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To follow an NFL season, track three things each week: your team’s record, its place in the division, and the games still ahead. During a game, the down-and-distance graphic explains what the offense needs to do next. Regular-season results determine which teams reach the playoffs, while the viewing options depend on your location, device, and which game you want to watch.
How the NFL season is organized
The NFL has 32 teams divided between two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference has East, North, South, and West divisions, with four teams in each. In the 2026 season structure, each team plays 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks, for 272 games league-wide. A team has one scheduled bye week, meaning it does not play that week; a bye is not a loss or an exhibition game. NFL Football Operations explains the schedule format.
Preseason, regular season, and postseason
The preseason consists of exhibition games before the games that count toward the regular-season standings. The regular season is the 18-week stretch in which teams compete for playoff places. The postseason is a knockout tournament: lose and your season is over; win and you advance.
Why divisions matter
Each team plays its three division rivals twice during the regular season. Division position matters because each division champion qualifies for the playoffs and receives one of the top four seeds in its conference. The other three places in each conference go to wild-card teams—the qualifying teams that did not win their divisions.
How the playoffs lead to the Super Bowl
Seven teams from each conference make the playoffs. The conference’s top seed gets a first-round bye, while the other six teams play in the Wild Card round. Winners advance to the Divisional round and then the conference championship. The AFC champion and NFC champion meet in the Super Bowl. The NFL’s 2025 Record & Fact Book documents the postseason structure.
A simple weekly check-in
- Record: Note the team’s wins, losses, and any ties.
- Division position: Check whether it is leading or chasing a division rival.
- Remaining schedule: See who it plays next and how many regular-season games remain.
A win helps, but a team’s division and conference position shape whether it qualifies and its playoff seed. That is why the standings tell you more than a team’s latest result alone.
How to read what happens on the field
Downs and the line to gain
The offense has four downs—four attempts—to move the ball at least 10 yards. Reaching that distance earns a first down and a fresh set of four attempts. If the offense does not make the required distance by fourth down, possession usually changes to the other team.
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On fourth down, a team may punt the ball to the opponent or attempt a field goal instead of running another play. A punt gives up possession in exchange for trying to make the opponent start farther downfield; a field-goal attempt is a try at scoring three points.
A broadcast graphic such as 2nd & 7 means it is second down and the offense needs seven yards for a first down. The yellow line often shown on television marks the line to gain for viewers; it is a broadcast graphic, not a painted field marking. NFL Football Operations has a glossary of football terms.
Possession changes
Possession can change after a team scores, fails to convert on fourth down, punts, or loses the ball. An interception is a pass caught by a defender. A fumble occurs when a player loses control of the ball before the play ends; if the defense recovers it, that is also a turnover. When the other team takes possession, reset your attention to its offense and the new down-and-distance situation.
Clock and scoring
Regulation lasts 60 minutes, split into four 15-minute quarters. The game clock stops in some situations, and halftime, reviews, and the play clock add time to a broadcast, so watching a game generally takes much longer than an hour.
| Play or score | Points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdown | 6 | A player carries the ball into the opponent’s end zone or catches it there. |
| Extra-point kick | 1 | After a touchdown, the scoring team can kick for an additional point. |
| Two-point try | 2 | After a touchdown, the team attempts to reach the end zone again rather than kick. |
| Field goal | 3 | A successful kick through the opponent’s goalposts. |
| Safety | 2 | Points awarded when the defense tackles an opponent with the ball in that team’s own end zone, among other qualifying situations. |
The touchdown and timing explanations are in the NFL football glossary; scoring values are set out in the 2024 NFL Rulebook, Rule 11.
What to watch on a first game
- Read the down-and-distance graphic before each play.
- Notice whether the offense runs, passes, punts, or attempts a field goal—and what that choice could produce.
- When a referee announces a penalty, listen for whether it moves the ball, changes the down, or both.
- After a score or turnover, identify which team now has the ball and where it starts.
Where to find NFL games in the United States in 2026
In the United States, the NFL’s live-game guide lists local Sunday afternoon games on CBS and FOX, Sunday Night Football on NBC, Monday Night Football on ESPN/ABC, and Thursday Night Football and the Black Friday game on Prime Video. Selected exclusive games are listed on NFL Network. The guide also lists YouTube for the Week 1 São Paulo international game and Netflix for exclusive Christmas Day games. Rights and local availability vary by game, market, and season; consult the current NFL live-game access guide and schedule before choosing a service.
Choosing a way to watch
Before paying for a service, check these details for the games you want:
- Live or replay: Confirm whether you can watch live, catch a replay, or get only highlights or audio.
- Local or out-of-market: Availability can depend on where you live and which team’s game you want.
- Device: Check whether the service supports your television or is limited to a phone or tablet.
- Extras: Decide whether features such as RedZone or condensed replays matter to you.
- Geography and cost: Verify service availability and current pricing for your location.
What NFL+ includes
NFL+ is a mobile-first option, not an all-games-on-a-TV package. NFL Support says it carries live local and primetime regular-season and postseason games on phones or tablets, live audio for every game, NFL Network, highlights, and out-of-market preseason games. NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone, NFL Pro, and full, condensed, and All-22 replays. It is available in the United States but not in U.S. territories; NFL Support directs viewers outside the United States to DAZN. See NFL Support’s NFL+ feature and availability details.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →As listed on the NFL Support pricing page updated April 28, 2026, NFL+ costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year. NFL+ Premium costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per season; applicable taxes may apply. These are the listed prices on that date, not a guarantee of current pricing. Confirm the current NFL+ prices and terms before subscribing, since prices, rights, and device restrictions can change.
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