That day is finally upon us! That magical day. That glorious day. That day when the entire world stops spinning on its axis. The day when the NFL schedule is released… and fans finally get to find out the order in which games are played that they already knew were happening!
It is amazing that the NFL has turned their schedule release into a thing when all we’re talking about are dates and times for games that have already been assigned, but such is the 24/7/365 world in which we live in. The NFL may see ratings declining, but they still can brag about the fact that nobody creates news and interest quite the way the shield does.
And when it comes to the schedule release, there is at least one element worth paying close attention to – the primetime schedules. Which networks will see their millions and millions of dollars put to better use? Which games look like the marquee contests? Which games look like duds that the entire nation will get to suffer through together? Will the Browns actually get a game in primetime? (Answer: Yes! Against the Jets! Good luck, America.) Which network will get bragging rights for the best primetime schedule?
Without further adieu, here is your complete primetime schedule for Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football in 2018. Note the time of broadcast for each primetime window has been moved up slightly and the network assignments for Thursday Night Football are noted in parentheses. Beginning in Week 5, the NFL can choose to flex a different game into Sunday Night Football with various restrictions.
Week 1
Thursday – Falcons at Eagles, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Sunday – Bears at Packers, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Jets at Lions, 7:10 PM ET (ESPN)
Monday – Rams at Raiders, 10:20 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 2
Thursday – Ravens at Bengals, 8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
Sunday – Giants at Cowboys, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Seahawks at Bears, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 3
Thursday – Jets at Browns, 8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
Sunday – Patriots at Lions, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Steelers at Buccaneers, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 4
Thursday – Vikings at Rams, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
Sunday – Ravens at Steelers, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Chiefs at Broncos, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 5
Thursday – Colts at Patriots, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Cowboys at Texans, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Redskins at Saints, 8:15 pM ET (ESPN)
Week 6
Thursday – Eagles at Giants, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Chiefs at Patriots, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – 49ers at Packers, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 7
Thursday – Broncos at Cardinals, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Rams at 49ers, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Giants at Falcons, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 8
Thursday – Dolphins at Texans, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Saints at Vikings, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Patriots at Bills, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 9
Thursday – Raiders at 49ers, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Packers at Patriots, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Titans at Cowboys, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 10
Thursday – Panthers at Steelers, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Cowboys at Eagles, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Giants at 49ers, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 11
Thursday – Packers at Seahawks, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – Steelers at Jaguars, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Chiefs at Rams, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 12
Thursday – Bears at Lions, 12:30 PM ET (CBS)
Thursday – Redskins at Cowboys, 4:30 PM ET (Fox)
Thursday – Falcons at Saints, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
* Sunday – Packers at Vikings, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Titans at Texans, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 13
Thursday – Saints at Cowboys, 8:20 PM ET (Fox/NFLN)
* Sunday – 49ers at Seahawks, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Redskins at Eagles, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 14
Thursday – Jaguars at Titans, 8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
* Sunday – Steelers at Raiders, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Vikings at Seahawks, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 15
Thursday – Chargers at Chiefs, 8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
Saturday – Browns at Broncos, 4:30 PM ET/8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
Saturday – Texans at Jets, 4:30 PM ET/8:20 PM ET (NFLN)
* Sunday – Eagles at Rams, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Saints at Panthers, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 16
* Sunday – Chiefs at Seahawks, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
Monday – Broncos at Raiders, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
Week 17
Sunday – TBD, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
* denotes flex game
