Following A Record-Breaking Season, ‘NFL ON CBS’ Returns with Showstopping 2026 Schedule

Following A Record-Breaking Season, 'NFL ON CBS' Returns with Showstopping 2026 Schedule

After a historic 2025 season that shattered viewership records across the board, the NFL ON CBS is back, and the 2026 schedule is built to be just as action-packed with more than 100 regular-season games, a loaded national game schedule, and some of the biggest matchups in football. With the AFC's most dominant teams and television's most-watched program, CBS Sports continues to demonstrate the unmatched power and reach of its multiplatform approach across broadcast television and streaming on Paramount+.

A Record-Breaking Foundation

Last year, the NFL ON CBS delivered its best regular season ever. It was the NFL's top overall package, drawing 21.252 million average viewers, and the national game at 4:25 p.m. ET remained the most-watched program in all of television with 25.827 million viewers. The Thanksgiving Day game - Chiefs vs. Cowboys - pulled in 57.231 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season game in NFL history.

TV's Most-Watched Window

CBS Sports' 4:25 p.m. ET national game window has been the most-watched slot in all of television for each of the last three years. This season, the NFL ON CBS will air 10 Sunday national doubleheader windows, with a lineup that includes four appearances by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys twice.

The 4:25 p.m. ET national game window kicks off in Week 1 with Packers-Vikings and includes blockbuster games later in the season, including an international game between the Ravens and Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro (Week 3), Chiefs-Broncos (Week 8), Steelers-Eagles (Week 11), Bills-Patriots (Week 13), Cowboys-Rams (Week 15), and 49ers-Chiefs (Week 16).

Two National Games. One Weekend.

As the push for the playoffs intensifies, the Week 15 lineup for the NFL ON CBS is appointment television, including two national games.

On Saturday, December 19 at 8:20 p.m. ET, CBS Sports will air an exclusive national primetime game with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Chicago Bears. The following day brings another must-watch game with the Cowboys visiting the Rams in a high-stakes NFC showdown at 4:25 p.m. ET. Anchoring Sunday's coverage is a classic AFC North rivalry game with the Steelers hosting the Ravens at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Lions vs. Bears on Thanksgiving

In a matchup announced on CBS Mornings, Detroit will host Chicago in a Thanksgiving Day rivalry game that's been years in the making. The Lions and Bears have combined to win the NFC North in each of the last three seasons - Chicago took the division last year, Detroit the two years before that. A late-November showdown between two of the NFC's best makes for classic Thanksgiving football.

The 2026 NFL ON CBS schedule is a testament to the enduring power of live sports and CBS Sports' unmatched position at the center of football. For the complete 2026 NFL ON CBS schedule, click here. All games are broadcast on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live in local markets on Paramount+.