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5 NFL teams didn't get prime-time treatment. The league told the Jets, Raiders, Titans, Dolphins and Cardinals what it thinks of rebuilds
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In the clearest expression of disapproval that the NFL annually sends to rebuilding franchises, five teams are not scheduled to see a single minute of prime-time football this season.This season’s list includes the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals.AdvertisementThis is the second straight season the Titans haven’t had a single game slated for prime time, as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.Interestingly, it sets up a scenario where the past two No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft — the Titans’ Cam Ward and Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza — will have gone through their rookie season without playing in prime time. It also would mean that Ward would have been iced out of prime time for the first two years of his career.Find NFL tickets on Gametime | More NFL team schedulesWhile the league never overtly admits it, the prime-time freeze out is often absorbed as a message to team ownership about getting organizations into a competitive plateau from one season to the next. The Jets, Raiders, Titans and Cardinals all went 3-14 last season while settling into last place in their respective divisions. The outlier is the Dolphins, who went 7-10 — but then followed that mediocre performance up by effectively gutting most of the team this offseason.AdvertisementInterestingly — but perhaps not coincidentally — those teams have comprised five of the six longest betting odds to win the Super Bowl for much of this offseason, with the Browns often mixed into the bottom six. I’d never suggest the NFL considers sports wagering interest when it comes to how the prime-time schedule is stacked up, but it certainly doesn’t help that ancillary pipeline of revenue when you’re showcasing what oddsmakers believe are the worst franchises.Here’s a quick snapshot of how the teams ended up getting shut out:New York JetsYou’ll never convince me this isn’t a continued echo of the NFL’s dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2023 and 2024 — only to watch the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span. Frankly, it takes a lot for the league to ice a team in its No. 1 media market, but there doesn’t appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season. Maybe that changes in 2027 if the Jets meet low expectations and end up with Arch Manning on the roster in 2027.AdvertisementLas Vegas RaidersThe Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield. What unfolded was a mess of infighting on the coaching staff and an offense that was atrocious in a massively disappointing campaign. And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft. Even with Fernando Mendoza now in the fold and a revamped coaching staff, I doubt the league was in a hurry to reward the Raiders after last season’s flop.Miami DolphinsThe Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season. A rebuild that looks like it’s essentially going to the studs and taking almost all of the star power with it doesn’t inspire much confidence of a surprise season. There’s a price to starting over in a fashion that suggests it will be years before another competitive team materializes. And this zero burger in prime time is part of it.AdvertisementPlay 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentTennessee TitansThe Titans are in the midst of a nuclear winter when it comes to the NFL schedule-makers, with only one — one! — prime-time game going all the way back to the 2024 season. The last time Tennessee saw prime time: Week 4 of that season against the Dolphins. The Titans actually won that game 31-12, but they finished 3-14 overall, translating into zero prime-time games in 2025. And when they again went 3-14 in 2025 …well, that’s the snowball effect of a terrible NFL product that leads the league to completely shut you out again in 2026.Even the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, didn’t generate enough confidence last season to throw the Titans a bone with their completely revamped coaching staff. As Ward famously said last season of Tennessee’s on-field performance at one point last season, “We ass.” And “ass” is not the kind of football the NFL likes to put in front of a standalone national audience. Let alone hang on the outlets that pay through the nose to put out prime-time packages.AdvertisementArizona CardinalsAfter crawling out of the basement from a 4-13 record in 2023 to a more competitive 8-9 in 2024, the NFL awarded the Cardinals with two prime-time games in 2025 — only to see the entire franchise regress horribly back to a 3-14 mark. That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.Well, even with wholesale coaching staff changes, the quickest way to get any shot at prime-time games yanked is to commit to the previous season’s 1-11 journeyman starter …who appears to be a placeholder until the Cardinals can reboot with a new young quarterback. Even in the best of times, the Cardinals are a tough sell to a national audience, much like the Titans. Reverting back to being a messy reboot at head coach and (eventually) quarterback is easy math for the NFL. And it subtracts any motivation to put the operation into prime time.
Takes mentioned in this episode
- New York Jets team · negative
“the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span.”
The Jets are being penalized with no prime-time games due to poor performance.
- Arizona Cardinals team · negative
“After crawling out of the basement from a 4-13 record in 2023 to a more competitive 8-9 in 2024, the NFL awarded the Cardinals with two prime-time games in 2025 — only to see the entire franchise regress horribly back to a 3-14 mark. That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.”
Cardinals regressed from competitive 8-9 to terrible 3-14, benching starting QB and relying on journeyman backup, eliminating prime-time appeal.
- New York Jets team · negative
“You'll never convince me this isn't a continued echo of the NFL's dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2023 and 2024 — only to watch the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span. Frankly, it takes a lot for the league to ice a team in its No. 1 media market, but there doesn't appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season.”
Jets received no prime-time games despite being in top media market, reflecting league dissatisfaction with poor performance and lack of confidence in current leadership.
- Tennessee Titans team · negative
“The Titans are in the midst of a nuclear winter when it comes to the NFL schedule-makers, with only one — one! — prime-time game going all the way back to the 2024 season. The last time Tennessee saw prime time: Week 4 of that season against the Dolphins. The Titans actually won that game 31-12, but they finished 3-14 overall, translating into zero prime-time games in 2025. And when they again went 3-14 in 2025 …well, that's the snowball effect of a terrible NFL product that leads the league to completely shut you out again in 2026.”
Titans in severe prime-time drought due to consecutive 3-14 seasons and terrible on-field product, creating snowball effect of league avoidance.
- Las Vegas Raiders team · negative
“The Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football's most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield. What unfolded was a mess of infighting on the coaching staff and an offense that was atrocious in a massively disappointing campaign.”
Raiders had promising setup but delivered atrocious offensive performance with coaching staff infighting, leading to prime-time freeze-out.
- Miami Dolphins team · negative
“The Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season.”
Dolphins' poor 7-10 performance and subsequent gutting of roster through trades/releases eliminated league confidence for prime-time scheduling.
- New Orleans Saints team · negative
“as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.”
as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.
- Cam Ward player · negative
“Even the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, didn’t generate enough confidence last season to throw the Titans a bone with their completely revamped coaching staff.”
Even the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, didn’t generate enough confidence last season to throw the Titans a bone with their completely revamped coaching staff.
- Ashton Jeanty player · negative
“particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield.”
particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield.
- Maxx Crosby player · negative
“And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft.”
And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft.
- Cam Ward player · negative
“It also would mean that Ward would have been iced out of prime time for the first two years of his career. Even the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, didn't generate enough confidence last season to throw the Titans a bone with their completely revamped coaching staff. As Ward famously said last season of Tennessee's on-field performance at one point last season, "We ass."”
No. 1 pick Ward failed to generate confidence for prime-time scheduling despite being a top prospect; his own criticism of team performance reflects poor play.
- New York Jets team · negative
“New York JetsYou’ll never convince me this isn’t a continued echo of the NFL’s dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2023 and 2024 — only to watch the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span.”
New York JetsYou’ll never convince me this isn’t a continued echo of the NFL’s dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2023 and 2024 — only to watc
- Las Vegas Raiders team · negative
“Las Vegas RaidersThe Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college footba”
Las Vegas RaidersThe Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be
- Miami Dolphins team · negative
“Miami DolphinsThe Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head co”
Miami DolphinsThe Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. Th
- Tennessee Titans team · negative
“Tennessee TitansThe Titans are in the midst of a nuclear winter when it comes to the NFL schedule-makers, with only one — one! — prime-time game going all the way back to the 2024 season. The last time Tennessee saw prime time: Week 4 of that season against the Dolphins. The Tita”
Tennessee TitansThe Titans are in the midst of a nuclear winter when it comes to the NFL schedule-makers, with only one — one! — prime-time game going all the way back to the 2024 season. The last tim
- Arizona Cardinals team · negative
“Arizona CardinalsAfter crawling out of the basement from a 4-13 record in 2023 to a more competitive 8-9 in 2024, the NFL awarded the Cardinals with two prime-time games in 2025 — only to see the entire franchise regress horribly back to a 3-14 mark. That debacle included benchin”
Arizona CardinalsAfter crawling out of the basement from a 4-13 record in 2023 to a more competitive 8-9 in 2024, the NFL awarded the Cardinals with two prime-time games in 2025 — only to see the enti
- Cleveland Browns team · negative
“as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.”
as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.
- Tua Tagovailoa player · negative
“The Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season.”
Tagovailoa was traded away as part of Dolphins' organizational reset following poor performance and quarterback situation decline.
- Geno Smith player · negative
“with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the”
with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of co
- Tua Tagovailoa player · negative
“quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season.”
quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season.
- Kyler Murray player · negative
“That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.”
That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.
- Jacoby Brissett player · negative
“in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.”
in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.
- Pete Carroll coach · negative
“The Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football's most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield. What unfolded was a mess of infighting on the coaching staff and an offense that was atrocious in a massively disappointing campaign.”
Carroll's Raiders tenure resulted in atrocious offensive performance and coaching staff infighting despite promising preseason expectations.
- Maxx Crosby player · negative
“And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft.”
Star edge rusher Crosby was shut down late in season as Raiders tanked for draft pick, reflecting organizational dysfunction.
- Jacoby Brissett player · negative
“That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.”
Brissett's 1-11 record as starter exemplifies Cardinals' poor performance and lack of viable QB options.
- Kyler Murray player · negative
“That debacle included benching quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season in favor of an extremely unsexy Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 in his 12 starts.”
Murray was benched for most of season, indicating poor performance and loss of starting role.
- Aaron Glenn player · negative
“there doesn't appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season”
Coach Glenn is part of a Jets leadership that the NFL has shown lack of confidence in, contributing to the team's prime-time freeze-out.
- Geno Smith player · negative
“there doesn't appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season”
QB Smith is part of Jets leadership that lacks NFL confidence, contributing to prime-time freeze-out.
- Mike McDaniel coach · negative
“The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season.”
McDaniel was removed in Dolphins' organizational overhaul following poor performance, indicating loss of confidence.
- Fernando Mendoza player · negative
“It also would mean that Ward would have been iced out of prime time for the first two years of his career. Interestingly, it sets up a scenario where the past two No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft — the Titans' Cam Ward and Raiders' Fernando Mendoza — will have gone through their rookie season without playing in prime time.”
No. 1 pick Mendoza will not play in prime time during rookie season, reflecting poor Raiders performance and lack of league confidence.