Baltimore Ravens 2026 Schedule Confirmed: 4 Primetime Games, AFC North Closer & Rio Debut

Baltimore Ravens 2026 Schedule Set: 4 Primetime Games, AFC North Closer & First Rio Matchup

The Baltimore Ravens will kick off the 2026 season with a 9th-place AFC standing (8-9 record) and a losing streak, but their schedule includes four primetime games, a rare AFC North closer, and their first-ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro. The Ravens’ 2026 slate—officially released by the league—features eight home games at M&T Bank Stadium, including a Week 2 home opener against the New Orleans Saints, marking just the fourth time in franchise history they’ve faced an NFC opponent to start a season at home.

When Do the Ravens Play in 2026? Key Dates & Primetime Matchups

The Ravens’ season opens on September 13, 2026, with a Week 1 road tilt at the Indianapolis Colts—their third time facing an AFC South opponent in Week 1 but the first on the road. Primetime action begins in Week 5 (October 11) at the Falcons, their second-ever primetime meeting with Atlanta. Week 8 (November 1) brings a Thursday Night Football showdown at Buffalo, followed by Week 9 (November 6) vs. Jacksonville and Week 10 (November 16) hosting the Chargers on Monday Night Football—their 34th MNF game overall and 11th in Baltimore.

AFC North Closer & Historic Travel: Ravens Face Division Rivals in December

For the first time since the 2002 NFL division realignment, the Ravens will close the regular season with four straight AFC North games, including Week 15 at Pittsburgh (December 20) and the Week 18 finale at M&T Bank Stadium. This marks the fourth straight season both Ravens-Steelers matchups have been played in December. The schedule also includes a Week 17 Thursday Night Football game at Cincinnati (December 31), continuing their streak of four consecutive Thursday meetings with the Bengals.

International Debut: Ravens Play First NFL Game in Rio de Janeiro

The Ravens will make history in Week 3 (September 27, 2026) by playing their third-ever international game—this time at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the first NFL game ever in Brazil’s capital. The matchup against the Dallas Cowboys is one of nine international games in 2026, following their previous overseas contests in London (2023 vs. Tennessee at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and 2017 vs. Jacksonville at Wembley).

Home Openers & Travel: Ravens Rank AFC North’s Longest Road Trip

The Ravens’ Week 2 home opener vs. New Orleans is only the fourth time in team history they’ve faced an NFC opponent to start a season at home—last happening in 2019 (Week 2 vs. Arizona). Since 2000, Baltimore’s 20 home-opener wins tie Green Bay for second-most in the NFL (Denver leads with 21). With 17,422 miles of projected travel, the Ravens have the longest road distance among AFC North teams, including stops in the NFC South (Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints) and AFC South (Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans).