Here is the Patriots' 2020 schedule, which has almost zero chance of being played as-is due to the pandemic. But, whatever...
Here are my general thoughts on the schedule, and then we'll get into the game by game thoughts:
- Rough early-season bye on Oct. 18. That means, if the Patriots go to the Super Bowl, they could play 15 straight weeks if the pre-Super Bowl break is eliminated. Fourteen straight games in any event.
- Two rough road trips to start the season: Week 2 at Seattle, Week 4 at Kansas City. That's brutal going East to West twice in the first four games. But if there are no fans in the stands, that helps the Patriots immensely.
- Niners at home after the bye is perfect timing.
- Ravens on a short week is brutal.
- Good job requesting the two L.A. games back-to-back.
- Patriots get three West Coast/Mountain teams (Raiders, Broncos, Cardinals) at home at 1 p.m. That's a big plus.
- Amazing they have five primetime games. Just the hint of the Patriots' possible demise is must-see TV.
- Patriots face Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray in consecutive games. Hope they have their track shoes.
- Week 2-4 with the Raiders in between will be a tough stretch. Niners-Bills back to back is tough. The season will be made or broken starting with the Ravens on Nov. 15 through the Bills at home at Dec. 20. The Ravens, Texans, Cardinals, Chargers, Rams, Dolphins and Bills should all be decent this season.
- Overall, a fairly balanced schedule.
PRESEASON
8/13-17 Detroit (likely home)
8/20-24 Carolina (likely away)
8/27-30 Philadelphia (likely home)
9/3-4 Giants (likely away)
REGULAR SEASON
WEEK 1, Sept. 13th: Dolphins at Patriots, 1 p.m.
Despite the Dolphins ending the 2019 season with a win in New England and then making another visit to start '20, I think this is a good spot for the Patriots and, possibly, Jarrett Stidham to open the season — and it doesn't have anything to do with Tua Tagovailoa likely not being ready (Ryan Fitzpatrick did just fine against the Patriots' defense last year).
The Dolphins have added a lot of players (free agents, draft picks) who will need time to learn Brian Flores' system to really be up to speed. Sure, guys like Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts have previously played in it for years, but it's like having a Ph.D. in defense and having to be in class with college freshmen. So I think the Dolphins will be forced to be pretty vanilla on offense and defense. Plus, their offensive line has been revamped.
The Dolphins are a team you'd much rather face earlier rather than later. The one drawback: Dolphins will likely get their usual late-season home game against New England where Miami is much better.
WEEK 2, Sept. 20th (Sunday Night): Patriots at Seattle, 8:20 p.m.
Congrats Stid, for earning the starting spot for the Patriots — you are rewarded in back-to-back weeks with a former Patriots defensive coordinator with some ex-teammates, and your first road game is in the toughest road venue in the NFL (if fans are allowed) ... on Sunday Night Football.
Welcome to the NFL, Stid The Kid.
WEEK 3, Sept. 27th: Raiders at Patriots, 1 p.m.
Like Brian Hoyer, no one should sleep on Las Vegas. They'll have a new energy in a new town and the offense was already good and got better in the offseason. The defense stunk last year, but they completely revamped most of it. This team is bound for the playoffs.
WEEK 4, Oct. 4th: Patriots at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m.
Time to get on a plane again ... to likely get your butt kicked in Kansas City.
WEEK 5, Oct. 11th: Broncos at Patriots, 1 p.m.
New England better win this game, or it will be a long two weeks of Jimmy G talk before the Niners come to town.
WEEK 6, Oct. 18th: BYE WEEK
Hate early-season byes.
WEEK 7, Oct. 25th: 49ers at Patriots, 4:25 p.m.
Everyone is going to have this one circled. Patriots better be ready.
WEEK 8, Nov. 1st: Patriots at Bills, 1 p.m.
The division schedule resumes and the Patriots might need to go on a run. They have to be a good home team this year of all years.
WEEK 9, Nov. 9th (Monday Night): Patriots at Jets, 8 p.m.
Normally this is just the Jets ... and it should be again, but the Buffalo game is going to take a lot out of the Patriots — that's going to be a battle in Orchard Park. This could be a typical letdown game and the puzzling AFC East loss they have every season. But the Patriots have won four straight non-Sunday games down there.
WEEK 10, Nov. 15th (Sunday Night): Ravens at Patriots, 8:30 p.m.
This is a tough draw because the Patriots are coming off two divisional road games AND have a short week to prepare for Lamar Jackson and that Ravens offense. At least the Patriots' defense is a veteran and experienced group — most of them remember getting run around by the Ravens last year and understand the change in speed.
Would have been nice to have a bye before this one, or just regular rest.
WEEK 11, Nov. 22nd: Patriots at Houston, 1 p.m.
This visit didn't go well last season, but at least facing the Ravens the week before gets the defense a bit prepared for Deshaun Watson.
WEEK 12, Nov. 29th: Cardinals at Patriots, 1 p.m.
This is going to be a tough game. Kyler Murray is really good. We'll see if his line or anyone else is up to his speed. This is the third straight game the Patriots will have faced a mobile QB who can kill the Patriots just as easy with his legs.
WEEK 13, Dec. 6th: Patriots at Chargers, 4:25 p.m.
New England moves its operations to LA for the week between these games in the same stadium. Have to get a win in this one and stay healthy.
WEEK 14, Dec. 10th (Thursday Night): Patriots at Rams, 8:20 p.m.
Playoffs might be on the line with the LA trip, so this might be a must-win. The Super Bowl Rematch one year removed. Think Sean McVay learned anything off of that game?
WEEK 15, Dec. 20th: Patriots at Dolphins, 1 p.m.
This will be a much tougher task than the season opener simply for the fact that the Dolphins will have 14-odd games under their belt to hone their schemes, especially on defense. Plus, Tua Tagovailoa may be fully healthy.
WEEK 16, Dec. 28th (Monday Night): Bills at Patriots, 8:15 p.m.
Could very well be the AFC East Championship Game ... and it could be very, very chilly. Love it. Football weather.
WEEK 17, Jan. 3rd: Jets at Patriots, 1 p.m.
Don't think we'll be talking about whether or not Stidham should start this game like we did with Brady in years past.
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And, if you wanted it, here is the schedule for Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and the Bucs:
