The 2026 NFL schedule drops Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, and let's be honest—not every game deserves the hype. Some matchups feel less like must-see TV and more like punishment for the crews unlucky enough to call them. We've ranked the five worst games based largely on each team's 2025 win-loss record, with one rule: no team appears twice. Otherwise, this list would just be a pile-on of the Jets, Raiders, or Browns. And while we're not opposed to a little piling on, we're aiming for variety here.
Most game dates and times are still TBD, but a few schedule leaks have confirmed some real duds. Here's what to skip this season:
1. Washington Commanders vs. New Orleans Saints (Week TBD)
A clash of last year's biggest letdowns. The Commanders crashed from a 12-5 record and an NFC Championship appearance in 2024 to just 5-12 after Jayden Daniels missed 10 games with knee, hamstring, and elbow injuries. The Saints went 6-11 in Kellen Moore's first year, though rookie Tyler Shough sparked hope by going 4-1 in his last five starts and finishing as an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist. Washington spent big on defense this spring, but their last meeting in 2024 was a narrow 20-19 win for the Commanders. Expect another low-scoring, uninspired affair.
2. Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Week TBD, Hard Rock Stadium)
The Dolphins enter 2026 almost unrecognizable. Mike McDaniel is out, Jeff Hafley is in, and Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are all gone. Malik Willis arrived in free agency to compete with 2025 seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers, who closed last season as the starter. Meanwhile, the Bengals still have Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins locked in together—plus the same defense that surrendered 492 points in 2025, second-most in the league. Cincinnati throttled Miami 45-21 in Week 16 last December, with Burrow tossing four touchdowns against a Dolphins team already in tank mode. This rematch could get ugly fast.
3. New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns (Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium)
Two 2025 bottom feeders playing out a meaningless December slate. The Browns averaged 15.8 points per game over the past two seasons—dead last in the league. The Giants finished 4-13. New head coach Todd Monken takes his first turn opposite his former Ravens boss John Harbaugh, who left Baltimore for New York after Brian Daboll was let go. The quarterback situation is a mess: sophomore Jaxson Dart faces either Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders—an unsettled trio whose 2025 starts produced more interceptions than touchdowns—or perhaps rookie Taylen Green out of Arkansas. Kickoff might be the most exciting part of this game.
While the NFL schedule release is always an event, these matchups are best left for background noise or a Sunday nap. For true fans, the real excitement lies in the games that actually deliver drama, not these forgettable clashes.