Start planning your fall weekends, Patriots fans.

The Patriots’ 2026 NFL schedule was announced Thursday night.

Get ready for some late nights. The Patriots play five games in prime time, including one on Monday night, one on Wednesday night, and two on Thursday night. Plus, they have an early game in Germany.

Let’s break down the matchups below.

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks, Wed. Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET

The Patriots kick off the entire season by traveling to Seattle for a Super Bowl LX rematch. The Patriots finished their surprising 2025 campaign with a 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Now, they have a chance to exact revenge while the Seahawks are raising their newest banner.

The Seahawks lost key pieces, including running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, while the Patriots are looking stronger, especially if they can acquire A.J. Brown via trade with the Eagles.

Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sun. Sept. 20, 1 p.m.

The Patriots’ home opener is against a familiar opponent and pseudo-rival. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has yet to inform the Steelers that he’s returning, leaving Will Howard, Mason Rudolph and rookie Drew Allar at quarterback. The Steelers replaced long-time head coach Mike Tomlin with Mike McCarthy this offseason.

Week 3: at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sun. Sept. 27, 1 p.m.

The Patriots will go south to take on Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars early in the 2026 season. The Jags are coming off their own surprising 13-4 season under head coach Liam Coen.

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills, Sun. Oct. 4, 1 p.m.

The Patriots will take on a fourth straight 2025 playoff team and kick off divisional action in the Bills’ brand-new Highmark Stadium. Drake Maye beat the Bills in Buffalo already last season. Let’s see if he can do it again.

Week 5: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Sun. Oct. 11, 1 p.m.

Tom Brady’s Raiders come to town after an extremely difficult four-week stretch to open the season. The Patriots lost to the Raiders in Week 1 last year. They’re hoping for a different result, whether it’s Kirk Cousins or No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback for the Raiders.

Week 6: vs. New York Jets, Sun. Oct. 18, 1 p.m.

The Patriots’ second divisional matchup of the season comes against the Jets, who are set to start Geno Smith at quarterback this season. No, you didn’t leap into a time machine. The Jets reacquired Smith, whom they drafted back in 2013, via trade this offseason from the Raiders.

Week 7: at Chicago Bears, Thurs. Oct. 22, 8:15 p.m.

It’s a battle of top quarterbacks of the 2024 NFL draft class, pitting Drake Maye against Caleb Williams on a short week. Maye’s first true win as a starter came against the Bears in Chicago during the 2024 season. The Bears are another tough opponent, coming off of an 11-6 season under new head coach Ben Johnson.

Week 8: at Miami Dolphins, Sun. Nov. 1, 4:25 p.m.

The Tua Tagovailoa era is over in Miami. Barring something unforeseen, it will be Malik Willis at quarterback facing the Patriots in Week 8.

Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers, Sun. Nov. 8, 4:25 p.m.

The 2026 slate doesn’t get easier in Week 9 as Jordan Love and the Packers come to town. The Patriots will feature former Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs in their offense this season. Let’s see if Doubs can show up against his former team. Could this be a game called by Brady?

Week 10: at Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany, Sun. Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m.

For the second time in four years, the Patriots will travel to Germany for an international game. The Patriots have dropped their last two international contests in Frankfurt, Germany, and London. Let’s see if they fare any better overseas this year against Jared Goff and the Lions.

Week 11: Bye

The Patriots had late bye weeks two years in a row. This one comes smack dab right in the middle of the season at an ideal time for some rest.

Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers, Sun. Nov. 29, 8:20 p.m.

The Patriots get some extra time tacked onto their bye week before a Sunday night game in Los Angeles, but they do have to travel across the country. This is a rematch of the Patriots’ wild-card round win over the Chargers, when Justin Herbert melted down against New England’s defense.

Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills, Sun. Dec. 6, 4:25 p.m.

Patriots fans will have this game circled on their calendar, and Gillette Stadium should be rocking when Josh Allen and new head coach Joe Brady come to Foxboro. If the season goes as expected, this game will have some serious ramifications in the AFC East race.

Week 14: vs. Vikings, Thurs. Dec. 10, 8:15 p.m.

Another short week, but the Patriots get to stay home this time with the Vikings coming to town. The biggest question: Who will be playing quarterback for the Vikings at this point between Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy?

Week 15: at Kansas City Chiefs, Mon. Dec. 21, 8:15 p.m.

The Patriots get a mini bye before heading to Kansas City for a Monday Night Football matchup with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs. Mahomes tore his ACL in December, so he’s not a lock to begin the season. An early-season matchup against the Chiefs would have been a nice break for the Patriots, but alas.

Week 16: at New York Jets, Sun. Dec. 27, 1 p.m.

The Patriots get another short week before a quick trip down to New York for a rare 1 p.m. matchup with the Jets.

Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos, TBD

The AFC championship game rematch will either take place on Saturday or Sunday. The official date has not yet been announced. If it’s a Saturday game, then that means yet another short week for the Patriots, and it opens up the possibility of a sixth prime-time game. This game could wind up having serious playoff implications if this season goes well for the Patriots and Bo Nix and the Broncos.

Week 18: vs. Miami Dolphins, TBD

The Patriots end the season against what should be a beatable divisional foe in Week 18. The Dolphins also replaced Mike McDaniel with new head coach Jeff Haffley this offseason.

Preseason Schedule

— Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Thurs. Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m.

— Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sat. Aug. 22, 7 p.m.

— Week 3: at Cleveland Browns, Thurs. Aug. 27, 7 p.m.

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