Start planning your road trips. The New England Patriots officially released their 2019 schedule. If you had been paying attention Wednesday morning, then you already knew the entire Patriots 2019 regular season schedule, since it was reported by The Athletic. But here it is anyway: Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, Sept. 8, 8:20 p.m.) Week 2: at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m.) Week 3: vs. New York Jets (Sunday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m.) Week 4: at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.) Week 5: at Washington Redskins (Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.) Week 6: vs. New York Giants (Thursday, Oct. 10, 8:20 p.m.) Week 7: at New York Jets (Monday, Oct. 21, 8:15 p.m.) Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, Oct. 27, 4:25 p.m.) Week 9: at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:20 p.m.) Week 10: Bye Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, Nov. 17, 4:25 p.m.) Week 12: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, Nov. 24, 4:25 p.m.) Week 13: at Houston Texans (Sunday, Dec. 1, 8:20 p.m.) Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, Dec. 8, 4:25 p.m.) Week 15: at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills (Saturday, Dec. 21 or Sunday, Dec. 22, time TBD) Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Dec. 29, 1 p.m.) The Patriots begin their 2019 slate of games with a fairly easy schedule from Week 1 to Week 7. It gets much more difficult starting in Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns but starts to let up again in Week 15 when they travel to Cincinnati. The Patriots don’t have to travel far this season. The longest road trip they face is in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. Otherwise, they stay on the East Coast and Midwest. The Patriots also announced their preseason schedule: Week 1: at Detroit Lions (Thursday, Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m.) Week 2: at Tennessee Titans (Saturday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.) Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers (Thursday, Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m.) Week 4: vs. New York Giants (Thursday, Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m.)<doc-sep>The Patriots found a way to reach new heights with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady last season. For the first time in their dynasty, they reached three consecutive AFC championships, ending with a win in Super Bowl 53 over the Rams for their second ring in three seasons. Now the Patriots will try to play off their schedule for 2019, which in addition to the typical AFC East matchups features games against teams from the AFC North and NFC East, to double up on something they have done only once in their dynastic era: earn back-to-back Super Bowl victories. New England already has faced some significant personnel and coaching drain this offseason, but everyone knows it is the automatic favorite to win it all every year with their GOAT coaching/quarterback combination still intact. MORE: Who has NFL's toughest schedule? The Patriots have the highest Vegas over/under win total among any team in the league at 11. Here we breaking down the Patriots' schedule for 2019, their latest quest to repeat. Patriots schedule 2019 Patriots regular-season schedule: Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins Week Date Opponent Kickoff time TV Week 1 Sept. 8 vs. Steelers 8:20 p.m. ET NBC Week 2 Sept. 15 at Dolphins 1 p.m. ET CBS Week 3 Sept. 22 vs. Jets 1 p.m. ET CBS Week 4 Sept. 29 at Bills 1 p.m. ET CBS Week 5 Oct. 6 at Redskins 1 p.m. ET CBS Week 6 Oct. 10 (Thursday) vs. Giants 8:20 p.m. ET FOX Week 7 Oct. 21 (Monday) at Jets 8:15 p.m. ET ESPN Week 8 Oct. 27 vs. Browns 4:25 p.m. ET CBS Week 9 Nov. 3 at Ravens 8:20 p.m. ET NBC Week 10 BYE - - - Week 11 Nov. 17 at Eagles 4:25 p.m. ET CBS Week 12 Nov. 24 vs. Cowboys 4:25 p.m. ET FOX Week 13 Dec. 1 at Texans 8:20 p.m. ET NBC Week 14 Dec. 8 vs. Chiefs 4:25 p.m. ET CBS Week 15 Dec. 15 at Bengals 1 p.m. ET CBS Week 16 Dec. 21/22 vs. Bills TBD TBD Week 17 Dec. 29 vs. Dolphins 1 p.m. ET CBS Patriots preseason schedule Week 1 at Lions Aug. 8-12 (TBD) Week 2 at Titans Aug. 15-19 (TBD) Week 3 vs. Panthers Aug. 22-25 (TBD) Week 4 vs. Giants Aug. 29 or 30 (TBD) MORE: Full 2019 NFL preseason schedule Toughest tests: Gillette Stadium won't lack for marquee visitors beyond the AFC East. The Chiefs, Steelers, Browns and Cowboys will travel to New England with daunting offenses. Unlike in 2018, the Patriots' biggest obstalces to getting home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs this year — an edge they didn't have last season — lie in Foxborough. Biggest breaks: Only the Redskins have a weaker strength of schedule than that of the Patriots, whose opponents combined for a. 479 winning percentage last year. They are set up to run away with the AFC East again. The division might see the Jets and Bills improved, but the Dolphins have entered rebuild mode. The Patriots' non-division AFC road games are favorable, topped by trips to Baltimore and Houston. Save perhaps a game at the Eagles, they are set up to dominate away from New England. Bottom line: The rich keep getting richer. The Patriots won Super Bowl 53 despite going "only" 11-5, the first time they did that since their first title in 2001. As Belichick and Brady adjust to more big changes, they can color outside the lines and still paint a prettier playoff picture. The Patriots have some margin for error to regain the top AFC seed to facilate a repeat. Record prediction: 13-3<doc-sep>Michael Zagaris/Getty Images The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will enter this season with the challenge of replacing tight end Rob Gronkowski, a four-time first-team All-Pro who retired after nine seasons. Gronkowski was part of the Pats' Super Bowl-winning teams in 2014, 2016 and 2018 and looks like a surefire Pro Football Hall of Famer someday. His impact can't be understated. However, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have been part of 10 AFC champions, with six Super Bowl wins. It's unwise to doubt the Pats even with one of their best players no longer in the mix. The Pats enter the season as Super Bowl favorites at 6-1 odds, per Vegas Insider, so the sportsbooks have some faith. The schedule won't be easy, though, with some tough games on the ledger. Here's a look at the Pats' complete regular-season schedule. Video Play Button Videos you might like Patriots' 2019 Schedule Week 1 (Sunday, Sept. 8): vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC) Week 2 (Sunday, Sept. 15): at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 3 (Sunday, Sept. 22): vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 4 (Sunday, Sept. 29): at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 6): at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 6 (Thursday, Oct. 10): vs. New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET (Fox, NFL Network and Amazon) Week 7 (Monday, Oct. 21): at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) Week 8 (Sunday, Oct. 27): vs. Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 9 (Sunday, Nov. 3): at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC) Week 10: BYE Week 11 (Sunday, Nov. 17): at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 12 (Sunday, Nov. 24): vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox) Week 13 (Sunday, Dec. 1): at Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC) Week 14 (Sunday, Dec. 8): vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 15 (Sunday, Dec. 15): at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 16 (Saturday, Dec. 21 or Sunday, Dec. 22): vs. Buffalo Bills, time TBD (TV TBD) Week 17 (Sunday, Dec. 29): vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Analysis Here's the good news: The Pats once again play six games against the AFC East, a division in which they have amassed a 76-20 record since 2003. The East doesn't look formidable this year, with Vegas Insider listing the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins in the bottom 11 of the Super Bowl odds ledger. Here's the bad news: The rest of the schedule is brutal, most notably between Weeks 8 and 14. A rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 12-4 and went blow-for-blow in two games versus the Pats last season, awaits in Week 14. Seven days earlier, New England will travel to Houston and face the tough Texans, who won the AFC South with an 11-5 mark. A Super Bowl LII rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles and a contest with the potentially explosive Cleveland Browns offense also loom. Games against the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, who both won their divisions last year, round out the stretch. Still, the Pats have won 10 or more games every year since 2003 for two main reasons, and they're both still with the team. Expect another good season until we see otherwise. Pivotal Matchups Patriots vs. Chiefs If the two Patriots-Chiefs matchups last season are any indication, then we're going to see plenty of points and a game that goes down to the wire. The Pats held serve against the Chiefs at home, 43-40, in the regular season before taking down Kansas City, 37-31, in overtime in the AFC Championship Game. Both games were among the most entertaining fans saw all season, and there's little reason to believe that trend will change this year. Furthermore, this game could have massive implications for playoff seeding, and the December date only amplifies the drama as the playoffs draw near. Patriots vs. Cowboys The dynasty of the 1990s faces off against the dynasty of the 2000s and 2010s in what could potentially be a Super Bowl preview. The promising Dallas Cowboys won the NFC East with a 10-6 record and reached the NFC Divisional Round. Linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith broke through last season, and Cowboys wideout Amari Cooper proved to be a perfect fit for the Dallas offense as its No. 1 receiver. They're all back this season and could give the Pats a stiff test. Patriots vs. Browns You can cue a litany of "passing the torch" storylines prior to this game. The Cleveland Browns are a candidate to take over as the next dynasty whenever the Patriots' current one is finished. Second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to improve upon an exciting rookie season in which he led Cleveland to a 7-7 record under his command after the team won just one game in the previous two years combined. Now the Browns have superstar wideout Odell Beckham Jr., who the New York Giants traded this offseason. The five-year veteran has amassed 1,000 or more receiving yards in four seasons. This could be one of the more exciting late-afternoon games on the 2019 NFL slate.<doc-sep>Super Bowl LIII is in the rearview mirror and the New England Patriots can officially shift their focus on to 2019. In the hours before the NFL released its schedule for the 2019 regular season, New England's schedule has already been leaked to the masses. Of course, we already knew who the Patriots would be playing this season, but now we know when. We also now know it'll be the Pittsburgh Steelers who'll be rolling into Foxboro for the New England's Week 1 opener, which will be on Super Night Football on NBC, and will see the unveiling of the latest Super Bowl championship banner. Here's a look at New England's entire regular schedule for 2019 as reported by Jeff Howe of The Athletic: Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Night Football) Week 2: at Miami Dolphins Week 3: New York Jets Week 4: at Buffalo Bills Week 5: at Washington Redskins Week 6: New York Giants (Thursday Night Football) Week 7: at New York Jets (Monday Night Football) Week 8: Cleveland Browns Week 9: at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Night Football) Week 10: BYE Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET kickoff) Week 12: Dallas Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET kickoff) Week 13: at Houston Texans (Sunday Night Football) Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET kickoff) Week 15: at Cincinnati Bengals Week 16: Buffalo Bills Week 17: Miami Dolphins For the sixth time in franchise history, the New England Patriots are Super Bowl champions! Take a second to sign up for our FREE Patriots newsletter! This year's home opponents does far outweigh the teams they'll face on the road. Unlike last year, there really are not many destination games for fans to travel too. Last season, Patriots fans did have the option to head to Chicago for their contest against the Bears and Nashville was a popular spot for New England's when the Patriots faced off against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 of last year. Now, it seems like Houston, Philadelphia and, of course, Miami will be the popular spots for travel games. While that's the case on the road, the Patriots have plenty of marquee matchups at Gillette Stadium this fall. The Dallas Cowboys are always a big attraction, especially for the Patriots given how rare it is for the two historic franchises to square off. The Steelers have a longstanding rivalry with the Patriots and it will be interesting to see how this team will look in the opener now that Antonio Brown has left Pittsburgh. And, of course, the Kansas City Chiefs will likely still be a power house next season and will be looking to avenge their AFC Championship loss. As it relates to the AFC East, this does promise to be one of the more interesting years in that regard. For many years, the division has been a cakewalk for New England. While it promises to be that way again, Brian Flores becoming the head coach in Miami, Le'Veon Bell landing with the New York Jets along with Sam Darnold and Josh Allen both in Year 2 of their careers should at least give some interesting storylines to follow throughout their matchups with New England. In any event, all of this gets underway when the Patriots kickoff the season on September 8 in Foxboro.<doc-sep>
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will begin defense of their Super Bowl title against a familiar opponent in 2019. The Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime on Sunday Night Football on Sept. 8. The game against the Steelers will mark the fourth time the Patriots will open the season against Pittsburgh and the third time they will open against the Steelers as defending Super Bowl champions. The Patriots will play in a total of five nationally-televised games during the season. The Patriots will play back-to-back primetime games, starting with a home game against the New York Giants on Thursday night during Week 6. The Patriots then travel to face the New York Jets Monday Night Football during Week 7. Here’s the full regular season schedule (Times listed are Pacific): Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 8 vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 5:20 p.m. Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 15 at Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m. Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs New York Jets, 10 a.m. Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 29 at Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m. Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 6 at Washington, 10 a.m. Week 6: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs New York Giants, 5:20 p.m. Week 7: Monday, Oct. 21 at New York Jets, 5:15 p.m. Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 27 vs Cleveland Browns, 1:25 p.m. Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 3 at Baltimore Ravens, 5:20 p.m. Week 10: Bye Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 17 at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:25 p.m. Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 24 vs Dallas Cowboys, 1:25 p.m. Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 1 at Houston Texans, Sunday, 5:20 p.m. Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 8 vs. Kansas City, 1:25 p.m. Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 15 at Cincinnati Bengals, 10 a.m. Week 16: Sat. or Sun., Dec. 21/22 vs Buffalo Bills, TBD Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 29 vs Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m. -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold