The Mike Vrabel era will start at home inside Gillette Stadium.
On Wednesday night, the NFL released the entire league calendar for all 32 teams. This new chapter for the Patriots kicks off in Foxborough with a Week 1 home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
This matchup features several connections to the Patriots.
It marks new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels going up against his former team for the first time. The Raiders new head coach is former Patriots coach Pete Carroll. Tom Brady is also a minority owner of the Raiders.
This year’s schedule features three primetime games. In Week 5, the Patriots travel to Buffalo for the Sunday night game on Oct. 5. They’ll host the Thursday night matchup in Week 11, on Nov. 13, against the New York Jets. Two weeks later, in Week 13, Vrabel’s squad welcomes the New York Giants for Monday night football on Dec. 1.
The Patriots have a relatively easy schedule to start the season.
After taking on Geno Smith and the Raiders, they travel to Miami in Week 2. They’ll then have two winnable games in Week 3 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers and in Week 4 at home against the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots could be facing Aaron Rodgers in that third game. If he doesn’t sign with the Steelers, it could be Mason Rudolph.
The toughest stretch begins in Buffalo with that Week 5 matchup. This marks the start of the Patriots having three away games in a week. In Week 6, they travel to take on the New Orleans Saints. In Week 7, it’s a homecoming for Vrabel as the Patriots play in Tennessee.
The Patriots then have two winnable games at home – against Cleveland and Atlanta – in Week 8 and Week 9.
The second half of the schedule has some tough matchups.
The Patriots play the Tampa Buccaneers on the road in Week 10 and then have a short week with the Jets on Thursday night. After that, they travel to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Week 12.
After the Monday night matchup against the Giants, the Patriots will finally get a break. The schedule once again features a late bye. For the second straight year, the Patriots have the latest possible off week – Week 14.
The Patriots will need some extra time to prepare. They come out of the bye with two hard matchups – Buffalo at home in Week 15 and then against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 16.
As they do every year, the Patriots end the season in the AFC East with a Week 17 away game against the Jets and a regular-season finale at home against Miami.
Preseason 1: Patriots vs. Washington Commanders, 7:30 p.m. (Aug. 8)
Preseason 2: Patriots at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (Aug. 16)
Preseason 3: Patriots at New York Giants, 8 p.m. (Aug. 21)
Week 1: Patriots vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 1 p.m. (Sept. 7)
Week 2: Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (Sept. 14)
Week 3: Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (Sept. 21)
Week 4: Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (Sept. 28)
Week 5: Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m. (Oct. 5 – Sunday night)
Week 6: Patriots at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. (Oct. 12)
Week 7: Patriots at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. (Oct. 19)
Week 8: Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (Oct. 26)
Week 9: Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (Nov. 2)
Week 10: Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. (Nov. 9)
Week 11: Patriots vs. New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. (Nov. 13 – Thursday night)
Week 12: Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (Nov. 23)
Week 13: Patriots vs. New York Giants, 8:15 p.m. (Dec. 1 – Monday night)
Week 14: BYE WEEK
Week 15: Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (Dec. 14)
Week 16: Patriots at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (Dec. 21)
Week 17: Patriots at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (Dec. 28)
Week 18: Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins, TBD
