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Only 3 NFL Teams Have No Primetime Games Scheduled

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 15, 2025 12:49 PM ET

The NFL revealed the 2025 schedule on Wednesday night. While most teams drew at least one primetime assignment, three squads aren't slated to work any evenings this season.

Twenty teams are scheduled for at least four primetime games, but the NFL left a trio of AFC clubs entirely off the Thursday, Sunday, and Monday-night calendar. The Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans currently don't have any primetime bouts.

Primetime games are defined as evening matchups, so the Titans are the only team without a standalone game on the docket. The Browns play the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 5, and the Colts face the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin in Week 10. NFL Network will televise each international game on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

However, these teams still have time to prove the NFL wrong and earn a primetime spotlight. The league can flex up to two Sunday Night Football games from Weeks 5 to 10 and any from Week 17 onward. All start times remain unscheduled for Week 18.

The NFL understandably didn't prioritize the Titans following a three-win season, but it's a bit odd that Cam Ward won't receive at least one primetime opportunity. The No. 1 pick isn't beginning his career with the same hype as Caleb Williams, who helped garner three primetime assignments for the Chicago Bears in his 2024 rookie campaign.

Cleveland has several marquee matchups in one of the league's toughest 2025 schedules, but the league apparently doesn't have much confidence in the Browns making those games competitive. Trading down from the No. 2 pick may have also hurt their marketing appeal; Travis Hunter and the Jacksonville Jaguars received a Monday Night Football matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5.

The Browns probably would have merited primetime consideration if Shedeur Sanders were a front-runner to start in 2025. However, the quarterback's fifth-round draft fall makes it less likely he garners meaningful playing time as a rookie.

The Colts were far more competitive than the Titans and Browns last year, finishing second in the AFC South at 8-9. Yet a murky quarterback situation doesn't make Shane Steichen's team a considerable national draw.

Unsurprisingly, the Chiefs lead the league with seven primetime games. That doesn't include a Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, who are second with six primetime matchups after a 7-10 season.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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