The NFL’s iconic Sunday afternoon viewing experience is continuing to evolve—and for many fans, that means less of the chaotic drama known as the “witching hour.”
Over the last two decades, the league has steadily shifted games away from the traditional Sunday afternoon slate and into standalone primetime or special-event windows. That trend will continue during the 2026 NFL season, with both Fox and CBS moving additional games out of their regular Sunday afternoon packages.
Fox and CBS Add More Standalone NFL Games
This season, Fox will air three new standalone NFL broadcasts, including a Christmas Day game, an international matchup in Munich featuring the Detroit Lions, and a late-season Saturday showdown. CBS is also adding a standalone Saturday game later in the year.
Some of these broadcasts come from games originally scheduled for the Sunday afternoon lineup, continuing the NFL’s long-running strategy of expanding national TV windows.
The changes are part of the league’s broader effort to maximize television audiences across multiple broadcast partners and streaming platforms.
What Is the NFL ‘Witching Hour’?
The “witching hour” is one of the most beloved traditions among NFL fans, especially viewers of NFL RedZone. The phrase refers to the final portion of the Sunday early-afternoon games—typically around 3 p.m. ET until the end of the window—when multiple games begin to swing wildly with dramatic finishes, lead changes, and playoff implications unfolding simultaneously.
Legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger is widely credited with coining the phrase during his time on CBS’s NFL Today. Former WFAN host Mike Francesa later explained it as the moment when “all hell was gonna break loose.”
Today, NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson famously announces the start of the witching hour every Sunday during the season.
Why Sunday Afternoon NFL Games Are Declining
The NFL began carving away at its Sunday afternoon inventory in 2006 with the launch of Thursday Night Football. That package eventually expanded into a full-season schedule.
Since then, the league has continued adding more exclusive windows, including:
- Thursday Night Football
- International games
- Christmas Day games
- Additional Thanksgiving matchups
- Late-season Saturday games
- Streaming-exclusive broadcasts
The 2026 NFL season alone will feature nine international games played in cities such as Munich, London, Paris, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.
As more standalone events are created, fewer games remain in the traditional Sunday afternoon lineup carried by Fox, CBS, and NFL Sunday Ticket.
Fans Are Divided Over the NFL’s Scheduling Changes
The shift has created mixed reactions among fans and media personalities.
Some viewers enjoy having more nationally televised standalone games throughout the week. Others believe the NFL’s classic Sunday afternoon experience is being diluted, especially for subscribers who pay premium prices for Sunday Ticket packages.
Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Traina summarized the debate on social media, saying he loves standalone primetime games but feels that “Sunday at 1 p.m. has been destroyed.”
Despite the criticism, the NFL continues to prioritize expanded media opportunities and larger television audiences, signaling that standalone games will likely remain a growing part of future schedules.
The Future of the NFL Viewing Experience
The NFL’s schedule has become increasingly spread across multiple days, networks, and streaming services. While the league’s strategy has boosted media revenue and global reach, it also marks a significant change from the traditional Sunday-focused viewing culture that defined the NFL for decades.
For fans of the witching hour, the excitement still exists—but the number of games fueling that chaos may continue to shrink in the years ahead.