Bucs, Chiefs among teams with NFL-high 5 prime-time games in 2021
The NFL's two best teams last year are once again prime-time viewing in 2021.
The NFL released its 2021 schedule Wednesday, and the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among 10 teams that share the league lead with five prime-time games. The other clubs are: Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers.
This is the second straight year the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys, Packers, and Rams lead the NFL with five prime-time contests.
Number of 2021 NFL prime-time games, by division (max is 20):
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) May 13, 2021
NFC West: 18
AFC North: 14
NFC North: 14
NFC East: 13
NFC South: 12
AFC West: 12
AFC East: 10
AFC South: 9
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots, who had five prime-time games in 2020, were given just three this season.
The Denver Broncos dropped from three to one prime-time appearance this year, with the team's only fixture being on Thursday Night Football. Denver entered this season on a 29-year streak of playing on Monday Night Football, the longest in NFL history.
| Team | Prime-time games |
|---|---|
| Buccaneers | 5 |
| Chiefs | 5 |
| Ravens | 5 |
| Packers | 5 |
| Rams | 5 |
| Cowboys | 5 |
| 49ers | 5 |
| Saints | 5 |
| Seahawks | 5 |
| Steelers | 5 |
| Raiders | 4 |
| Bills | 4 |
| Bears | 4 |
| Vikings | 4 |
| Colts | 4 |
| Patriots | 3 |
| Giants | 3 |
| Chargers | 3 |
| Titans | 3 |
| Browns | 3 |
| Cardinals | 3 |
| Washington | 3 |
| Eagles | 2 |
| Dolphins | 2 |
| Jets | 1 |
| Lions | 1 |
| Jaguars | 1 |
| Bengals | 1 |
| Texans | 1 |
| Panthers | 1 |
| Broncos | 1 |
| Falcons | 1 |