The New England Patriots are targeting an imminent return to the NFL playoffs. However, the final week of the 2025 regular season doesn’t just set the stage for their wild-card game against the Los Angeles Chargers: it also determines their 2026 regular-season opponent.
The Patriots will play eight home games and nine road games next season, and here are the teams they will face.
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New England Patriots 2026 opponents
Unlike 2025, the Patriots will play a No. 1 schedule next year. That includes games against the other AFC division champions as well as the entire AFC West and NFC North. New England will also head to the NFC West in the league’s 17th game rotation.
Overall, the schedule looks challenging. Eight of the Patriots’ 14 different opponents made the playoffs this year.
New England Patriots 2026 home game schedule
In addition to their regular divisional home games, the Patriots will also host some of the better teams in the NFL in 2026. They will also face off against two other quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, Derek Meyer, the Broncos’ Bo Nix and the Vikings’ JJ McCarthy. Meanwhile, the Dolphins, Jets, Raiders and even the Steelers could all be fielding a new quarterback in 2026.
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New England Patriots 2026 road game schedule
The Patriots’ road trip includes trips to some of the loudest stadiums in football, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and Lumen Field in Seattle. It will also go to a new home in Buffalo for a playoff rematch with the Chargers and a meeting with another 2024 first-round quarterback, the Bears’ Caleb Williams.
