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Complete Guide to the NFL Regular Season Schedule
How the NFL builds its 18-week, 17-game schedule, from division rivals to cross-conference matchups and the flex scheduling window.
The NFL regular season spans 18 weeks with each team playing 17 games and getting one bye week. The schedule formula determines opponents well in advance, but the specific dates and times are set by the league each spring.
How opponents are determined
Every team plays six games against its three division rivals (home and away), four games against another division in its own conference on a rotating cycle, four games against a division from the other conference, and three additional games based on the previous season's standings.
Weekly game windows
- Thursday Night Football: one primetime game each Thursday, carried nationally.
- Sunday early window: most games kick off at 1:00 PM ET with regional broadcast coverage.
- Sunday late window: typically two to three games at 4:05 or 4:25 PM ET.
- Sunday Night Football: the marquee weekly game at 8:20 PM ET on NBC.
- Monday Night Football: one or two games on Monday evening to close the week.
Flex scheduling
Starting in Week 5, the NFL can move games between Sunday windows to ensure the best matchups appear in primetime. By Week 12 the league can also flex games into Saturday slots. This means late-season start times can change with roughly 12 days' notice.
The bye week
Each team has one week off during the season, typically falling between Weeks 5 and 14. The bye week is built into the schedule and no games are played by that team during its bye. Check GameCenter's team pages to see when each team has its week off.