New England Patriots
The Patriots can have a number of primetime matchups this season in opposition to groups just like the Seahawks, Chargers, and Chiefs.
The 2026 Patriots schedule was announced on Thursday, with Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and Co. set for a frightening slate of video games after final yr’s sudden run to Tremendous Bowl LX.
New England made probably the most of a lighter common season schedule final season, which included no abroad video games or matchups set west of the Mississippi.
That gained’t be the case this yr, with New England set to each head to Germany for a matchup and play a pair of video games out on the West Coast.
New England’s 2026 schedule contains matchups in opposition to eight groups that made the playoffs in 2025: Seattle, Buffalo, Denver, Inexperienced Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The Patriots have the sixth-hardest schedule within the league — based mostly on opponents’ mixed profitable share in 2025 (.531).
With a number of primetime matchups on the docket, the Patriots can have no scarcity of compelling video games this fall.
Right here’s our rating of the Patriots’ 17 video games, from least to most enjoyable:
17. Week 16 @ Jets, 1 p.m.
The unhealthy information? The Patriots shall be on one other quick week after going over to Kansas Metropolis to tackle the Chiefs on Monday Night time Soccer in Week 15.
The excellent news? The Patriots ought to sleepwalk their approach into one other W in opposition to this dreadful Jets group — even down within the Meadowlands.
16. Week 8 @ Dolphins, 4:25 p.m.
If the Patriots wish to manufacture any form of respiratory room of their quest for a playoff berth amid such a frightening schedule, they’re going to want to reap the benefits of these video games in opposition to the tomato cans inside their very own division.
A rebuilding Dolphins group ought to be straightforward pickings for the Patriots, however each trek right down to Miami has typically been an journey for New England. The Patriots’ Week 2 comeback win over Miami final season was the group’s first victory at Exhausting Rock Stadium since September 2019.
15. Week 6 vs. Jets, 1 p.m.
Sure, Patriots followers will relish any alternative to twist the knife in opposition to the Jets. However, past New England profiting from one of many few softer spots on their schedule, this sport is likely to be a little bit of a snoozer in opposition to one of many worst groups within the NFL.
14. Week 5 vs. Raiders, 1 p.m.
At face worth, a 1 p.m. residence matchup in opposition to the cellar-dwelling Raiders doesn’t drum up loads of headlines.
However, past the hyperlinks to Tom Brady because the Raiders’ minority proprietor, Las Vegas has some thrilling younger gamers on its roster, like 2026 No. 1 choose Fernando Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers. New England shall be seeking to avenge a season-opening residence loss to Vegas final season.
13. Week 18 vs. Dolphins, TBD
New England will shut out its regular-season slate with what ought to be one other victory in opposition to a lackluster Miami roster — one which shall be ill-equipped to deal with the chilly situations in mid-January in Foxborough.
A daily-season finale can find yourself being extra of a glorified walk-through if groups have little to play for. However, with how powerful New England’s schedule is, we’ll put this sport in opposition to the Dolphins forward of the opposite AFC East bouts in opposition to Miami and New York — given {that a} playoff berth may very properly nonetheless be up for grabs for the Patriots of their remaining sport of the season.
12. Week 14 vs. Vikings, 8:15 p.m.
New England shall be working on a brief week after internet hosting the Payments only a few days earlier at Gillette Stadium. Nonetheless, this Thursday Night time Soccer sport might be a little bit of a letdown if a Vikings group loaded with expertise — however saddled with dreadful quarterback play — can’t put it collectively this yr.
Granted, the Patriots would welcome it if Minnesota regressed into an much more pedestrian opponent transferring ahead. However Kevin O’Connell has a strong observe file of rejuvenating the careers of cast-off QBs — with Kyler Murray doubtlessly being the subsequent man up.
11. Week 2 vs. Steelers, 1 p.m.
Whereas New England went undefeated on the highway throughout regular-season play final season, it dropped three video games in Foxborough — struggling at occasions to benefit from its home-field benefit.
They’ll look to set the tone of their residence opener in Week 2 in opposition to a Steelers group that defeated them final yr, 21-14, in Week 3. Pittsburgh is likely to be the reigning AFC North champions, though the enchantment of this matchup may hinge on simply how a lot 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers has left within the tank.
10. Week 7 @ Bears, 8:15 p.m.
A primetime matchup between two of the highest QBs from the 2024 NFL Draft, each Maye and Caleb Williams have made main strides since they first battled in opposition to each other on Nov. 10, 2024 — Maye’s first profession win as an NFL starter.
With the Bears additionally taking a significant leap final season underneath first-year head coach Ben Johnson, it ought to come as little shock that the NFL needed to arrange a Thursday Night time Conflict between these two legacy franchises at Soldier Discipline.
9. Week 3 @ Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Regardless of a comparatively sleepy 1 p.m. begin, this sport ought to be a riveting matchup between two of probably the most shocking groups within the NFL final season. So much has been made in regards to the Patriots’ 14-win season and sudden run to the Tremendous Bowl, however the Liam-Coen-led Jags went from 4-13 in 2024 to 13-4 this previous yr.
This gained’t be a straightforward highway match for New England, particularly given the muggy situations anticipated in Florida in mid-September.
8. Week 10 @ Lions, 9:30 a.m.
For the sixth time in franchise historical past, the Patriots will head abroad for a world sport — with Bayern Munich’s residence venue of Allianz Enviornment set to host a bout between New England and the Detroit Lions.
Past the pomp of one other worldwide NFL showcase, this ought to be a troublesome check for New England’s protection in opposition to Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and a Lions group poised for a bounce-back after final yr’s 9-8 file.
This might be a high-scoring affair in Munich, which might be a welcome enchancment from the 10-6 snoozefest that the Patriots discovered themselves within the final time they had been in Germany in 2023 (vs. Indianapolis).
7. Week 12 @ Chargers, 8:20 p.m.
Coming off the bye week, the Patriots can have their work lower out for them on this primetime matchup at SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers already landed some digs in opposition to Vrabel and the Patriots with their now-viral schedule-release video, however Los Angeles can even let their play do the speaking — particularly with Mike McDaniel operating the Chargers’ offense and each of their beginning tackles again from damage in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
Justin Herbert could be a wild card at occasions, however the Chargers — if they continue to be wholesome — are harmful on either side of the soccer. This might be a troublesome matchup for New England, even with some added relaxation on their facet.
6. Week 9 vs. Packers, 4:25 p.m.
There shall be no scarcity of compelling storylines on this one. Past the Patriots and Packers’ standing as two premier franchises with aspirations of a deep playoff run, this sport may even mark Brady’s first time calling a sport in New England as FOX’s lead shade analyst.
Whereas time will inform if Brady decides to have a “dog in the fight” with this sport that includes his former group, this might be a primary revenge sport for Romeo Doubs after inking a four-year, $68 million contract in New England this spring.
5. Week 4 @ Payments, 1 p.m.
Any conflict between the 2 powerhouses within the AFC East shall be appointment viewing, particularly with Josh Allen and the Payments desirous to knock New England off its divisional pedestal.
Whereas a rematch later within the season will maintain extra weight, the Patriots can have their palms full in Week 4 — particularly with the Patriots set to play their first sport at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium.
Even with the shiny new digs, anticipate loads of smashed tables for Payments followers on the tailgate — and a ton of jeers directed towards the Patriots in a hostile surroundings.
4. Week 15 @ Chiefs, 8:15 p.m.
For the primary time since 2020, the Patriots are making the trek again to Arrowhead Stadium — and are searching for their first win in KC since an instant-classic AFC title sport in January 2019.
This Monday Night time Soccer showdown might be a altering of the guard between the final NFL dynasty and a Patriots group seeking to reclaim its standing as the highest energy within the AFC — with loads of eyes on Maye’s first sport in opposition to Patrick Mahomes.
3. Week 17 vs. Denver Broncos, TBD
Past the potential playoff implications at this stage of the season, this rematch of final season’s AFC title sport shouldn’t have any scarcity of storylines. Be it the brutal climate situations in Denver or the Broncos soldiering on with out beginning QB Bo Nix, the Broncos shall be searching for some revenge this time round in opposition to the Patriots.
It wouldn’t come as a lot of a shock if this Week 17 sport will get flexed to a primetime slot — particularly if each the Patriots and Broncos reside as much as their billing as two of the highest groups within the AFC.
2. Week 13 vs. Payments, 4:25 p.m.
The rematch between Maye and Allen ought to have loads of playoff implications at that juncture of the NFL calendar — particularly in relation to what ought to in the end be a two-team race for the AFC East divisional crown.
One of many Patriots’ signature victories final season got here on the highway in opposition to Buffalo in Week 4, just for Allen and Co. to actual some revenge at Gillette Stadium in a 35-31 comeback victory in Week 15. New England will look to shift its fortunes and defend residence turf in opposition to Allen and Co. in what ought to be one other traditional between these two powerhouses.
1. Week 1 @ Seahawks, 8:20 p.m.
The Patriots’ 2026 season is beginning with a bang, as New England will head to a raucous Lumen Discipline in Seattle in an anticipated rematch of Tremendous Bowl LX. This marks the primary time that the NFL has scheduled a Tremendous Bowl rematch in Week 1 for the reason that Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers opened the 2016 season.
New England shall be seeking to atone for a crushing 29-13 defeat by the hands of Seattle in Santa Clara, whereas a still-stacked Seahawks squad can have loads of momentum on their facet on an evening the place they are going to cling one other Tremendous Bowl banner.
As the primary sport of the 2026 NFL season on a Wednesday evening, there shall be loads of eyes on the Patriots as they attempt to show that final yr’s sudden playoff run wasn’t a flash within the pan.
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