What days are NFL football on?

Understanding the NFL Schedule

Before we dive into the specific days that the NFL games are played on, it's important to have a basic understanding of the structure and format of the NFL schedule. The NFL regular season typically begins in early September and runs until late December or early January. Each team in the NFL plays 16 games over the course of 17 weeks, with one bye week. The games are primarily played on Sundays, with one game each week on Thursday and Monday nights.

Sunday NFL Games

Sunday is the heart of the NFL schedule. Each week, the majority of games are played on Sunday afternoon, with kickoffs typically at 1:00 PM and 4:05 or 4:25 PM Eastern Time. The late afternoon games are often some of the most competitive and highly anticipated matchups of the week. Following the afternoon games, there is usually a primetime game on Sunday night, which kicks off at 8:20 PM Eastern Time. This game is typically one of the marquee matchups of the week, featuring two of the league's top teams.

Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football is an NFL tradition that dates back to 1970. Each week, one game is played on Monday night, with kickoff at 8:15 PM Eastern Time. Monday Night Football games are typically highly anticipated and feature some of the league's top teams. The atmosphere for Monday Night Football games is often electric, as the game is the only NFL action on television that night.

Thursday Night Football

Thursday Night Football is a relatively new addition to the NFL schedule. It started in 2006, and since then, it has become a staple of the NFL week. Like Monday Night Football, there is only one game played on Thursday night each week, with kickoff at 8:20 PM Eastern Time. These games are often intense and competitive, as teams have a short week to prepare.

Saturday NFL Games

While Saturday is traditionally the day for college football, the NFL does occasionally schedule games on this day. This typically only happens late in the season, after the college football regular season has concluded. These games usually have a lot at stake, as they often impact playoff positioning.

International Series Games

As part of its efforts to grow the game globally, the NFL has been scheduling games outside of the United States. These games, known as the International Series, are usually played on Sundays, but because of the time difference, they often kick off in the morning Eastern Time. These games add an extra layer of intrigue to the NFL schedule.

NFL Playoff Games

The NFL playoffs are a different beast entirely. The playoffs typically begin in early January, and games can be played on either Saturday or Sunday. The schedule for playoff games is determined by the NFL after the regular season concludes, and it is based on a variety of factors, including team records and television ratings.

The Super Bowl

And then, of course, there is the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL, and it is played on the first Sunday in February. The Super Bowl is not just a game, it's a cultural event, with millions of people tuning in not just for the game, but for the halftime show and the commercials as well.