The 2018 NFL regular-season schedule officially will be released Thursday night, but courtesy of The Athletic's Jeff Howe the Patriots' games are known ahead of time.
Some highlights are the Patriots hosting the Texans at 1 p.m. in Week 1, traveling to Jacksonville for a rematch of the AFC title game in Week 2 and then facing Matt Patricia’s Lions in Week 3 on Sunday Night Football.
Five of the first nine games are at night, which includes a Thursday night game at home against the Colts in Week 5 and a Week 9 Monday night game in Buffalo.
A late season matchup of note is traveling to Pittsburgh in Week 15.
Here’s the complete schedule.
Week 1 - Sunday, Sept. 9 vs. Texans, 1:00Week 2 - Sunday, Sept. 16 at Jaguars, 4:25Week 3 - Sunday, Sept. 23 at Lions, 8:25Week 4 - Sunday, Sept. 30 vs. Dolphins, 1:00Week 5 - Thursday, Oct. 4 vs. Colts, 8:20Week 6 - Sunday, Oct. 14 vs. Chiefs, 8:20Week 7 - Sunday, Oct. 21 at Bears, 1:00Week 8 - Monday, Oct. 29 at Bills, 8:15Week 9 - Sunday, Nov. 4 vs. Packers, 8:20Week 10 - Sunday, Nov. 11 at Titans, 1:00Week 11 - ByeWeek 12 - Sunday, Nov. 25 at Jets, 1:00Week 13 - Sunday, Dec. 2 vs. Vikings, 4:25Week 14 - Sunday, Dec. 9 at Dolphins, 1:00Week 15 - Sunday, Dec. 16 at Steelers, 4:25Week 16 - Sunday, Dec. 23 vs. Bills, 1:00Week 17 - Sunday, Dec. 30 vs. Jets, 1:00