2026 NFL schedule release: How do travel, rest, prime time and outdoor games impact teams?

Key Points:

• Five NFL teams play all home games in the Pacific time zone, with Seahawks and 49ers going undefeated in early Eastern time zone games in 2025, defying the notion that early East Coast games are especially challenging for West Coast teams.
• In 2026, the Seahawks and 49ers each have two early Eastern time zone road games, while the Chargers and Raiders have three, with the Rams potentially having three depending on Week 17 scheduling; the 49ers or Rams are expected to travel the most miles due to their Week 1 game in Melbourne, Australia.
• Teams with the most miles traveled over the past decade often still achieve winning records and playoff appearances, notably from the AFC West and NFC West, with the Chargers having led in travel miles in 2024 and 2025 but falling in the Wild Card round both years.
• Short weeks (less than six days between games) pose challenges, with the Bears and Bills facing six in 2026; however, some teams like the Seahawks, Broncos, and Cowboys performed well on short weeks in 2025, and historically, teams like the Ravens have excelled under such conditions.
• The 2026 NFL season will feature a record nine international games across seven countries, including the Jaguars playing back-to-back games in London, and notable travel milestones like the Rams' historic 7,937-mile trip to Australia for a Week 1 game against the 49ers.