Understanding NFL Season: Length, 2026 Dates & More
The NFL season is underway, bringing 32 teams back to the field for a regular season that builds toward the playoffs and, ultimately, the Super Bowl. Unlike baseball's long schedule, NFL teams play just 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks, making each matchup a significant part of the race for a playoff spot.
Whether you're new to football or just want a better understanding of how the NFL season works, here's a complete breakdown of the regular season, playoffs, key dates, and more.
When Does the NFL Season Start and End?
The NFL season begins with preseason games in August before the regular season gets underway in September. The 2026 regular season began on September 9, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the NFL Kickoff game.
The regular season runs through January, followed by the NFL playoffs. The 2026 regular season is scheduled to conclude with Week 18 on January 9-10, 2027. The postseason then begins with Wild Card Weekend.
The season ultimately culminates with Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
How Long Is the NFL Season?
The NFL regular season lasts 18 weeks, but each team plays 17 games. Every team receives one bye week during the regular season, giving players and coaches a week without a scheduled game.
When the playoffs are included, the NFL season can extend from September through February for the teams that advance all the way to the Super Bowl.
How Many Games Are in an NFL Season?
Each NFL team plays 17 regular-season games. Across the league's 32 teams, that creates 272 regular-season games each season.
Teams play eight or nine games at home and the remainder on the road. The schedule is designed around divisional matchups, conference opponents, and rotating games against teams from the other conference.
How Is the NFL Schedule Structured?
The NFL's 32 teams are divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference has 16 teams divided into four divisions:
- AFC East
- AFC North
- AFC South
- AFC West
- NFC East
- NFC North
- NFC South
- NFC West
Each division contains four teams.
Teams play their three divisional opponents twice during the regular season, once at home and once on the road. The remainder of the schedule is determined through the NFL's scheduling formula, which rotates opponents between divisions and conferences while also accounting for the previous season's standings.
What Is a Bye Week?
Every NFL team gets one bye week during the regular season. A bye week is simply a week when a team does not have a game scheduled.
Because the NFL regular season lasts 18 weeks but each team plays 17 games, every team has one week off. Bye weeks are spread throughout the season rather than occurring at the same point for every team.
What Is the NFL Postseason Format?
At the end of the regular season, 14 teams advance to the NFL playoffs - seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC.
In each conference, the four division winners and three Wild Card teams qualify for the postseason. Teams are seeded based on their regular-season records and applicable tiebreakers.
The NFL postseason is structured as follows:
- Wild Card Weekend: The first round of the playoffs, featuring 12 teams.
- Divisional Round: The remaining eight teams compete for a spot in their conference championship game.
- Conference Championships: The AFC and NFC each determine their conference champion.
- Super Bowl: The AFC champion faces the NFC champion for the NFL championship.
Unlike the regular season, NFL playoff games are single-elimination. A team must win each postseason game it plays to continue advancing.
When Are the NFL Playoffs?
The 2026-27 NFL postseason begins with Wild Card Weekend on January 16-18, 2027. The Divisional Playoffs are scheduled for January 23-24, followed by the AFC and NFC Championship Games on January 31.
The two conference champions then meet in Super Bowl LXI.
When Is the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The game will determine the NFL champion for the 2026 season.
SoFi Stadium is home to both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and will host the Super Bowl for the second time.
How Long Is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl typically lasts around 3 1/2 to 4 hours from kickoff to the end of the game. The game itself consists of four 15-minute quarters, or 60 minutes of regulation playing time, but the clock stops frequently throughout the game for incomplete passes, timeouts, penalties, scores, reviews, and other breaks.
The Super Bowl also has a longer halftime than a typical NFL game because of the halftime show, along with additional commercial breaks and other broadcast programming. If you're watching from home, it's a good idea to plan for roughly four hours from kickoff through the final whistle. An overtime game can run longer.
Key 2026-27 Dates to Know During NFL Season
- NFL Kickoff: September 9, 2026
- Regular Season: September 9, 2026 - January 10, 2027
- Week 18: January 9-10, 2027
- Wild Card Weekend: January 16-18, 2027
- Divisional Playoffs: January 23-24, 2027
- AFC & NFC Championship Games: January 31, 2027
- Super Bowl LXI: February 14, 2027
Dates are subject to change according to the NFL's official schedule.
NFL Tickets
The NFL season gives fans opportunities to see their favorite teams throughout the fall and winter, from divisional matchups and rivalry games to the postseason.
Get NFL tickets from Event Tickets Center and find tickets to NFL games throughout the 2026 season. Whether you're looking for a game in your hometown or planning a trip to see your team on the road, check out upcoming NFL games and get your tickets today!
