> At a Glance
> – The 2025 NFL regular season is complete, setting next season’s 272 games
> – Division standings now decide three 2026 opponents for every team
> – NFC clubs get nine home games in 2026; AFC clubs get eight
> – Why it matters: Fans can already circle marquee 2026 games before the calendar flips to spring
With the final whistle of the 2025 campaign, all 32 franchises learned 14 fixed 2026 opponents plus the three flex foes tied to this year’s standings.
How the 2026 Slate Took Shape
The league’s 17-game formula pairs clubs with:
- Six division games
- Six intra-conference games outside the division
- Five cross-conference games
- Three finish-based matchups determined by 2025 order of finish
That structure means same-spot finishers from different divisions will meet in 2026, creating instant drama for teams that rallied or collapsed down the stretch.
Home-field Twist for 2026
The rotating 17th game tilts the schedule again: NFC teams host nine regular-season contests, while AFC teams travel nine times and host eight.
Quick-Hit Schedule Highlights
A few eyebrow-raisers already locked in:
- Kansas City at Cincinnati – rematch of recent AFC classics
- Dallas hosting Baltimore in a rare inter-conference clash
- San Francisco welcoming Miami for a 2022 revival
- Buffalo visiting Los Angeles Rams on the West Coast
Key Takeaways
- All 32 clubs know 17 opponents; dates and kickoff times drop this spring
- The three flex games add competitive balance by matching 2025 finishers
- NFC teams hold home-field surplus in 2026 thanks to the extra contest
- Fans can begin planning trips before playoff seeding is even complete
The full 272-game inventory is set, giving the NFL calendar a rare moment of certainty months before the next season’s first snap.
