A deeper analysis of my projected NFL national games

[Brees#1]

So I gave a full list of my predictions. Now I have to perhaps consider Thanksgiving Eve and another Black Friday game.

But before I do, I'm going to break down 2025.

The Eagles were the defending champs so I assumed after several years of KC getting top treatment they got it.

They first considers division winners/top seeded teams unless one went to the SB.

For the Eagles, there were the Chiefs, Lions, and Bills in the first tier.
For the Chiefs, it was the Eagles, Bills, Lions, and Ravens
For the Bills, it was the Chiefs, Eagles, and Ravens. The other team outside of this tier was the Bengals.
For the Lions, it was the Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens.
For Fox purposes, the Cowboys get involved here despite missing the playoffs. Their opponents were the Chiefs and Lions.

Now let's get to work. Fox was going to get a game, NBC was going to get a game from that top 3 of the Eagles. Fox got Eagles/Chiefs. NBC got Lions/Eagles. The other Eagles NBC game was clearly going to division rival Cowboys. Since ABC probably was not going to get this game, that left Fox to get the Bills as well.

For the Chiefs, CBS was going to get the Bills. There was a more appealing NBC matchup, the rematch with Detroit from 2023. ABC was also not getting Ravens/Chiefs.

Throwing in the Bills here. They needed a big SNF. The Eagles and Chiefs were on CBS. That left the Ravens. This, the Ravens don't go to both Buffalo and KC on SNF. So Baltimore at KC goes to CBS. CBS probably would have let this game go if Cincinnati was on KC's schedule.

As for the other game of the Bills, this is where they decided to put the Bengals on Fox. They probably did not want both the Ravens and Bengals on SNF, there was already Ravens/Chiefs and Chiefs/Bills on CBS. This didn't even materialize so I wonder if they will pull another stunt like this.

Then the Lions had their two SNFs set up for them. The Ravens were left. ABC was allowed this one because it didn't completely feel like a CBS or Fox game of the week for widespread televised purposes.

As for the next tier, the Eagles had the Rams, Packers, Commanders(a division rival but not the Cowboys), and Bucs. The Eagles already had three Fox games and only the Cowboys get more if any. They were looking for a MNF or other special game. It's not often the Giants and Cowboys play week 18 but this was a year where there was no national televised hindrance. The Commanders and Eagles had one game to really schedule. I think they saw this around Christmas, but decided Commanders and Cowboys would be that game. Because that would mean the Cowboys play Thursday three times following an NFL week, the Lions had to as well and they put the Lions against the Vikings. So the Eagles and the Commanders get the special Saturday slot. Out of the other three, the Packers were the biggest standout and ABC got that one.

The next tier for the Chiefs were the Texans, Cowboys(top two tier by default), and Commanders. Commanders stood out most, and here's another(that I actually predicted) that went to ABC because ABC did not get Chiefs exposure in 2024. The Texans then get slapped on as another SNF. Then there's the Cowboys, clearly a CBS game and CBS got to have it on Thanksgiving. Here they were looking for Detroit's Thanksgiving game, and probably looked in the division first. It was the Bears again, Packers, or Steelers. Packers got it. And it was easy to see Dallas and Detroit would play on Thursday Night after Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving games were likely talked about before this point.

After this point they start working on each networks games likely CBS or Fox, the other, NBC, ABC, ESPN, Prime, in that order. I may go back to this.

Now that you see this you're going to see how I am breaking down 2026.

 

[Brees#1]

So 2026 brings about a massive complexity. Number one, the Chiefs, Bills, Lions, Ravens, Eagles, Cowboys or Bengals were not among the top teams.

I thought Patriots would be at the top of the list and with what's gone down this off-season, that likely stands. But the Bills, Eagles(only because of winning division at 11+ wins), and Chiefs are still in the top tier.

Patriots top opponents in tier one are the Broncos, Seahawks, Bears, Bills, and Chiefs.

Broncos top opponents are the Patriots, Seahawks, Rams, Chiefs, and Bills.

Seahawks' top opponents are the Patriots, Broncos, Bears, Chiefs, Rams, and Eagles.

Bears' top opponents are Seahawks, Eagles, Patriots, and Bills.

Rams' top opponents are Seahawks, Broncos, Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs

Those are the top five there.

The Bills have the Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Bears, and Rams.

The Chiefs have the Bills, Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks, and Rams.

The Eagles have the Seahawks, Bears, Rams, and nobody from the AFC in tier one.

Talk about a mess.

For the Patriots, CBS gets Broncos. The Patriots would be playing week 1 against the Seahawks if on NBC so that means Patriots will have to have another matchup. That leaves the Chiefs. The Bills I can see being week 18 giving one game for a big slot. Usually division games are more primetime. That game is ripe for an SNF rematch. I had to think for a moment if it will be the Bills opener in their new stadium. I don't see it. I think NE gets the home SNF. ABC could take Patriots/Seahawks here. But CBS doesn't get to have Bills or Chiefs, so Seahawks are needed there. Then there's the Bears, which goes to Fox who I think will want this over the Packers.

The Broncos I had set to play the Bills on SNF, but the Bills need a home game. The SNF options are between the Seahawks and Rams among top choices. With losing the Bills, the Rams and Broncos become SNF. ABC gets the Bills/Broncos, a MNF rematch from 2023. The Seahawks go to Fox, which is likely in that doubleheader slot. It's been week 15 lately but that could change.

The Seahawks have a number of teams but the higher options are Patriots, Broncos, and Bears as Rams are a division rival. The Bears fit the best bill of the opener here, giving Seattle a CBS, Fox, and NBC game. The Rams should be the other SNF. I had the game in Seattle but with LA going to Denver in theirs, I think this will be in LA. Then that leaves the Chiefs and Eagles. CBS will probably not get to have both Patriots and Chiefs against them and the Chiefs have a higher priority matchup. ABC could get this game. But this is where the Thanksgiving Eve or Christmas possibilities come into play. The Chiefs played on Thanksgiving the previous year and the Seahawks already play on a Wednesday. The cold weather/December appeal knowing they'll want this with Mahomes playing does lead me to believe this is a Christmas game but not a Netflix one. Then the Eagles get slotted onto a Fox gotw.

The Bears have Seahawks on NBC and Patriots on Fox. But Pats are not Fox's top choice for the Bears, that's the Eagles. The Bills go to CBS to give them Bears exposure. This stands out as the doubleheader game.

The Rams have Seahawks and Broncos set, and both on NBC. Fox likely has less interest in the Rams. I think they will bypass Chiefs/Rams for 49ers/Chiefs. ABC gets Chiefs for their limited MNF slate as a result. The Bills are a late afternoon game on a Sunday and it looks like a game thought to be on CBS will be replaced. This is one, but I'm not sure CBS wants this alone. I'm not sure why, but it just seems like Eagles will be 1 pm again. There's bigger matchups for the late afternoon.

The Bills have the Chiefs left unscheduled. CBS has had this as a game of the week the last four years. The Bills SNF home opener should be against the Chiefs, Ravens, or Lions. The Chiefs will not be week 2. Perhaps, there is a Ravens SNF rematch. With it now out the Ravens/Cowboys will be a CBS gotw, it makes sense the Ravens are the team they play. But I do believe ABC/NBC will get the other of the Ravens and Lions' games. And once again, CBS gets their cash cow.

Those are all the top tier matches. I'm not going any further for the next tier because it was a rather larger tier here.

I will revising my network picks I made.

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

Mercy post.

 

[packerzrule]

So 2026 brings about a massive complexity. Number one, the Chiefs, Bills, Lions, Ravens, Eagles, Cowboys or Bengals were not among the top teams.

I thought Patriots would be at the top of the list and with what's gone down this off-season, that likely stands. But the Bills, Eagles(only because of winning division at 11+ wins), and Chiefs are still in the top tier.

Patriots top opponents in tier one are the Broncos, Seahawks, Bears, Bills, and Chiefs.

Broncos top opponents are the Patriots, Seahawks, Rams, Chiefs, and Bills.

Seahawks' top opponents are the Patriots, Broncos, Bears, Chiefs, Rams, and Eagles.

Bears' top opponents are Seahawks, Eagles, Patriots, and Bills.

Rams' top opponents are Seahawks, Broncos, Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs

Those are the top five there.

The Bills have the Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Bears, and Rams.

The Chiefs have the Bills, Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks, and Rams.

The Eagles have the Seahawks, Bears, Rams, and nobody from the AFC in tier one.

Talk about a mess.

For the Patriots, CBS gets Broncos. The Patriots would be playing week 1 against the Seahawks if on NBC so that means Patriots will have to have another matchup. That leaves the Chiefs. The Bills I can see being week 18 giving one game for a big slot. Usually division games are more primetime. That game is ripe for an SNF rematch. I had to think for a moment if it will be the Bills opener in their new stadium. I don't see it. I think NE gets the home SNF. ABC could take Patriots/Seahawks here. But CBS doesn't get to have Bills or Chiefs, so Seahawks are needed there. Then there's the Bears, which goes to Fox who I think will want this over the Packers.

The Broncos I had set to play the Bills on SNF, but the Bills need a home game. The SNF options are between the Seahawks and Rams among top choices. With losing the Bills, the Rams and Broncos become SNF. ABC gets the Bills/Broncos, a MNF rematch from 2023. The Seahawks go to Fox, which is likely in that doubleheader slot. It's been week 15 lately but that could change.

The Seahawks have a number of teams but the higher options are Patriots, Broncos, and Bears as Rams are a division rival. The Bears fit the best bill of the opener here, giving Seattle a CBS, Fox, and NBC game. The Rams should be the other SNF. I had the game in Seattle but with LA going to Denver in theirs, I think this will be in LA. Then that leaves the Chiefs and Eagles. CBS will probably not get to have both Patriots and Chiefs against them and the Chiefs have a higher priority matchup. ABC could get this game. But this is where the Thanksgiving Eve or Christmas possibilities come into play. The Chiefs played on Thanksgiving the previous year and the Seahawks already play on a Wednesday. The cold weather/December appeal knowing they'll want this with Mahomes playing does lead me to believe this is a Christmas game but not a Netflix one. Then the Eagles get slotted onto a Fox gotw.

The Bears have Seahawks on NBC and Patriots on Fox. But Pats are not Fox's top choice for the Bears, that's the Eagles. The Bills go to CBS to give them Bears exposure. This stands out as the doubleheader game.

The Rams have Seahawks and Broncos set, and both on NBC. Fox likely has less interest in the Rams. I think they will bypass Chiefs/Rams for 49ers/Chiefs. ABC gets Chiefs for their limited MNF slate as a result. The Bills are a late afternoon game on a Sunday and it looks like a game thought to be on CBS will be replaced. This is one, but I'm not sure CBS wants this alone. I'm not sure why, but it just seems like Eagles will be 1 pm again. There's bigger matchups for the late afternoon.

The Bills have the Chiefs left unscheduled. CBS has had this as a game of the week the last four years. The Bills SNF home opener should be against the Chiefs, Ravens, or Lions. The Chiefs will not be week 2. Perhaps, there is a Ravens SNF rematch. With it now out the Ravens/Cowboys will be a CBS gotw, it makes sense the Ravens are the team they play. But I do believe ABC/NBC will get the other of the Ravens and Lions' games. And once again, CBS gets their cash cow.

Those are all the top tier matches. I'm not going any further for the next tier because it was a rather larger tier here.

I will revising my network picks I made.

Go outside and get some air.

 

[Battlelyon]

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[MileHigh64]

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[Hotel Security]

Meanwhile, none of these predictions will be worth a damn after Week 2 or 3 when half the good teams are bad and vice-versa. If you're not betting them, what's the point?

 

[Moab]

Maybe he spelled anal cyst wrong?

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

Go outside and get some air.

LOL.

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

Maybe he spelled anal cyst wrong?

Colonscopy can help detect that.

 

[Moab]

Colonscopy can help detect that.

Snapping of rubber glove causes instant pucker...