Week 1 at Seattle Seahawks (Opening Wednesday night)
This is a tough spot for any team. Seattle is one of the hardest places to play in the NFL, regardless of whether the Seahawks are coming off a strong season or a disappointing one. This time, they’ll be entering the year as defending Super Bowl champions, raising the banner before kickoff while looking to begin their title defense in front of one of the loudest crowds in football.
The Seahawks did lose several key contributors from last season’s championship run, including Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, as well as defenders Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe. Seattle also lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now the head coach of the Raiders.
The Patriots should make this game far more competitive than their matchup in February, but Seattle still has plenty of talent and will have the 12s roaring from the stands. New England opens the season with a 0-1 start.
Record: 0-1
Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1:00)
The Patriots will begin their home schedule with a classic NFL rivalry against the Steelers. Patriots fans surely remember New England’s ugly loss to Pittsburgh last season, when they turned the ball over five times and fell at home in Week 3. This time around, the Steelers will be playing under a head coach not named Mike Tomlin for the first time since 2006.
The quarterback situation in the Steel City is still uncertain, as Aaron Rodgers has yet to agree to a contract with Pittsburgh, though a deal is widely expected. The Steelers became known for their consistency under Tomlin, never posting a losing season during his 19-year tenure. However, new head coach Mike McCarthy is no stranger to down years, having finished below .500 five times in his 18-year coaching career.
Pittsburgh made several moves to improve its offense, including adding wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and running back Rico Dowdle. Still, an aging defense and the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers point toward New England getting back on track and earning its first win of the season.
Record: 1-1
Week 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00)
There has been plenty of discussion surrounding the possibility of the Patriots regressing in 2026, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are just as likely to take a step back this season. Trevor Lawrence remains one of the more inconsistent quarterbacks in the league, and Jacksonville is still an organization searching for sustained success.
Playing in the Florida heat early in the season is never an easy challenge, but the Patriots have historically played well in Jacksonville, posting an all-time record of 3-1 there. That mark should improve to 4-1 after a Week 2 victory in North Florida.
Record: 2-1
Week 4 at Buffalo Bills (1:00)
The Patriots wrap up their brutal opening four-game stretch with a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills in their new stadium. New England split the season series with Buffalo last year, with the road team winning both matchups. However, there will be a new voice leading the Bills this season, as Sean McDermott is no longer the head coach in Western New York. Former offensive coordinator Joe Brady has now taken over the job.
Buffalo will once again lean heavily on Josh Allen, though the Bills have worked to give their franchise quarterback more help by trading for wide receiver DJ Moore. Moore gives Allen his most talented receiving weapon since his time with Stefon Diggs.
On paper, Buffalo appears to be an improved team, and they still have arguably the best player in football under center. The Bills take the first matchup between the AFC East rivals, handing the Patriots a 2-2 start through four games.
Record: 2-2
Week 5 vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1:00)
The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the more intriguing offseasons in the league, adding several notable free agents, including Tyler Linderbaum, Nakobe Dean, and quarterback Kirk Cousins. They also managed to keep star pass rusher Maxx Crosby after a proposed agreement with the Baltimore Ravens reportedly fell through. In the draft, Las Vegas selected National Champion and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the first round, while also hiring Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as head coach.
Despite all the changes in Las Vegas, this still feels like a team that is a year away from truly competing at a high level. There are major questions surrounding the quarterback position, with both Cousins and Mendoza in the mix for the starting job. The Raiders also won just three games last season and now have a first-year head coach adjusting to the pressures and responsibilities of leading an NFL team.
The final score may have some Patriots fans sweating late, but New England should ultimately handle business and avoid an upset against the Silver and Black, regardless of who lines up under center.
Record: 3-2
Week 6 vs. New York Jets (1:00)
The first of the annual two games against the New York Jets begins with a matchup in New England. Aaron Glenn went just 3-14 in his first season in New York, and his defense made unwanted history by finishing the year without recording a single interception.
The Jets added some offensive talent in the draft, selecting Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr.. However, the offense is still being led by quarterback Geno Smith, who led the league in interceptions last season.
If the Jets are still searching for their first win of 2026, this won’t be the game where they find it.
Record: 4-2
Week 7 at Chicago Bears (Thursday night)
Much like the Patriots, the Bears shocked the NFL world last season, improving from a 5-12 record in 2024 to 11-6 in 2026 and earning a trip to the Divisional Round. While Chicago may not replicate the same late game magic they displayed a year ago when they recorded six regular season comeback wins plus another in the postseason, they remain a serious threat.
The offense ranked in the top 10 in nearly every major category last season, and in Year 2 of Ben Johnson’s system, Chicago is expecting a major leap from quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears feature playmakers at every level of the offense along with a strong offensive line all operating under one of the league’s top play callers.
Road teams have historically struggled on Thursday Night Football and a short week could prove costly for New England. The Patriots drop this one in the Windy City.
Record: 4-3
Week 8 at Miami Dolphins (1:00)
The Patriots have inexplicably struggled in Miami over the years, even during the Brady and Belichick era. Despite the Miami Dolphins having their share of ups and downs in the 21st century, this season could be one of the weakest in South Florida in recent memory.
Jeff Hafley is the new head coach and is taking over a roster that has been significantly depleted of talent. Outside of running back De'Von Achane, the roster is largely made up of unfamiliar names. Quarterback Malik Willis is expected to be under center, throwing to receivers such as Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington, and Tutu Atwell.
Drake Maye should have an opportunity to put up strong numbers in this matchup, the Patriots should win comfortably, and fans could even see the backups enter the game by halftime.
Record: 5-3
Week 9 vs. Green Bay Packers (4:25)
The Green Bay Packers have been an incredibly consistent team over the past few seasons since naming Jordan Love their starting quarterback. They have finished as the NFC’s seventh seed in three consecutive seasons, posting winning records of 9, 11, and 9 last year.
The Packers did not make many major moves this offseason, as they did not even have a first round pick in the NFL Draft. Their key additions included backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, along with former Patriots special teams coordinator Cam Achord.
Green Bay entered last season with Super Bowl aspirations after making a blockbuster trade for star pass rusher Micah Parsons. However, Parsons suffered a torn ACL in mid December, and the Packers went on to lose five straight games following his injury.
This year, Green Bay projects to be a similar team to last season, making this matchup feel like a true coin flip. The Patriots come away with a narrow, hard fought victory.
Record: 6-3
Week 10 vs. Detroit Lions (Germany 9:30 a.m.)
The Lions missed the playoffs last season after consecutive postseason appearances, following the departure of both their offensive and defensive coordinators. Despite taking a step back and dealing with multiple defensive injuries, Detroit still finished 9-8 in what is widely considered the most competitive division in football.
Even with the loss of Ben Johnson, their offense remained explosive, ranking fifth in both total yards and total points. They feature one of the best running backs in football in Jahmyr Gibbs, along with a strong receiving group led by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta. Up front, they are anchored by one of the league’s premier offensive linemen in Penei Sewell.
Playing on a neutral site certainly benefits the Patriots compared to playing in Detroit, but the Lions remain a legitimate threat to come out of the NFC and will likely be healthier than they were a season ago. Detroit takes this one in Munich.
Record: 6-4
Week 11: Bye Week
Week 12 at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday night)
A rematch of the Wild Card game from a season ago, in which Drake Maye earned his first career playoff victory in a 16-3 win. Justin Herbert was battered and bruised, sacked six times, and hit repeatedly by a Mike Vrabel defense that controlled the game from start to finish. Even without both of his starting tackles, the Chargers quarterback looked unsettled from the opening kickoff.
The Los Angeles Chargers hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, hoping to unlock their franchise quarterback. Outside of that move, the team did not make many major additions and is expected to return much of the same 53-man roster that played at Gillette Stadium last January.
While Herbert could take a step forward under a new play caller and this game is unlikely to resemble their Wild Card meeting, the Patriots still come away with the win and improve to 7-4 on the season.
Record: 7-4
Week 13 vs. Buffalo Bills (4:25)
With the Patriots having lost the first meeting against the Bills (see above), they will split the season series with Buffalo by earning a home win in Week 13. While Josh Allen now has a true number one receiver again, the Bills still have several holes on the roster and a rookie head coach who has yet to prove himself in the role.
Both matchups between Allen and company are expected to be competitive, and the two teams will likely finish with similar records. However, the Patriots hold serve at home and take this one in Week 13.
Record: 8-4
Week 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings (Thursday night)
One of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason will be the quarterback competition in Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray this spring to compete with third year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While neither option is especially convincing, the Vikings still feature one of the league’s top receiving groups, along with an elite offensive mind in head coach Kevin O'Connell and a premier defensive coordinator in Brian Flores.
Minnesota went 9-8 a season ago despite inconsistent quarterback play, and will be hoping for at least average production at the position this year. As they look to stabilize the roster and find a long term answer under center, they must travel to New England on a short week and find a way to win on the road. Spoiler: They won’t. The Patriots take this one on Thursday night.
Record: 9-4
Week 15 at Kansas City Chiefs (Monday night)
For the first time in his career, Drake Maye will face Patrick Mahomes, and the NFL seized the opportunity to spotlight the matchup by placing it on Monday Night Football. The 2025 Kansas City Chiefs did not resemble their usual standard, finishing 6-11 while also seeing their star quarterback suffer a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15.
Kansas City used the NFL Draft to strengthen its defense, spending its first three picks on that side of the ball. They also added Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to help stabilize the backfield.
Head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo remain one of the league’s premier coaching duos and are too good of a combination to have another bad season. With a healthy Mahomes and a raucous Kansas City crowd under the lights, this is a difficult assignment for Maye and company. The Chiefs defend their home field and take this one in primetime.
Record: 9-5
Week 16 at New York Jets (1:00)
The biggest question heading into this week is who will actually be the head coach of the New York Jets. Aaron Glenn won just three games in his first season, and owner Woody Johnson could quickly lose patience if the results do not improve in 2026.
New York remains in the early stages of its rebuild and will likely be playing for draft position this late in the season. They could get a short term boost if they are playing under an interim head coach, but with limited defensive talent and a weak quarterback situation, the roster still ranks near the bottom of the league. New England reaches double digit wins once again.
Record: 10-5
Week 17 vs. Denver Broncos (TBD)
Fans still remember the snowy second half of that title game, the interception by Christian Gonzalez, and the clutch first down run by Drake Maye to seal the victory. The biggest storyline, however, was the absence of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who missed the game with an ankle injury.
Assuming the young signal caller is healthy for the rematch, Denver enters the season with a revamped offense that now includes former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, acquired via trade this offseason. The Broncos’ defense remains their foundation after leading the league with 68 sacks through 17 games last season.
This time, Denver gets its revenge, leaving Foxborough with a win.
Record: 10-6
Week 18 vs. Miami Dolphins (TBD)
Whether the Patriots need this game for playoff seeding or even to secure a spot in the tournament, or the game means nothing at all to them, it is hard to imagine them not coming away with a win. The Miami Dolphins will likely be in contention for the first overall pick by the final week of the season, and even if the Patriots were to start backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, they would still have a strong chance of winning.
Miami is in full rebuild mode and will be focused on finding its quarterback of the future in the next draft. In situations like this, losing often becomes part of the bigger picture, and they may be more than willing to drop a cold-weather game in Foxborough for a chance at selecting a top young quarterback prospect.
Final Record: 11-6
