OK, OK, so the NFL schedule technically isn’t released until Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET, but chances are pretty good we’ll know a lot of the slate before the primetime bonanza can even begin.
The NFL is so big and so popular at this point that something as mundane as releasing the schedule has become a big event. But in recent years, intrepid reporters across the gridiron landscape have been able to secure certain dates before the calendar formally goes live.
This year likely will be no different, so we’ll be keeping tabs of the leaks as they happen so you can find something else to do with your life on a Wednesday night.
1:48 p.m.:Â This should be a good one, especially after their clash last season. Dallas and New Orleans will reportedly tangle in Week 4 on “Sunday Night Football.”
NFL Schedule Leak: The #Cowboys will visit the #Saints in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2019
1:45 p.m.: You didn’t forget about Jimmy Garoppolo, did you? The 49ers will reportedly open their season — and Jimmy G’s comeback tour — on the road at Tampa Bay a couple of weeks before hosting Pittsburgh.
49ers open at Tampa Bay, will face Steelers in home opener in Week Three https://t.co/d95hoxGjch
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 17, 2019
1:20 p.m.:Â And now we have the New York Giants’ schedule, too.
Full #Giants schedule leaked:
Wk1: @ DAL
Wk2: BUF
Wk3: @ TB
Wk4: WSH
Wk5: MIN
Wk6: @ NE (TNF)
Wk7: ARI
Wk8: @ DET
Wk9: DAL (MNF)
Wk10: @ NYJ
Wk11: Bye
Wk12: @ CHI
Wk13: GB
Wk14: @ PHI (MNF)
Wk15: MIA
Wk16: @ WSH
Wk17: PHI(via @art_stapleton)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2019
1:09 p.m.: The AFC East and North will do battle this season, including this Browns-Dolphins matchup in Cleveland.
The #Dolphins will visit Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry and the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 on Nov. 24. That's before Thanksgiving, per source.
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) April 17, 2019
12:29 p.m.: The Brian Flores era in Miami begins at home against Lamar Jackson, apparently.
NFL Schedule Leak: Lamar Jackson and the #Ravens open up their season on the road vs the #Dolphins.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2019
Noon:Â And the entire Jets’ schedule is out.
Full #Jets schedule leaked:
BUF
CLE (MNF)
@ NE
Bye week
@ PHI
DAL
NE (MNF)
@ JAX
@ MIA
NYG
@ WAS
OAK
@ CIN
MIA
@ BAL (TNF)
PIT
@ BUF(via @MMehtaNYDN)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2019
11:58 a.m.: More on the Patriots’ schedule.
vs. KC on Dec. 8 at 4:25. https://t.co/RfoX7Fuspo
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 17, 2019
11:50 a.m.: And here’s this one, too:
The game you’ve all been waiting for:
Patriots-Browns is Week 8 (Oct. 27) at 4:25 p.m.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 17, 2019
11:48 a.m.: The Patriots will get some very early looks at the revamped AFC East in the first month of the season, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.
Patriots are diving into the AFC East in September:
Week 1: vs. Steelers (SNF)
Week 2: @ Dolphins
Week 3: vs. Jets
Week 4: @ Bills— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 17, 2019
11:40 a.m.: The Patriots will play plenty of primetime games this season, according to The Athletic’s Nick Underhill.
New England has five primetime games:
– Sept 8 vs Pitt
-Oct 10 vs Giants (Thursday)
-Oct 21 at Jets (MNF)
-Nov. 3 at Baltimore
-Dec. 1 at Houston— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 17, 2019
11:30 a.m.: It appears we finally know the Patriots’ Week 1 opponent: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The #Patriots will open the 2019 season on Sunday Night Football against the #Steelers, per source.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) April 17, 2019
11:11 a.m.: The Green Bay Packers’ schedule is coming into focus, too. We already know they’ll play at Chicago in Week 1, and they’ll be at home for the Broncos in Week 3 while also hosting Carolina in mid-November.
Per source, the #Packers will host the #Broncos on Sunday, September 22. #Packers host #Panthers on Sunday, November 3. #ScheduleLeaks #Whispers
— Marques Eversoll (@MarquesEversoll) April 17, 2019
11:08 a.m.: Here’s one from Tuesday night where we learned the Bears and Lions are expected to once again meet on Thanksgiving.
Word is #Bears will play at #Lions on Thanksgiving again this year. Nov. 28 at Ford Field.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 17, 2019
11 a.m. ET: Not a leak, but we do know the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs will head to Mexico in Week 11, an AFC West matchup that highlights the NFL’s international slate that the league just released.
That Bears-Raiders matchup in London has some potential to be pretty interesting, too, given the Raiders’ offseason and the trade last year that sent Khalil Mack to Chicago.
The @NFL has finalized the 2019 schedule of international games. The complete regular-season schedule will be revealed at 8 pm ET tonight on @nflnetwork and https://t.co/OW3waFi0D1. pic.twitter.com/0WtG3pYgAs
— NFL345 (@NFL345) April 17, 2019