This year, the NFL is back with a bigger schedule than ever, with the league expanding the regular-season schedule to 17 games, pushing back the Super Bowl to the second week in February.
The schedule change, which was unilaterally imposed by the league’s owners, is the first time the regular-season schedule has been expanded since 1978. The league is keeping with its traditional 12-team playoff format, though, a year after expanding the playoffs to 14, letting two more teams in in an effort to recoup some losses from the
Gridiron fans looking to the next big event after the 2021 NFL Draft can look no further than the league’s schedule release.
Here’s what we know:
MORE: What NFL’s 17-game schedule means for regular season, playoffs, Super Bowl
NFL schedule release date 2021
The league is set to announce the 2021 slate of games for every NFL team on Wednesday, May 12.
The new-look schedule is going have 17 games on the docket, with an extra game added to the schedule in accordance with the 2020 CBA. It’s the first expansion of the NFL’s regular-season schedule since 1978.
NFL schedule release:
Date: May 12 Time: 8 p. m. ET TV: ESPN2 / FS1 / NFL Network
Several networks will broadcast the schedule release, including ESPN2, FS1 and NFL Network. Each of those networks can also be streamed on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
Who has the toughest NFL schedule in 2021?
The Pittsburgh Steelers, coming off a 12-4 season, have the most difficult schedule to navigate in 2021.
In addition to playing a difficult AFC North, the Steelers have to tango with the Seahawks, Packers and Chiefs this year. The Seahawks were the 17th opponent added for the league’s expanded schedule.
Who has the easiest NFL schedule in 2021?
Fly, Eagles, fly: Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles have the easiest schedule for 2021.
Playing against a weak — but improving — NFC East, the Eagles also draw the Lions, Broncos and Jets. They do have some difficult home games, with the 49ers and defending champion Bucs entering the building.
2021 NFL strength of schedule rankings
The defending Super Bowl champs Buccaneers once again have a slightly easier path to walk heading into the 2021 NFL season: With the fourth easiest schedule in the league, Tom Brady and the Bucs could be angling for another Lombardi Trophy.
2021 NFL schedule for all 32 teams
While dates have yet to be set for each of the 32 teams’ matchups, fans have a decent idea as to who is playing who come the 2021 season. The formula the NFL uses is as follows:
Home and away against its three division opponents (Six games) The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (Four games) The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (Four games) Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (these games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season) (Two games) One interconference game based on the prior year’s standings on a rotating four-year cycle. These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired. The home conference for this game will rotate each season.
While the dates and times of these games are scheduled to be released on May 12, we already know the opponents for all 32 squads. Here’s what we know:
AFC East
New England Patriots
Home: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans Away: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
Buffalo Bills
Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team Away: Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans
New York Jets
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles Away: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins
Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants Away: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams Away: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks Away: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings
Cleveland Browns
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers Away: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
Houston Texans
Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers Away: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts
Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Away: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs
Home: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team
Denver Broncos
Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions Away: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers
Las Vegas Raiders
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears Away: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Football Team Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Football Team, New York Jets
Dallas Cowboys
Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Football Team Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, New England Patriots
New York Giants
Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Football Team Away: Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, Miami Dolphins
Washington Football Team
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills
NFC North
Green Bay Packers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills Away: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys Away: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers
Chicago Bears
Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Away: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders
Detroit Lions
Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles Away: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos
NFC South
New Orleans Saints
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, Tennessee Titans
Atlanta Falcons
Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Washington Football Team Away: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Indianapolis Colts
Carolina Panthers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Football Team Away: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers
Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons Away: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals
Seattle Seahawks
Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints Away: Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Football Team, Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Rams
Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Away: Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens
Arizona Cardinals
Home: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers Away: Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns
