How is an NFL team's regular-season schedule created?

Each NFL team's opponents are largely determined by a league formula. The 17-game schedule includes six division games, four games against another division in the same conference, four against a division in the other conference, two same-conference games based on the previous standings, and one additional interconference game based on the standings.

After the matchups are known, the NFL assigns dates and times while considering stadium availability, travel, broadcast windows, competitive balance, international games, and other operational constraints.