Patriots 2026 schedule is out and it is a tough road ahead

The 2026-2027 schedule for the New England Patriots, and at first glace, any fan knows that it's not going to be easy for the home team.

The Patriots finished last season with a record of 14-3, making it all the way to the Super Bowl, where the team played the Seattle Seahawks, and then lost.

However, the Patriots are strong at the quarterback position with Drake Maye in his third year, and they have a host of new players that were just drafted, including a new offensive tackle, Caleb Lomu out of Utah.

Lomu was picked in April at number 28 in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Other acquisitions in the draft include edge-rusher Gabe Jacas; tight end Eli Raridon; and cornerback Karon Prunty, among others.

Here's what opponents the Patriots will be facing in the 2026-2027 NFL season.

What's the Patriots' schedule this season?

According to Patriots.com, it is as follows:

• Sept. 9, 2026: Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, (Super Bowl rematch) 8:20 p.m. on NBC
• Sept. 20, 2026: Pittsburgh Steelers at Patriots, (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough) 1 p.m.
• Sept. 27, 2026: Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 4, 2026: Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 11, 2026: Las Vegas Raiders at Patriots, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 18, 2026: New York Jets at Patriots, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 22, 2026: Patriots at Chicago Bears, 8: 15 p.m. (Prime Video)
• Nov. 1, 2026: Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m.
• Nov. 8, 2026: Green Bay Packers at Patriots, 4:25 p.m.
• Nov. 15, 2026: Patriots vs. Detroit Lions at FC Bayern Munich Arena in Germany, 9:30 a.m. (for U.S. viewers on the East Coast).
• Nov. 22, 2026: BYE WEEK
• Nov. 29, 2026: Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
• Dec. 6, 2026: Buffalo Bills at Patriots, 4:25 p.m.
• Dec. 10, 2026: Minnesota Vikings at Patriots, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
• Dec. 21, 2026: Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
• Dec. 27, 2026: Patriots at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
• TBD: Denver Broncos at Patriots
• TBD: Miami Dolphins at Patriots

NFL team schedules for the 2026-2027 were released today, and it looks as though the New England Patriots will have a relatively tough road getting back to the Super Bowl. Here, New England Patriots linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins (45) does a drill with tight end Tanner Arkin (84) during the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium this week.

How difficult is the Patriots' schedule for this season?

ESPN ranked the 32 schedules for NFL teams this season from "easiest" to "hardest."

The sports entity said the Patriots schedule is the 27th "easiest" in the NFL for this season out of 32 teams. The Chicago Bears, at number 32, have the most difficult schedule, according to ESPN.

In other words, the Patriots have the fifth hardest schedule in the NFL for this season, while Chicago have the number-one hardest schedule.

Other analysts disagree. Yahoo Sports stated online stated that the Patriots have the 12th hardest schedule in the NFL this season "based on win totals."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patriots may face one of NFL toughest schedules in 2026