Patriots Branded 2026 'Losers' By CBS Sports Over Brutal Scheduling Quirk

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel

Patriots Branded 2026 'Losers' By CBS Sports Over Brutal Scheduling Quirk originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots released their complete 2026 schedule on Thursday, revealing dates and times. This season is going to be a bit trickier compared to last year.

New England benefited from facing a last-place schedule last season, finishing with only four wins in 2024. However, after clinching the AFC East title in 2025, the Patriots now face a first-place schedule. CBS Sports' Garrett Podell identified New England as one of the "losers" of the NFL schedule this year.

"Despite winning the AFC in 2025, the NFL's schedule makers didn't do the Patriots any favors," Podell wrote on Friday. "In fact, New England's 2026 squad will become the first since the 2019 Miami Dolphins to open a season with three consecutive games against division winners from the previous season, per CBS Sports Research.

"That's more division winners from the prior season than their 2025 team faced all season with that bunch squaring off against just two: the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers and the AFC North champion . New England split those two matchups, losing 21-14  against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in Week 3 and winning 42-13 over the Panthers at home in Week 4."