The question, “How many games are in an NFL season?” is a common one for both seasoned fans and newcomers to American football. The answer involves understanding the structure of the National Football League’s (NFL) schedule, which is meticulously planned to maximize excitement and viewership throughout the season.
In a standard NFL season, each of the 32 teams plays a total of 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks. This structure has been in place since the 2021 season, when the league expanded from a 16-game schedule. Prior to that, the NFL season consisted of 16 games for many years. This change added an extra week of exciting football for fans to enjoy.
These 17 games are strategically scheduled throughout the week and across various broadcast networks. While most games are played on Sundays, the NFL schedule also features prominent primetime matchups. These include Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football, ensuring that the most anticipated games are showcased when the largest audiences are available.
Historically, the NFL season kicks off with the Super Bowl champion hosting a game on Thursday night. This marquee matchup sets the stage for the entire season. Beyond the regular primetime slots, the NFL has also expanded its game days to include Saturdays, particularly later in the season. For example, Week 16 often features Saturday games, and the league has even scheduled games on Christmas Day, demonstrating the growing popularity and demand for NFL action. These special occasion games are broadcast across a variety of platforms, including traditional networks and streaming services like Netflix, which recently debuted as a live game partner.
The majority of Sunday games are broadcast on CBS and FOX. Interestingly, the NFL now allows for more flexibility in network assignments, moving away from predetermined conference affiliations. This allows the league to schedule the most compelling matchups in the coveted Sunday afternoon slots, ensuring broad appeal across both networks. Both CBS and FOX feature doubleheader Sundays throughout the season, further increasing the number of NFL games available each week. In fact, during Weeks 15 and 18, every market will broadcast four Sunday afternoon games.
In summary, while each team plays 17 regular season games, the NFL season is packed with action spread across Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, broadcast by a wide range of partners including CBS, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, ESPN, and Prime Video. This carefully planned schedule ensures that there are numerous opportunities to watch NFL games throughout the season, satisfying the appetite of football fans everywhere.
