Here's the Patriots' 2025 schedule released by the NFL, along with our quickie takeaways:
BEDARD'S QUICK TAKES
• Patriots get screwed for second straight season with the latest bye week possible, Week 14. That is a brutal 13-week slog physically.
• Patriots get three prime-time games, after the minimum one a year ago: at Buffalo (in October, not December), Thursday night against the Jets and Monday night home against the Giants.
• Pretty favorable open, with Raiders (new coach/QB in Geno Smith), Dolphins (teetering but that's in the September heat), Steelers (unknown QB) and Panthers (annually trash).
• Extend that out, the first half of the schedule is definitely doable. At Buffalo, at Tampa and at Bengals (not in their deep sleep to start season) are the toughest games before the bye week. Raiders, at Dolphins, Steelers, Panthers, at Saints, at Titans (Mike Vrabel's return - not in prime time - WIN), Browns, Falcons, Jets and Giants ... there's a chance to do some things.
• Get the bye week to prepare for the Bills again, and going to Baltimore. But finish at Jets and home Dolphins, hopefully in the cold.
• Possible weather games: at Miami (9/14), at Carolina (9/28 ... maybe, could still be hot for a 1 p.m. game), at Ravens (12/21) and at Jets (12/28). Outside of the Miami game, they're not going to be at a disadvantage. Well, maybe Andres Borregales.
• Another plus for the Patriots: outside of the first Bills game, all of the toughest on-paper games for the Patriots come after the midway point. That should give Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels plenty of time to learn the new players and adapt the scheme. Patriots should be ready for Bucs, Bengals, Bills and Ravens.
GIARDI'S QUICK TAKES
• I couldn't imagine a more advantageous start to the season — three of four at home and not exactly murderer's row. They'll be a little unknown with Pete Carroll's Raiders team coming in - and Geno Smith cooked their behinds last year with the Seahawks. They could be a fun one to kick off the season. Going to Miami in September is brutal. I damn near fell over in a suit and tie there for that Antonio Brown game and cramped up on the plane home. It should be noted that I didn't play 60 minutes of NFL football that day, but that heat hits differently that time of year. The way they have the sidelines set up - the away team gets the full sun - is done precisely with that in mind.
- If you have a three-game road trip in October, ending it in New Orleans and Tennessee is hardly daunting. Rookie head coach and QB for the Saints (Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough), followed by a rookie QB (Cam Ward) and a second-year coach (Brian Callahan) already on the hot seat.
- I apologize in advance for you having to spend 3+ hours watching the Browns in week 8 — prayers up.
- Playing that Thursday nighter at home off the Tampa trip is a pretty good spot, especially because I expect the Jets will be offensively challenged again this season unless Justin Fields finally becomes a real QB.
- That stretch from November 23rd to December 21st (at Cincy, Giants, Bills, at Baltimore) could make or break any sort of playoff hopes and dreams. I'm not expecting the sons of Brian Daboll to be any good, but that is the 13th straight week of games (week 14 is the bye). The Pats will be gassed.
