Patriots Scheduled For 2 TNF Games, But NFL Says Rest Disparity 'Isn't Real'

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye

Patriots Scheduled For 2 TNF Games, But NFL Says Rest Disparity 'Isn't Real' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It seems like anybody with a brain can watch an NFL football game and understand the competitive disadvantage a team could be put at when they have four days to recover instead of seven. However, the NFL maintains that there is simply no such thing as "rest disparity," and they are asking you to ignore the countless players who have spoken out against "Thursday Night Football" in the past.

ESPN's Stephen Holder asked NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North about the fan theory that states their teams are at a disadvantage when they play on a short week.

"Rest disparity is not a thing," North said. "You do not have a competitive advantage when you're coming off your bye. You certainly don't have a competitive advantage when you're one day or two day or three days more well rested. If that data suggests that there's a there, we will adjust."

This is good news for the New England Patriots as they are scheduled to play a game on four days of rest, not just once, but two times in the 2026 season.

The first TNF clash comes in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. It'll be a mid-October trip to Soldier Field, but fortunately, the tough game is sandwiched between two games against the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, respectively.

They are not so lucky the second time around. Their home TNF battle with the Minnesota Vikings comes four days after they host the Buffalo Bills and a week before they have to travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Cheifs on "Monday Night Football."

I hope Patriots fans have their Amazon Prime subscriptions ready.

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