New England Patriots Schedule 2026: Full Slate, Dates, Times and TV

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The defending AFC champions open the season on a Wednesday night in Seattle, a rematch of Super Bowl LX. It is only the second time the NFL has started a season on a Wednesday, and New England’s first prime-time opener since 2019.

Mike Vrabel’s second season also includes a trip to Munich in Week 10, a bye straight after it, and a Week 17 rematch of the AFC Championship Game against Denver. Eight home dates, nine on the road.

2026 Team Schedule
New England Patriots Schedule
AFC East · Gillette Stadium · Mike Vrabel (2nd year)
8
Home Games
11
Bye Week
Sept 9
Kickoff Game at Seattle
Nov 15
Circle It: Munich
Week Date Opponent Time (ET) / TV Result
1 Wed, Sept 9 at Seattle Seahawks 8:20 PM · NBC —
2 Sun, Sept 20 vs Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 PM · CBS —
3 Sun, Sept 27 at Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 PM · CBS —
4 Sun, Oct 4 at Buffalo Bills 1:00 PM · CBS —
5 Sun, Oct 11 vs Las Vegas Raiders 1:00 PM · CBS —
6 Sun, Oct 18 vs New York Jets 1:00 PM · CBS —
7 Thu, Oct 22 at Chicago Bears 8:15 PM · Prime —
8 Sun, Nov 1 at Miami Dolphins 4:25 PM · CBS —
9 Sun, Nov 8 vs Green Bay Packers 4:25 PM · FOX —
10 Sun, Nov 15 at Detroit Lions (Munich) 9:30 AM · FOX —
11 — BYE WEEK — —
12 Sun, Nov 29 at Los Angeles Chargers 8:20 PM · NBC —
13 Sun, Dec 6 vs Buffalo Bills 4:25 PM · CBS —
14 Thu, Dec 10 vs Minnesota Vikings 8:15 PM · Prime —
15 Mon, Dec 21 at Kansas City Chiefs 8:15 PM · ESPN —
16 Sun, Dec 27 at New York Jets 1:00 PM · CBS —
17 TBD vs Denver Broncos TBD —
18 TBD vs Miami Dolphins TBD —
Week 17 is a designated matchup whose date and time are set later in the season, no later than immediately after Week 15. Week 18 details are announced only after Week 17 concludes. All games from Week 5 on are subject to flexible scheduling.

Games That Will Define the Patriots’ Season

Wk 1 at Seahawks The NFL Kickoff Game on a Wednesday night at Lumen Field, and a rematch of Super Bowl LX. New England watches Seattle raise a banner before playing them.
Wk 10 at Lions Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX, with Detroit as the designated home team. The bye follows immediately, which softens the trip considerably.
Wk 17 vs Broncos A rematch of the AFC Championship Game, this time at Gillette. It is a designated matchup, so the date and window are set later in the season.
Wk 4 & 13 vs Bills Buffalo on the road in Week 4 and at home in Week 13. The AFC East likely runs through these two, with Miami and the Jets bracketing the finish.
A Wednesday Opener
Only once before has the NFL opened a season on a Wednesday, in 2012, when the Giants hosted Dallas on a night moved for the Democratic National Convention. It is New England’s 12th prime-time opener and first since 2019.
Two Thursday Games
At Chicago in Week 7 and against Minnesota in Week 14. It is the fourth time the Patriots have drawn two Thursdays in a season and the first since 2022.
Anniversaries at Gillette
The Week 5 game against Las Vegas doubles as the 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXVI win and a halftime ceremony for Adam Vinatieri’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.

How the Schedule Sets Up

New England gets a brutal opening: Seattle on the road on a Wednesday, then Pittsburgh at home before trips to Jacksonville and Buffalo. Three of the first four are away from Gillette. October eases up with the Raiders and Jets at home either side of a Thursday night in Chicago.

The Munich game and the bye sit together in Weeks 10 and 11, which is the best possible arrangement for an overseas trip. From there it is a Sunday night at the Chargers, Buffalo at home, a Thursday nighter, a Monday night at Arrowhead and then the division. For the other side of the Week 1 rematch, see our Seattle Seahawks schedule page. Full league schedules and flexible-scheduling rules are published by the NFL.

The Bottom Line

A Wednesday-night Super Bowl rematch to open, a Munich trip with the bye attached, five prime-time games and an AFC Championship rematch in Week 17. New England won the AFC last season and gets a schedule built to be watched. Bookmark this page; results and Week 17 and 18 details are updated throughout the season.