• The Huddle
  • Posts
  • Games, Grudges & a League Chasing Dollars

Games, Grudges & a League Chasing Dollars

May 20, 2026

Publication by EssentiallySports

May 20, 2026 | Edition #3

You know it’s the offseason when NFL fans are turning on their TVs at 8 p.m. on a Thursday night just to watch the schedule release. And the craziest part is, we already knew everyone’s opponents, so people tuned in just to find out dates and times for their team’s games. Maybe us diehards need to find another hobby…

  • The schedule release is every social media teams’ Super Bowl. Watch the six NFL teams that absolutely nailed it.

  • Let’s hope injuries won’t bite them in the butt this year, but two international games highlight a brutal schedule that could keep the 49ers out of the playoffs. 

  • The league’s  pivot to streaming is gutting small businesses. Congress has been alarmed.

It’s hard to believe NFL fans could get so worked up over a few dates and times, but that’s exactly what happened. Daniel and I combed through social media for the past week to find some of the best ones and debated whether they were overreactions or not.

We’ve listed the overreactions below, should you want to explore the ones that most concern you:

Regardless, I just have one question at this point: Did Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams piss in Roger Goodell’s water?

That’s a facetious question, but seriously, their opening schedule is absolutely brutal, and it doesn’t lighten up a whole lot after that. 

And what did Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals do to get such an easy schedule? They have some tough games, but overall, they have a very favorable schedule, so unless Joe Burrow gets hurt again, they have no excuses if they miss the playoffs.

Every year, there are always teams like the Bengals and Rams who “win” and “lose” the schedule release.

So here are the picks for this year’s winners and losers.

Strength of schedule has become a hot topic lately. Everyone called the Patriots frauds for their easy slate last year… right up until they rode it straight to the Super Bowl.

Here’s a guide on how the math works and a bonus read on who this year’s Patriots will be.

Since the schedule release, there’s one team that we just can’t agree on: the Houston Texans.

Last year, Houston boasted the best defense in the league, but they were heavily let down by the absolute blunder C.J. Stroud made in the playoffs and their offense overall.

What helps a struggling quarterback?

A run game. General manager Nick Caserío understands that and he upgraded the offensive line by signing Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith along with drafting Keylan Rutledge. The team also added former Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery this offseason.

But the big question is: Have the Texans done enough to take the next step?

Personally, I think so. I’m not a big C.J. Stroud believer, but bringing in David Montgomery to give the run game a boost and adding pieces along the offensive line should help the offense to get over the hump in 2026.

Stroud can’t keep turning the ball over five times in the playoffs and hoping his defense, the best in the league last season, bails him out. We saw him ball out as a rookie, so he just needs to get his confidence back. 

The Texans are my pick to be the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC.

I am aligned except that I’ll take it down a notch. Fans should be skeptical of Stroud. Not too long ago he was in top-five quarterback conversations in this league and I’ll hold onto that thread of optimism.

He doesn’t have to be an All-Pro caliber quarterback, but one good enough to manage an offense and take over when he needs to. Stroud certainly can do that, which leads me to believe this team is a top two seed in the AFC, winning the AFC South.

Guys, this defense is not THAT different from where it was last season and their schedule only got harder. Yes, Montgomery will give them more consistency at running back, but he’s unproven as a feature back over a full season. 

And you guys are completely glazing over an insane start to the season. Hosting Buffalo and Cincy, at Indy, hosting Dallas, at Tennessee, at the Jags. I think it’s far more likely they start 1-5 than compete to be the league’s last undefeated team. 

And all I’m seeing with Stroud right now is regression. Until he shows me otherwise, I am pegging this team far closer to 9-8 and fighting for a wild card than being any kind of dynasty-level team this year.

Pretty much every year we see at least one team go from last place in their division to first place. Now that the full 272-game schedule is out….

Who do you think will go from worst to first in 2026?

(As always, make sure you drop a comment with the reasoning for your pick!)

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

The NFL Is Turning Every Holiday Into a Cash Grab — And It’s Getting Ridiculous

I like the lead of this column: “Usually, Sundays belong to church, and holidays belong to family and traditions.” 

Despite raking in over $23 billion last year, the NFL is shamelessly hijacking your family holidays. The 2026 schedule goes all-in on corporate greed, turning Thanksgiving week into a five-day gauntlet and completely suffocating Christmas with eight standalone games. 

Speaking of money, tickets to a Chiefs game used to run you under $100 a pop. Now, you’d be lucky to get in for under $200 a ticket. See how the Taylor Swift effect has caused ticket prices to skyrocket, and how much it would cost you to attend all eight home games in 2026.

While we’re at it, getting into a Dallas Cowboys game ain't gonna be cheap either. There is one game - their matchup against the Arizona Cardinals - that will cost fewer than $100 to get into, and that’s if you buy those tickets right now. See how much it would cost to attend every home game.

Now, we take you into the GM office for some of our favorite reads this week.

  • The Cowboys have a pretty tough schedule ahead of them this season, but a playoff berth is not out of the question.

  • The Patriots overachieved in 2025 thanks to a historically easy schedule, but 2026 will not be as kind to them.

  • Daniel’s Films brings you into the film room as he breaks down how Caleb Downs fits perfectly into Dallas’s defensive system.

  • There are plenty of players that will have the chance to make their former team regret letting them go this past offseason. Take a look at the biggest revenge games of the 2026 season.

  • Every team’s biggest strength and weakness in the NFC and AFC East.

Thank you for reading the latest edition of Huddle Overtime

As always, we appreciate your honest feedback. So please tell us…

Did you enjoy this edition?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Never miss out on any more fresh Huddle Overtime updates. Just Click Here!