NFL schedule 2026: Instant predictions for the Patriots’ games

The New England Patriots already knew their opponents for the 2026 NFL season. Now, following the official schedule release, they know when they’ll face each team.

Coming off a 14-win regular season, the Patriots’ win total is set at 9.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook entering this year.

While offseason changes have the roster in a better spot, the path ahead appears more challenging — beginning with a tougher slate of opponents. Even with New England projecting to be a better team, its record could take a slight dip.

Here are our immediate predictions following the release of the schedule.

Week 1: Patriots at Seahawks

A Super Bowl rematch kicks off the season as the Patriots travel to Seattle as the Seahawks will unveil their championship banner. With New England’s offseason additions, this should be a more competitive contest than Seattle’s 29–13 victory in Super Bowl LX. And as the Patriots have shown over the past two years, strange things can happen in Week 1. Still, no revenge comes for New England as they start the year in a tough road environment. | Prediction: Loss (0-1)

Week 2: Patriots vs. Steelers

At the Steelers continue to wait for clarity on Aaron Rodgers’ future, they will make plans to return Gillette Stadium early in the season after edging out a 21–14 win in Week 3 last year. This time, however, they won’t benefit from five Patriots turnovers, as New England gets into the win column for the first time on the year. | Prediction: Win (1-1)

Week 3: Patriots at Jaguars

Jacksonville joined New England as one of the league’s top turnaround teams last season, winning 13 games en route to an AFC South title. Some regression wouldn’t be a surprise this year, which sets up the Patriots to start their first win streak of the season with a road victory. | Prediction: Win (2-1)

Week 4: Patriots at Bills

The Patriots will be back on the road for the third time in the first four weeks as they travel to the new Highmark Stadium. It will also mark their first look at Bills head coach Joe Brady, who took over for Sean McDermott this offseason. After a statement win in Buffalo last year that shifted how the Patriots were viewed, the Bills return the favor with a narrow home victory this time around. | Prediction: Loss (2-2)

Week 5: Patriots vs. Raiders

An October matchup makes it uncertain whether No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will be under center, as the Raiders also signed Kirk Cousins with the intention that the veteran will open the season as the starter. Either way, it shouldn’t be enough to knock off New England, as the Patriots avenge last year’s Week 1 loss. | Prediction: Win (3-2)

Week 6: Patriots vs. Jets

With three first-round picks at their disposal last month the Jets roster has taken a step forward. But, major questions still remain at the quarterback position — as they likely will target the spot in the 2027 NFL Draft — and with Aaron Glenn back for Year 2. | Prediction: Win (4-2)

Week 7: Patriots at Bears (TNF)

A matchup between two of the top quarterbacks from the 2024 draft — and two of last year’s top coaching candidates. Maye got the best of Williams in their first meeting as rookies, but Chicago’s roster is in much better shape this time around. That could give New England trouble on a short week in a potential high-scoring Thursday night matchup. | Prediction: Loss (4-3)

Week 8: Patriots at Dolphins

A rare October game in Miami for the Patriots, who overcame the franchise’s struggles in Florida last season with a back-and-forth Week 2 victory that sparked an undefeated road campaign for the Patriots. After firing Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins hit the reset button on their roster, eating significant cap hits to move on from players such as Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. Things now turn over to head coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis, who both arrive from Green Bay, but the roster overhaul could make for a challenging first season. | Prediction: Win (5-3)

Week 9: Patriots vs. Packers

A 4:25 p.m. game vs. the Packers could set the stage for a FOX game broadcasted by Tom Brady, who was New England’s quarterback the last time Green Bay made the trip to Gillette Stadium in 2018. They now come in 2026 with one of the league’s best QB-play caller duos in Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur, who is back with the team with a new multi-year extension. With Micah Parsons likely back healthy from a torn ACL at this point, Green Bay spoils New England’s perfect home record to date. | Prediction: Loss (5-4)

Week 10: Patriots at Lions (Germany)

The Patriots avoid a true road environment at a noisy Ford Field as they head to Germany, where a strong New England crowd is expected. Slowing down Jahmyr Gibbs, however, is no easy task on any field, but the Patriots do enough defensively to give Drake Maye the opportunity to secure New England’s first win as a franchise in Germany. | Prediction: Win (6-4)

Week 11: Bye Week

Week 12: Patriots at Chargers (SNF)

The Patriots bested the Chargers in last year’s Wild Card round behind a dominant defensive effort, sacking Justin Herbert six times. With Los Angeles getting its starting tackle duo back in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt — and hiring Mike McDaniel to coordinate the offense — the unit should be among the league’s best in 2026. Even after the bye, a cross country trip ends in a primetime loss. | Prediction: Loss (6-5)

Week 13: Patriots vs. Bills

After dropping their Week 4 matchup to the Bills in Buffalo, the rivalry heads to Gillette Stadium where the Patriots blew a 21-0 lead last December. This time, however, New England holds on to once again split the season series and get back in the win column on the year. | Prediction: Win (7-5)

Week 14: Patriots vs. Vikings (TNF)

Following a big-win over the Bills, New England will have a short week for their second Thursday night game of the season — which will take place at Gillette Stadium against another NFC North opponent. The big question for Minnesota will be who is starting at quarterback by Week 11: 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy or free agent addition Kyler Murray? With either operating on a short week and on the road, the Patriots take care of business. | Prediction: Win (8-5)

Week 15: Patriots at Chiefs (MNF)

A late-season matchup against the Chiefs means the Patriots should face Patrick Mahomes, as the quarterback is progressing well from a late-season ACL tear. How Kansas City looks around Mahomes after taking a step back last year remains to be seen, while New England will benefit from a late-season mini-bye with 10 days of preparation before traveling to Arrowhead. | Prediction: Win (9-5)

Week 16: Patriots at Jets

Following a big Monday Night Football matchup against Mahomes and the Chiefs, a short Christmas week and a trip to the Meadowlands set up a potential trap game against the Jets. New England handled those situations well last season — including a Thursday night win over New York — and should continue that trend against a less talented Jets squad to complete the season sweep. | Prediction: Win (10-5)

Week 17: Patriots vs. Broncos

A late-season AFC Championship Game rematch could carry major playoff implications and it would not be surprising to see this flexed into a primetime slot. After defeating the Jarrett Stidham-led Broncos last January, the Patriots should now see Bo Nix under center with new weapon Jaylen Waddle at his disposal. But Denver will also be facing a better version of New England, which leads to a similar result as last year’s showdown. | Prediction: Win (11-5)

Week 18: Patriots vs. Dolphins

New England ends the season at home vs. the Dolphins for the second straight season. A bad Miami team coming to a cold Foxboro in the season finale will likely play out in a similar fashion. | Prediction: Win (12-5)

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