running back Breece Hall, receivers Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., and Adonai Mitchell, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, it’s hard to get millions of football fans excited about watching a team that finished 3-14 last season and plans to play Geno Smith at quarterback.
It’s hard to find many wins on New York’s 2026 schedule, and its big games against the Packers, Lions, Bears, New England Patriots, Chiefs, Bills, and Broncos all are likely to be blowouts. No one outside of the state of New York will blame the NFL for keeping this team out of primetime.
The Cardinals may just have the least talented roster in the NFL. Aside from rookie running back Jeremiyah Love and former first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona falls drastically short on star power.
Not even a schedule that features two games against the 49ers, Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams — all of whom made the playoffs last year, and two of which played in the NFC Championship Game — plus contests against the Lions, Cowboys, Broncos, Chiefs, and Eagles was enough to persuade the league to feature the Cards on national TV.
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