Patriots won't have the "easy schedule" caveat in 2026

The New England Patriots are set to face a challenging schedule in the 2026 NFL season. After winning the AFC East division, the Patriots' upcoming slate includes games against all teams from the AFC West and NFC North. Their home opponents will feature the Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Broncos, Packers, Steelers, Vikings, and Raiders. On the road, they will visit Buffalo, Miami, New York, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles to play the Chargers.

In 2025, the Patriots secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs after a strong finish to the regular season. They achieved postseason victories over the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos before losing to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. The Patriots' 2025 playoff run was marked by avoiding matchups against top AFC quarterbacks, as the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals did not make the playoffs, and the Bills were eliminated by the Broncos.

Looking ahead, the Patriots may face increased