Which NFL games can be flexed in 2026?

Under the NFL's published rules, only Sunday afternoon games, or games listed as TBD, can move into a night window: Sunday night in Weeks 5 to 17 (up to twice in Weeks 5 to 10), Monday night in Weeks 12 to 17 and Thursday night in Weeks 13 to 17 (up to twice). The night game it replaces moves to Sunday afternoon. Right now 143 games can still move.

When does the NFL announce a flex?

No later than 21 days before the game for Thursday night in Weeks 13 to 17; 12 days before for Sunday night in Weeks 5 to 13 and Monday night in Weeks 12 to 17; and 6 days before for Sunday night in Weeks 14 to 17. The Week 18 schedule is set after Week 17.

Can CBS or Fox stop a game from being flexed?

CBS and Fox can each protect one game a week. The NFL does not publish their choices. Reports also say the NFL usually keeps one of the two games between division rivals on Sunday afternoon, and that no team plays more than 8 primetime games. The league does not publish either rule.

Can This NFL Game Be Flexed?

143 of the 223 remaining NFL games in 2026 can still move under the league's published rules. The next latest decision date is Oct. 6, for the Week 6 Sunday night window. 24 games have no date yet, in Weeks 16, 17 and 18. 11 of the 143 are likely blocked by a reported league practice.

Open means the published rules allow a move. CBS and Fox can each protect one game a week. The NFL does not publish their choices.

Search 2026 NFL Games: Flex Status by Team or Matchup

Team or matchup

NFL Week 6 Flex Board: 14 Games and Their Windows

Week 6 (Oct. 15 to 19) has one open window. Latest decision date: Sunday night, Oct. 6 (4 days). 11 of its 14 remaining games can still move. A Sunday afternoon game can move into an open window, and the night game already there would move to Sunday afternoon.

Gamekickoff Eastern	Answerunder NFL rules	Sunday nightlatest decision date	Monday nightlatest decision date	Thursday nightlatest decision date
Seahawks at BroncosThu, Oct. 15, 8:15 PM ET	Can't move	—	—	Not in window
Texans at JaguarsSun, Oct. 18, 9:30 AM ET	Can't move	Not in window	Not in window	Not in window
Ravens at BrownsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Panthers at EaglesSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Bears at FalconsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Saints at GiantsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Jets at PatriotsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Steelers at BuccaneersSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Titans at ColtsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Cardinals at RamsSun, Oct. 18, 4:05 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Bills at RaidersSun, Oct. 18, 4:25 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Chargers at ChiefsSun, Oct. 18, 4:25 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Cowboys at PackersSun, Oct. 18, 8:20 PM ET	Can still move	Could move to Sunday afternoonOct. 6 · 4 days	—	—
Commanders at 49ersMon, Oct. 19, 8:15 PM ET	Can't move	—	Not in window	—

Week 6 flex options →

NFL Flex Schedule 2026 for All 32 Teams

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

NFL Flex Options by Week: Weeks 5 to 18, 2026

NFL Flex Rules 2026: Published Rules and Reported Limits

Published by the league, and the only rules that decide an answer or a window:

NFL, "2026 Flexible Scheduling Procedures and Scheduling for Week 18".
NFL.com, 2026 Week 16 schedule: the four Week 16 games set after Week 14.
NFL.com, 2026 Week 17 schedule: the four Week 17 games set after Week 15.
NFL.com, 2026 Week 18 schedule: all Week 18 games, set after Week 17.

Reported, not published. These only add a “Likely blocked” warning to a game that can still move, and are skipped in Week 18:

Primetime limit per team (reported, not published). No team plays more than 8 primetime games: 7 scheduled and one flexed in. Source: Pro Football Talk (Mike Florio), "Rams could potentially end up with nine prime-time games", May 15, 2026, citing the NFL.
Division rivals (reported, not published). The NFL usually keeps one of the two games between division rivals on Sunday afternoon. Sources: NBC Sports (Michael David Smith), Dec 1, 2025; MorganWick.com, NFL Flexible Scheduling Primer.
International games (reported, not published). A game played outside the United States is marked likely blocked. No published source: the NFL's procedures page does not mention games played abroad.

NFL Flex Scheduling 2026: 3 Questions

Which NFL games can be flexed in 2026?: Under the NFL's published rules, only Sunday afternoon games, or games listed as TBD, can move into a night window: Sunday night in Weeks 5 to 17 (up to twice in Weeks 5 to 10), Monday night in Weeks 12 to 17 and Thursday night in Weeks 13 to 17 (up to twice). The night game it replaces moves to Sunday afternoon. Right now 143 games can still move.
When does the NFL announce a flex?: No later than 21 days before the game for Thursday night in Weeks 13 to 17; 12 days before for Sunday night in Weeks 5 to 13 and Monday night in Weeks 12 to 17; and 6 days before for Sunday night in Weeks 14 to 17. The Week 18 schedule is set after Week 17.
Can CBS or Fox stop a game from being flexed?: CBS and Fox can each protect one game a week. The NFL does not publish their choices. Reports also say the NFL usually keeps one of the two games between division rivals on Sunday afternoon, and that no team plays more than 8 primetime games. The league does not publish either rule.

Updated: October 1, 2026