Patriots schedule release tracker: Leaks, news, rumors, and more

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: A general interior view of Gillette Stadium prior to an NFL wild card playoff football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New England Patriots already know their 2026 opponents, and have done so since the end of the regular season in January. What they do not know yet, however, is when they will play all of them.

With the NFL Draft in the rear view mirror and the calendar having turned to May, that mystery will soon come to an end. On Thursday, May 14, the league will announce its 2026 regular season schedule.

The schedule release itself is traditionally preceded by plenty of leaks, rumors and prior announcements. In order to stay on top of things and up to date with credible information, we have set up our Pats Pulpit Schedule Release Tracker.

Please make sure to keep this page bookmarked and regularly check back in.

Patriots 2026 opponents

Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants

Road: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks

Patriots rumored 2026 schedule

• Week 1:at Seattle Seahawks - 8:20 p.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 9 (SNF)
• Week 2:vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 20
• Week 3:at Jacksonville Jaguars - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 27
• Week 4:at Buffalo Bills - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 4
• Week 5:vs. Las Vegas Raiders - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct.11
• Week 6:vs. New York Jets - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 18
• Week 7:at Chicago Bears - 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 22 (TNF)
• Week 8:at Miami Dolphins - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 1
• Week 9:vs. Green Bay Packers - 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 8
• Week 10:at Detroit Lions - 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 15 (NFL International Series)
• Week 11:BYE
• Week 12:at Los Angeles Chargers - 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 29 (SNF)
• Week 13:vs. Buffalo Bills - 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 6
• Week 14:vs. Minnesota Vikings - 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 10 (TNF)
• Week 15:at Kansas City Chiefs - 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, Dec. 21 (MNF)
• Week 16:at New York Jets - 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 27
• Week 17:vs. Denver Broncos - TBD
• Week 18:vs. Miami Dolphins - TBD

Patriots 2026 schedule tracker

Newest entries up top.

The full Patriots schedule has been leaked. The team will be permitted to post its release video to confirm it at 7:30 p.m. ET. | Source

Three more Patriots games have leaked: Week 5 versus the Raiders, Week 17 versus the Broncos, and Week 18 against the Dolphins. | Source

The Patriots will visit Buffalo in Week 4. | Source

Another prime time game for the Patriots: Week 12 Sunday night at the Chargers. | Source

The Patriots will host the Bills at Gillette Stadium in Week 13 for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. | Source

The Packers will come to Foxborough for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff in Week 9. | Source

The Patriots will take on the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 15. | Source

The Vikings will visit the Patriots in Week 14 for a Thursday night matchup. | Source

The Patriots will indeed host the Steelers in their home opener. | Source

The Patriots' home opener is rumored to be against the Steelers in Week 2. | Source

The Patriots will visit the Jaguars in Week 3. | Source

The Patriots will travel to East Rutherford to play the Jets in Week 16. | Source

The Patriots will visit the Bears on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. | Source

The Patriots will play the Seahawks in the 2026 season opener. | Source

The Patriots are headed to Germany for a clash with the Lions on Sunday, Nov. 15. | Source

There is speculation about the Patriots opening the season in Seattle after all. | Source

The Patriots remain as one of five potential opponents for the Seahawks in the season opener, but NFL insider Mike Garafolo considers that an unlikely matchup for Week 1. | Source

The expectation is that each network will announce select games leading up to the schedule release. | Source

Monday, May 11
NBC/Peacock: 10:30 a.m. ET
FOX: 4 p.m. ET
Amazon: 6:30 p.m. ET

Tuesday, May 12
Disney: 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, May 13
NFL Network: 9 a.m. ET (International Games)
Netflix: 2 p.m. ET
YouTube 5:30 p.m. ET

5/8: The NFL will release its schedule on Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET. | Source

5/7: The league is rumored to be planning its schedule release on either Wednesday, May 13, or Thursday, May 14. | Source

3/30: The Patriots will hold joint practices with the Eagles this summer, suggesting that they will play a preseason game that very well might be dubbed the A.J. Brown Bowl." | Source

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