Why Didn't the Raiders Get Any Prime-Time Games in 2026? NFL Exec Explains
The NFL turned its schedule release into a spectacle this year, dropping blockbuster matchups, international showcases, holiday expansions, and streaming-exclusive games throughout the week leading up to Thursday night's full reveal.
But buried beneath it all was one decision that instantly triggered debate across the league. The Las Vegas Raiders were completely shut out of prime-time television.
They weren’t alone. The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans also received zero prime-time games, but the Raiders stood out as the biggest surprise considering the star power now surrounding the franchise.
On Friday, NFL Vice President of Broadcasting and Scheduling Mike North appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” and explained the league's thinking.
“There’s still 30 million people watching NFL football at 1:00 Eastern on a Sunday, and hopefully 35 or 40 million people watching at 4:00 on a Sunday. These teams have every opportunity to play themselves way into bigger windows,” North said.
“We always say you play your way into prime-time … If the Raiders have a better than we thought, unexpected season, that’s what flexible scheduling is for down the stretch … If they’re relevant, we’ll find a way to get their games on national television.”
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The Raiders spent the offseason rebuilding nearly every layer of the organization.
They drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, paired him with last year’s Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, brought in offensive architect Klint Kubiak as head coach, and continued reshaping the franchise under the influence of minority owner Tom Brady.
The franchise also remains one of the NFL's most globally recognizable brands, fueled by decades of cultural crossover appeal, celebrity fandom, and the visual magnetism of Allegiant Stadium.
Since opening in 2020, Allegiant Stadium has become one of the NFL's crown-jewel venues, a $1.9 billion futuristic black-glass fortress sitting just off the Las Vegas Strip.
The building routinely hosts massive entertainment events beyond football, including concerts, UFC cards, and major international sporting events.
In November 2025, Forbes valued the Raiders among the NFL's most valuable franchises (No. 9 overall) under longtime owner Mark Davis, son of NFL legend Al Davis, thanks largely to the Las Vegas move, stadium revenues, and global branding power.
All of this is why the scheduling decision felt so surprising.
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Mendoza. Jeanty. Kubiak. Brady. Davis.
That would be enough for at least one prime-time game, right?
Apparently not.
The NFL instead leaned into more established contenders and proven television draws during this year's release.
The league loaded the calendar with a record nine international games, the first-ever regular-season matchup in Australia, a new Thanksgiving Eve showcase, and a Christmas slate featuring heavyweight playoff rematches.
The Chicago Bears were one of the biggest beneficiaries after last season's rise under Caleb Williams, as were the New England Patriots under Drake Maye, with each team receiving five prime-time games.
The Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Seattle Seahawks also dominated marquee windows with six prime-time appearances each in 2026.
The Los Angeles Rams tied the all-time record for most prime-time matchups in NFL history with seven.
The Raiders, meanwhile, got the "prove it first" treatment.
From the NFL's perspective, that caution is understandable. Las Vegas is coming off instability, coaching turnover, and inconsistent quarterback play.
Mendoza has never taken an NFL snap. Kubiak is still unproven as a head coach. And the AFC remains brutally crowded with contenders.
Still, few franchises have dominated headlines this offseason like the Raiders, making the NFL's decision to keep them out of the early spotlight entirely a surprising one, to say the least.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM.