New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots enter 2026 as the defending AFC champions. Mike Vrabel’s first season in Foxborough ended 14-3, a ten game swing from 2024 and the joint best turnaround in NFL history, before Seattle won Super Bowl LX 29-13. The scores, standings and roster above update themselves as the season runs.
The season opened at Seattle on Wednesday, September 9, a Super Bowl LX rematch and the first Wednesday game the franchise has ever played.
New England Patriots 2026 Season at a Glance
| Head coach | Mike Vrabel, second season |
| Quarterback | Drake Maye, third season |
| 2025 result | 14-3, AFC champions, lost Super Bowl LX |
| Division | AFC East |
| Stadium | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Opener | September 9 at Seattle, 8:20 PM ET |
| Bye week | Week 11, Sunday, November 22 |
| Titles | 6 Super Bowls, 12 conference, 23 division |
New England Patriots 2026 Games, Kickoff Times and TV
Eight of the seventeen opponents made the 2025 playoffs. Three of them met New England in January: Seattle and the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, Denver at home in an AFC Championship rematch. Every time below is Eastern. Tap an opponent for that game page.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time ET | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed, Sept 9 | at Seattle Seahawks | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | at Buffalo Bills | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Las Vegas Raiders | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | Thu, Oct 22 | at Chicago Bears | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | at Miami Dolphins | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Green Bay Packers | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | at Detroit Lions, Munich | 9:30 AM | FOX |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Bye week | – | – |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Buffalo Bills | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Thu, Dec 10 | Minnesota Vikings | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 15 | Mon, Dec 21 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | at New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 17 | TBD | Denver Broncos | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | TBD | Miami Dolphins | TBD | TBD |
Flexible scheduling applies from Week 5, so Sunday afternoon kickoffs can move. The Week 17 and Week 18 dates against Denver and Miami are set late in the year. The full 2026 NFL schedule covers all 32 teams week by week.
Want the printable version? The full New England Patriots schedule 2026 has a free PDF, wall calendar and kickoff times in every time zone.
What Changed After Super Bowl LX
Vrabel kept the staff together. Josh McDaniels stays as offensive coordinator. Zak Kuhr runs the defense full time after taking over midway through 2025, and Terrell Williams moves up to assistant head coach.
Drake Maye set a franchise record. He completed 72.0 percent of his throws in 2025, the highest mark in team history and sixth best in NFL history, and finished MVP runner-up to Matthew Stafford.
The line got expensive. Alijah Vera-Tucker signed a three year, 42 million dollar deal on the first day of free agency after missing all of 2025 with a torn triceps. Dre’Mont Jones and Reggie Gilliam signed three year deals the same day.
The home calendar carries two ceremonies. Adam Vinatieri is recognised at halftime of the October 11 game against Las Vegas, and Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony falls on November 7.
The roster keeps moving. Kayshon Boutte was traded to Houston before the season for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick. The roster module above pulls from the live feed, so it always shows the current 53.
Where the New England Patriots Play and How to Watch
Gillette Stadium sits at 1 Patriot Place in Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of Boston, and holds 64,628 for football. Foxboro station on the MBTA commuter rail is a quarter mile from the gates and runs special service on game days. The stadium hosted seven FIFA World Cup matches over the summer of 2026.
In the Boston market, CBS games air on WBZ, FOX games on WFXT, Sunday night on NBC 10 Boston and the Monday night trip to Kansas City on WCVB. Outside New England, CBS and FOX coverage is regional, so NFL Sunday Ticket carries the games your local station does not. Both Thursday games are on Prime Video only. Live scores and the AFC East race sit in the NFL standings.
New England Patriots FAQ
Which division are the New England Patriots in?
The AFC East, alongside the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. They play each of those three twice a season, six division games in all.
When is the Patriots bye week in 2026?
Week 11, Sunday, November 22. It falls right after the Munich game against Detroit and before a Sunday night trip to the Los Angeles Chargers.
What channel are Patriots games on in 2026?
CBS has eight games, FOX has two, NBC has two prime time games, Prime Video has both Thursday games and ESPN has the Monday night trip to Kansas City. Week 17 and Week 18 are still to be assigned.
Where do the New England Patriots play home games?
Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Massachusetts, capacity 64,628. Foxboro commuter rail station is about a quarter mile from the gates.
Who is the Patriots head coach and starting quarterback?
Mike Vrabel is in his second season as head coach and Drake Maye is the starting quarterback. Josh McDaniels calls the offense and Zak Kuhr runs the defense.
How did the Patriots finish the 2025 season?
14-3 and the AFC’s number two seed. They beat Denver 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game, then lost Super Bowl LX to Seattle 29-13.
How many Super Bowls have the New England Patriots won?
Six, along with 12 conference titles and 23 division titles. The most recent came in Super Bowl LIII after the 2018 season.
When do the Patriots play the Buffalo Bills in 2026?
Twice. At Buffalo on Sunday, October 4 at 1:00 PM ET, then at home on Sunday, December 6 at 4:25 PM ET. Both are on CBS.
The New England Patriots follow a Super Bowl LX run with eight opponents from last season’s playoff field. Bookmark this page for scores, kickoff times and the AFC East standings as the season moves.
Last updated: September 9, 2026. Schedule and coaching staff checked against patriots.com and nfl.com.
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIFF | HOME | AWAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Chiefs
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 |
Bills
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 77 | 62 | +15 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 3 |
Bengals
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 4 |
Jaguars
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 47 | 30 | +17 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 5 |
Raiders
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 53 | 27 | +26 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 6 |
Patriots
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 7 |
Ravens
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 8 |
Jets
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 9 |
Broncos
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 10 |
Steelers
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 23 | 33 | -10 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 11 |
Browns
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 33 | 53 | -20 | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 12 |
Dolphins
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 26 | 62 | -36 | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 13 |
Titans
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 30 | 47 | -17 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 14 |
Chargers
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 28 | 52 | -24 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 15 |
Texans
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 37 | 56 | -19 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 16 |
Colts
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 53 | 74 | -21 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIFF | HOME | AWAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Seahawks
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 44 | 17 | +27 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 2 |
Vikings
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 48 | 25 | +23 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 3 |
Bills
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 77 | 62 | +15 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 4 |
Chiefs
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| 5 |
49ers
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 62 | 20 | +42 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 6 |
Bengals
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 7 |
Raiders
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 53 | 27 | +26 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 8 |
Eagles
|
2 | 0 | 1.000 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 9 |
Bears
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 10 |
Lions
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 62 | 71 | -9 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 11 |
Saints
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 12 |
Jaguars
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 47 | 30 | +17 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 13 |
Rams
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 35 | 33 | +2 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 14 |
Giants
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 15 |
Broncos
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 16 |
Patriots
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 17 |
Panthers
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 18 |
Steelers
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 23 | 33 | -10 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 19 |
Ravens
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 20 |
Cowboys
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 57 | 48 | +9 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 21 |
Jets
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 22 |
Cardinals
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 33 | 45 | -12 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| 23 |
Browns
|
1 | 1 | .500 | 33 | 53 | -20 | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 24 |
Falcons
|
1 | 2 | .333 | 51 | 68 | -17 | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| 25 |
Packers
|
1 | 2 | .333 | 56 | 91 | -35 | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| 26 |
Colts
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 53 | 74 | -21 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| 27 |
Buccaneers
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 46 | 56 | -10 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| 28 |
Commanders
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 42 | 61 | -19 | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 29 |
Texans
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 37 | 56 | -19 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 30 |
Titans
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 30 | 47 | -17 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 31 |
Chargers
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 28 | 52 | -24 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 32 |
Dolphins
|
0 | 2 | .000 | 26 | 62 | -36 | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| Season | GP | REC | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | |||
| NFL 26/27 | 2 | 1-1 |
.500
|
| NFL Preseason | |||
| NFL Preseason 2026 | 2 | 1-1 |
.500
|
| Total | 4 | 2-2 |
.500
|