2026 NFL Schedule and early leaks

[Rabidraider]

The NFL will reveal the full schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday night, but they have announced one marquee Week 1 game on Monday.

The first Sunday Night Football matchup of the season will see the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to face the Giants on NBC on September 13. It will be the eighth time in 15 seasons that the two NFC East clubs have faced each other in Week 1.

[mstrbass2000]

So why do you think we don't have one?

its business, the raiders primetime games last yr probably were bad compared to others in rating...the n.f.l wants the most eyeballs for its primetime games that why they get to flex teams in and out of primetime

[FLORIDARAYDAH]

its business, the raiders primetime games last yr probably were bad compared to others in rating...the n.f.l wants the most eyeballs for its primetime games that why they get to flex teams in and out of primetime

I agree 100%. It's a business and we have been hard to watch. They know they can flex us into a prime time games later in the season if it's called for. No conspiracy

[BoKnows81]

doesn't that prove the league is doing it randomly ??? we had 3 primetime games last yr and zero this yr, maybe it could be the league has stats on those primetime games and they were lower for raiders games vs then others when compared and that why zero this yr ??? its a business and the league wants the most eyeballs for primetime

1st time in 15 years is random?

[Nor_Cal_Raider]

Big Linc said he thinks the players love this schedule. Fans like prime time games but players like to keep their normal routine. All Sunday games and only 3 10:00 am games seems pretty routine.
I thought all teams had to play a Thursday game but I'm happy they don't have too.

[mstrbass2000]

1st time in 15 years is random?

have you taken a look at the rating of the raiders primetime games last yr vs other primetime games ??? how about other teams that have gotten snubbed in teh past ??? im surprised we went 15 yrs in row with primetime games considering how much we have sucked for over 20 yrs

[raiderboyron]

For me it's just selfishness. Locked into dish with a contract to keep bill low. Terrible internet service so streaming is not a good option. Since they moved from Oakland we here in upper No. Cal. have been screwed. Chico was the carrier but 9ers still override. So yeah, I want primetime games and NOT on Amazon which I don't have.


" I want my Maypo. I want my Maypo". (Wayback machine.)

[Hellbound]

have you taken a look at the rating of the raiders primetime games last yr vs other primetime games ??? how about other teams that have gotten snubbed in teh past ??? im surprised we went 15 yrs in row with primetime games considering how much we have sucked for over 20 yrs

And in those 15 yrs there were several yrs where there was only 1 primetime game. It's not like the Raiders were playing in the spotlight every other week

[Hellbound]

I agree 100%. It's a business and we have been hard to watch. They know they can flex us into a prime time games later in the season if it's called for. No conspiracy

100% we could be flexed into a primetime game this year. Especially if Fernando is playing. He's going to be too marketable not to. Some are getting worked up over a nothing burger

[SkullCrusher]

FWIW I like Sunday games, I'm good with zero prime time.
As I've aged my pride and my friends caring what their team does is a conversational footnote.
Between sucking for so long and aging it hits different now.
I don't have bragging rights because no one cares even if we were winning.
A national audience seeing them does nothing for my ego anymore.

I still like to follow them, until they quit on a season, those to me are the worst. That was a late-Al thing.

But I wanted to check on ratings driving prime time games, Al says:

The Raiders are a mixed bag for television ratings, relying heavily on their opponents to drive viewership. While they possess an inherently strong national brand that draws massive numbers in marquee matchups, they have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in overall average viewership when struggling.

When paired with massive-draw franchises (like the Dallas Cowboys or Kansas City Chiefs), the Raiders are a ratings goldmine.

They average around 8.79 million viewers per game, which ranked them in the bottom tier (28th) across the league.

[mstrbass2000]

And in those 15 yrs there were several yrs where there was only 1 primetime game. It's not like the Raiders were playing in the spotlight every other week

i dont think its a big deal to get zero primetime games...i just want us to make progress this yr and put it together next yr to contend, the team has good people in charge now and we r adding talent everywhere

[mstrbass2000]

100% we could be flexed into a primetime game this year. Especially if Fernando is playing. He's going to be too marketable not to. Some are getting worked up over a nothing burger

agree 100 pct...the league reserves flex spots, if the raiders get hot and contend we may still get flexed into a prime spot

[DanKD]

This is 90+% because of Raiders stated approach at QB too. Nobody besides Raiders fans in the country wants to see Cousins and the Raiders on prime time. Raiders have been consistently stating they want Mendoza to sit for a while.

[BoKnows81]

This is 90+% because of Raiders stated approach at QB too. Nobody besides Raiders fans in the country wants to see Cousins and the Raiders on prime time. Raiders have been consistently stating they want Mendoza to sit for a while.

Find me one quote where the Raiders have said or stated that they want FERNANDO MENDOZA to sit or that he will sit. Not the "ideal world" quote mentioned by Kubiak or the assumptions by the media. I mean Jesus christ Spytek has said on record it will be a true competition and the best player will play.

"Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play," Spytek said. "It's just really hard to play really well at a young age. But we've seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we'll see how it goes."

[SkullCrusher]

This is 90+% because of Raiders stated approach at QB too. Nobody besides Raiders fans in the country wants to see Cousins and the Raiders on prime time. Raiders have been consistently stating they want Mendoza to sit for a while.

I would add Raiders fans to.
We want Mendoza.
IMO Cousins is only in there if we can't protect the QB worth a darn that it's destructive to Mendoza physically and mentally.
I like to think Kubiak can devise a plan that will work for Mendoza to play.

[SuperRaider]

i dont think its a big deal to get zero primetime games...i just want us to make progress this yr and put it together next yr to contend, the team has good people in charge now and we r adding talent everywhere

Yeah we just need to improve; no need to put pressure on the new HC saying playoffs or fired