NFL schedule 2026 winners and losers: Texans set up nicely, 49ers’ tough travel

Key Points:

• The NFL Week 1 primetime schedule features high-profile matchups including the Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday, Rams vs. 49ers in Australia on Thursday, Cowboys vs. Giants Sunday night, and Chiefs vs. Broncos on Monday Night Football.
• The Rams lead the league with seven primetime games, followed by the Seahawks, Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Packers with six each, while the Jets, Dolphins, Titans, Raiders, and Cardinals have no primetime games scheduled.
• Teams with easier schedules, based on opponents' 2025 winning percentages, include several playoff misses like the Browns, Saints, Bengals, Falcons, Colts, Lions, Titans, and Ravens, offering them a better chance to rebound; the Texans also benefit with the seventh-easiest schedule.
• The 49ers face the most travel miles this season at 38,105, significantly more than any other team, due largely to international games in Melbourne and Mexico City, posing a logistical challenge.
• The Patriots, Chargers, and Dolphins contend with both tough schedules and extensive travel, while the Chiefs, Jaguars, and Browns endure taxing three-game road trips, contributing to challenging seasons ahead.