Patriots face a daunting 2026 schedule after winning AFC East

The New England Patriots made the most of a lighter schedule in 2025, boasting a 13-3 record and capturing the AFC East with one game left on the regular-season docket.

Overall, the future looks bright in Foxborough — especially with second-year QB Drake Maye potentially primed to win NFL MVP honors.

But, New England’s impressive turnaround after a four-win season in 2024 is going to make for some tough sledding moving forward in 2026. 

Beyond an expected influx of primetime matchups next season, the Patriots — as reigning AFC East champions — are also going to be facing off against several 2025 division champs next fall as well.

That will make for some difficult matchups for New England, beyond the fact that the Patriots are also going to play the entire NFC North and AFC West next season — two of the tougher conferences in the entire league. 

There are still a few matchups that have to be determined given that several divisions have not crowned a champion going into Week 18. 

The 49ers and Seahawks will play for the NFC West crown on Saturday night at 8 p.m., while the Texans and Jaguars are still in contention for the AFC South with one game to go. The Patriots will play the victors of both those divisions next year.

The AFC North hasn’t been all that impressive this season, but the victor of Sunday night’s divisional bout between the Ravens and Steelers will also land on New England’s schedule.

Here’s a look at who the Patriots will play next season, split between home and away games:

Home

• Buffalo Bills
• New York Jets
• Miami Dolphins 
• Denver Broncos
• Green Bay Packers
• Las Vegas Raiders 
• Minnesota Vikings
• Steelers or Ravens (AFC North champion)

Away

• Buffalo Bills
• New York Jets
• Miami Dolphins 
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions 
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Seahawks or 49ers (NFC West champion)
• Jacksonville Jaguars or Houston Texans (AFC South champion)

A full schedule will be announced in the spring of 2026.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.