What Teams Play Sunday Football? NFL Schedule Explained

By Sarah Miller · August 3, 2047

Sunday football features NFL teams playing in weekly matchups during the regular season, primarily on Sundays at 1:00 PM and 4:25 PM ET, with some games scheduled for Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET. The specific teams vary each week based on the official NFL schedule.

Understanding Sunday Football in the NFL

Sunday football refers to the slate of National Football League (NFL) games traditionally played on Sundays during the regular season, which runs from September to January. These games are central to American sports culture and attract millions of viewers weekly. The NFL schedules most of its games on Sundays, divided into early and late afternoon time slots, followed by a primetime matchup on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Why Are NFL Games Played on Sundays?

The tradition dates back to the 1930s when professional football sought to avoid competition with college games played on Saturdays.
Federal law (the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961) allows leagues to coordinate broadcast schedules, reinforcing Sunday as the primary day for pro football.
Sunday games maximize viewership due to higher audience availability.
The NFL avoids direct scheduling conflicts with major religious observances and workdays.

Typical Sunday NFL Game Schedule

Each Sunday during the NFL season, there are generally 13–16 games played across three time windows:

Early Afternoon: 1:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
Late Afternoon: 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET
National Broadcast: Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock

How Teams Are Selected for Sunday Games

The NFL uses a combination of competitive balance, television ratings potential, and geographic distribution to determine which teams play on Sundays. Matchups involving popular teams like the Dallas Cowboys or high-performing squads are often featured in national broadcasts.

Date	Game	Time (ET)	Network	Venue
October 5, 2025	Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills	4:25 PM	CBS	Arrowhead Stadium
October 5, 2025	Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants	1:00 PM	FOX	MetLife Stadium
October 5, 2025	Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks	4:05 PM	CBS	Lumen Field
October 5, 2025	Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons	1:00 PM	FOX	Mercedes-Benz Stadium
October 5, 2025	Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	8:20 PM	NBC	Acrisure Stadium

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows how marquee matchups like Chiefs-Bills and Ravens-Steelers are scheduled in later time slots or under primetime to maximize national viewership. Regional games dominate the early afternoon window, while interconference and rivalry games are prioritized for broader exposure.

Factors Influencing Sunday Matchups

Television Broadcast Agreements

The NFL has long-term contracts with major networks—CBS and FOX handle most Sunday afternoon games, while NBC airs Sunday Night Football. Flex scheduling allows NBC to swap in more competitive games later in the season.

Flexible Scheduling (Flex SZN)

Introduced in 2006, flex scheduling ensures compelling matchups are showcased in prime time.
From Week 5 onward, the NFL can reschedule games up to 12 days in advance for better ratings.
This benefits fans by featuring playoff-relevant teams during peak viewing hours.

Team Popularity and Market Size

Teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers frequently appear on Sunday broadcasts due to their large fan bases and historical success.

Common Questions About Sunday Football

What teams are playing Sunday football this week?

The teams playing Sunday football change weekly. For the current week’s matchups, check the official NFL schedule on NFL.com or ESPN.com. Games typically include a mix of AFC and NFC teams across early, late, and primetime slots.

Are all NFL teams guaranteed to play on Sunday?

Yes, every NFL team plays most of their games on Sundays during the regular season. Each team has one designated “bye week” where they do not play, but otherwise, all games fall on Sundays unless moved for special events or international games.

Can Sunday games be moved to Monday or Thursday?

Yes. The NFL may move select Sunday games to Thursday or Monday nights for broadcast purposes using flexible scheduling rules. High-interest matchups can be shifted to maximize viewership, especially in the second half of the season.

Do international games affect Sunday football schedules?

Yes. When the NFL hosts games in London or Germany, those are typically played in the morning U.S. time and count toward a team’s regular-season Sunday game total. These games are broadcast live during Sunday morning programming blocks.

How many Sunday football games are there per week?

There are usually 13 to 16 NFL games played on Sundays each week during the regular season. This includes early, late, and primetime matchups. The exact number varies slightly depending on bye weeks and international games.