CBS to air 100+ NFL games in 2026, including Ravens–Cowboys in Rio

CBS said on May 14, 2026 that it will carry more than 100 National Football League regular-season games in the 2026 campaign, with every broadcast also available to stream in local markets on Paramount+. The slate spans all 18 weeks and includes three postseason matchups on the network. A Week 3 international game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro is scheduled for September 27 in the late Sunday window.

Coverage begins September 13 in Week 1 and runs through Week 18 on January 10 before the postseason. The broadcaster’s playoff rights for 2026 include one Wild Card, one Divisional Playoff and the AFC Championship. Officials said the plan builds on a record-setting 2025, when its NFL package delivered the strongest regular-season results in the company’s 67 years of carrying the league.

According to Nielsen-measured figures cited by the network, the 2025 package averaged 21.252 million viewers across the season. The national 4:25 p.m. ET window ranked as the top program with an average of 25.827 million viewers, and the most-watched single game drew 57.231 million viewers for the Chiefs–Cowboys Thanksgiving Day matchup.

All games carried by the network will air on the CBS Television Network and stream live in local markets on Paramount+. Executives emphasized consistent late-window strength and broad-market reach, with the 4:25 p.m. ET national slot again anchoring the 2026 schedule while early-window games continue to deliver in key markets.

International showcase and 2026 slate

Ravens–Cowboys heads to Rio on September 27

The Week 3 meeting between Baltimore and Dallas in Rio de Janeiro will headline the network’s international coverage. Slated for the late Sunday window on September 27, the matchup extends the league’s global calendar and will be available to stream locally on Paramount+ alongside the traditional broadcast.

Early-season highlights and playoff rights

Week 1 on September 13 features a multi-game lineup including Baltimore at Indianapolis, New York at Tennessee, Buffalo at Houston and Cleveland at Jacksonville in the early window. Green Bay at Minnesota and Arizona at the Los Angeles Chargers are among the late games. The schedule continues every week through January 10, and the broadcaster’s postseason package comprises one Wild Card game, one Divisional round game and the AFC Championship.

Audience momentum and distribution

2025 benchmarks inform 2026 plan

Network officials pointed to 2025’s audience momentum as the foundation for the expanded approach. The late national window averaged 25.827 million viewers last season, while overall coverage averaged 21.252 million viewers, reinforcing the strategy to prioritize marquee windows and broad distribution in 2026.

Broadcast and streaming availability

All games on the network will be distributed on the CBS Television Network and streamed live in local markets on Paramount+. The aim is to sustain the engagement levels seen a season ago by offering a deep roster of games throughout the 18-week slate, capped by coverage of the AFC title game.

With the international stop in Brazil and a deep postseason presence, the 2026 package underscores the broadcaster’s long-standing role in the NFL’s media landscape. Attention now turns to the season opener on September 13 and the high-profile Week 3 showcase in Rio.