The 2026 NFL Schedule Release is almost upon us, and with it, we will see which teams the league and television networks covet the most to score those all-important ratings.

While it’s highly likely you will see teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills max out at their allowed six prime-time appearances in 2026, there are a handful of teams that haven’t scored those national spotlight moments as much as of late. We’re making the petition here and now for that trend to change in 2026.

Here are seven teams we believe will be worthy of prime-time exposure in 2026.

New Orleans Saints

The list begins here, and it’s not just because one of our senior writers, Luke Hubbard, is a diehard Saints fan.

I was tired of hearing about the Saints from Luke last year, but then I watched their games down the stretch. Beyond the 4-3 finish, the team showed many signs of a Detroit Lions-type rise that could carry into 2026.

The Saints were left out of the prime-time slate for the first time in 25 years last year. With Sean Payton and Drew Brees, they were network darlings for years because even in a loss, the game was always entertaining.

You have a team on the rise here, combined with some potentially intriguing matchups at the Ravens, Lions and Giants, and hosting the Steelers, Packers and Vikings.

One of their home matchups – likely the Browns – will turn into the first-ever game in Paris. That’s a national spotlight, but not prime time.

The Saints deserve a chance to turn around their six straight losses in prime time. Hopefully, they get at least two shots at it this year.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have gotten just one game in prime time in each of the past three years. They are 17-26 in night games over the last 15 years, with 74 percent of those games being on the road.

Jonathan Taylor was an MVP candidate at times during the 2025 season. He alone makes a game watchable for the “what will he do next” factor.

This comes down to whether the league and the TV execs believe that head coach Shane Steichen can recapture the vibe the team had before Daniel Jones‘ season-ending injury. They were exciting to watch, and with a healthy Sauce Gardner and Jones and some solid additions that plug defensive holes, they should compete for the AFC South title once again.

Then, we factor in the schedule and the potential matchups, and they’re juicy. Indy hosts the Cowboys, Giants, Bengals, Ravens and Jaguars and travel to the Vikings, Steelers, Eagles and Chiefs.

I can see at least two of those showdowns on Thursday Night Football, one on Sunday Night and one on a holiday showcase.

Chicago Bears

The league is better when the Bears are better. And the consensus among league insiders is that the resurgence is no fluke.

Chicago got three primetime tilts in 2025, but expect that to max out at six games this year as the team’s momentum matches perfectly with some tasty schedule possibilities.

They’re home against the Patriots – that feels tailor-made for Monday Night Football. They also host the Eagles and are at the Bills and at the Seahawks (which should be the season opener).

Throw in divisional tilts against the Lions and Packers and we’re going to see plenty of Da Bears in the spotlight this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The national narrative on the Jaguars is all about failing to live up to expectations. Mediocrity doesn’t inspire ratings.

The Jags got one prime-time tilt on the original schedule and turned it into a shocker of a win over the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. That certainly speaks well to them getting more chances to impress in 2026.

They host the Patriots, Steelers and Eagles and travel to Baltimore, Dallas and Cincinnati.

Selfishly, I want all six of those games if I’m a TV exec. But the reality is the Jags will likely top out at three in 2026, with a likely Thursday and possibly another Monday night in the cards. I don’t think they’re Sunday night material yet. But a Black Friday game? Maybe.

New England Patriots

The narrative around the league is that the Pats are in for a hard reality in 2026, and not just because of the off-the-field drama. The feeling is that the schedule gets harder and the team didn’t do enough to upgrade and solve some obvious holes that can be exposed by tougher teams.

The Patriots started 2025 with three night matchups and that will likely increase in 2026. It could start with the season opener, if you believe Barstool host Kirk Minihane.

Save for the Super Bowl clunker, the Pats are a compelling storyline that will likely garner the maximum six primetime matchups this year. Whether that happens will give us a glimpse into how much the league believes the A.J. Brown deal will happen after June 1. That certainly adds to the sexiness of the Patriots as a TV subject.

An AFC Championship rematch against the Broncos at Gillette feels like the most obvious candidate outside of the Seahawks. The Bills and Steelers are the only other home likelihoods, while road tilts against the Chiefs, Lions and Bears all feel worthy as well.

Washington Commanders

The question here is, do the networks give the Commanders a do-over for 2025? They banked on the star turn of Jayden Daniels to the tune of five scheduled prime-time games, but had to flex out or eat bad ratings once the QB was injured.

I think there’s likely a happy medium here. A Cowboys game, a home game against the Bengals or Rams and an away battle against the 49ers feel mostly. I’m thinking 3 to 4 for DC.

Carolina Panthers

They won the NFC South, because someone had to win. But the team ended the year losing four of five, including their last three – the last two by a total of five points.

The Panthers have played just six primetime games in six years. The reality is the team has no bankable stars, and while their draft won high grades, they didn’t bring in any real flash (unless receiver Chris Brazzell has more of the viral-level catches he had in minicamp.)

This is a team I could see getting flexed into some tilts later in the year, but then again, they have matchups against the Ravens, Bengals, Eagles, Broncos and Seahawks on their schedule. So this is a scenario where they might draft off another team’s popularity to find themselves in multiple primetime matchups to start the year.