2026 Projected Strength of Schedule

[1960Pats]

Before last season the prediction was that the Pats had a very easy SOS. That was spot on and the result was a complete turn around and a much better season. Usually, depending on injuries, most (not all) of the same teams are in the playoffs each year.

Logically, the easy schedule means more wins.

 

[XLIX]

My prediction was the Seahawks would host either the Bears, Pats or Cowboys week 1 (with the Chiefs as a long shot because of risking Mahomes not being ready).... and we now know it won't be the Cowboys....

 

[PatsFan2]

I can’t remember the last time we thought a schedule was going to be brutal in the early portion of the year and it actually ended up being incredibly tough. Still should be harder than last year but after another productive offseason i think we’ll be up to it.

I find Baltimore’s over under win total pretty crazy. That team is so overhyped

They had a really good Draft: I think with Good health they'll be Tough.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

They had a really good Draft: I think with Good health they'll be Tough.

Yep, i think they did well in FA too. Especially if they complete the aj brown deal, i think its a good sign that our brass knew we had some good fortune on our way to the sb and that we would need key upgrades in order to maintain our position among the afc elite. Hopefully the moves pay off.

 

[Uptown]

Plot twist: Those teams have to play US!
Minimum 12 wins…

 

[Uptown]

Week 1 @ Seattle??

 

[XLIX]

Minihane says we open 9/9 in Seattle

 

[TheRainMaker]

Week 1 @ Seattle??

Minihane says we open 9/9 in Seattle

That would be idiotic. NFL loves blowing their load the first few weeks and then have nothing left later in the season. It should be saved for a mid season SNF game like GB at NE on MNF in 1997 and Patriots Falcons on SNF 2017. Most recently the the Chiefs played the Eagles later in the season on MNF. 49ers and Chiefs close to midseason in 2024, but hijacked by FOX.

 

[XLIX]

That would be idiotic. NFL loves blowing their load the first few weeks and then have nothing left later in the season.

No one wants to see Seattle-Arizona for the first game. Whether or not it is idiotic is a matter of opinion, but fact is the NFL has consistently made the first game of the season a marquee game.

Since we know it can't be LA, SF or Dallas, I have predicted NE or Chicago. And now we have Minihane's report it is NE.

 

[Ross12]

Opening at Seattle would be great

- Hardest game on the schedule, long time to come up with a game plan
- One of two long distance travel games; getting that in week 1 means they get two weeks off before the game
- If it is on 9/9 (a wednesday) then that means they also get an extra half week off AFTER the game

So ultimately the whole issue of needing to travel to the west coast is nullified, and they will get lots of rest before and after, with only one other west coast game the rest of the year (at LAC). Every other road game is in the same time zone or, worst case, Central time (for instance, Chicago).

 

[XLIX]

Opening at Seattle would be great

- Hardest game on the schedule, long time to come up with a game plan
- One of two long distance travel games; getting that in week 1 means they get two weeks off before the game
- If it is on 9/9 (a wednesday) then that means they also get an extra half week off AFTER the game

That's exactly how I felt about it too. They'd have 13 days to prepare for the game (I say 13 days because that would be relative to their last preseason game, but even that game is all backups so really they have as long to prepare as they want). And then 11 days after.

As you wrote: It would totally take one of our 2 longest road trips and nullify the negative effects.

So ultimately the whole issue of needing to travel to the west coast is nullified, and they will get lots of rest before and after, with only one other west coast game the rest of the year (at LAC). Every other road game is in the same time zone or, worst case, Central time (for instance, Chicago).

Besides the LA game, the only other time they cross the Mississippi is Kansas City, not much more than a stone's throw away.

 

[uknepatsfan]

I see them doing the Jets thing. Being bad, but not being bad enough to be in position to draft one of the top QBs in next year's draft. That is unless they all end up being busts and then they will get a top 3 pick.

I think Geno Smith was a product of the Seahawks offense. And let's face it. He only had one really good year and two decent years with them. And with all the talent the Jets had on defense before they traded it all away, it was still an awful defense.

The Jets problem hasn’t been talent, though. They’ve had good players.

The issue is awful management. That’s hard for even good players to overcome.

They drafted a bunch of good players again this year, but it’s still the same godawful management behind them.

It’s the theory of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

 

[Ross12]

That's exactly how I felt about it too. They'd have 13 days to prepare for the game (I say 13 days because that would be relative to their last preseason game, but even that game is all backups so really they have as long to prepare as they want). And then 11 days after.

As you wrote: It would totally take one of our 2 longest road trips and nullify the negative effects.

Besides the LA game, the only other time they cross the Mississippi is Kansas City, not much more than a stone's throw away.

Exactly. There is still a chance that they have to play an international game though, I think.

 

[XLIX]

Den-KC on week 1 MNF. A strange selection IMHO because of the questionable status of each QB, but w/e.

That officially narrows Seattle’s game 1 opponent to 4: NE, LAC (long shot), Chicago (I believe the only competition we have) and Arizona (no way, Jose).

 

[Rob0729]

The Jets problem hasn’t been talent, though. They’ve had good players.

The issue is awful management. That’s hard for even good players to overcome.

They drafted a bunch of good players again this year, but it’s still the same godawful management behind them.

It’s the theory of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

We think they are good players. We don't know yet.

I am a firm believer that bad coaching can destroy good players. All you have to see is the resurgent of QBs like Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Mac Jones to a certain extent, and Baker Mayfield who all resurrected their careers by going to a different team.

That said, just because a player is considered a great prospect doesn't mean they are actually going to be good.

And they still have Aaron Glenn as their head coach. So they already have a huge obstacle to overcome even before they play their first down. Glenn turned a pretty good defense into one of the worst defenses in recent memory. The next interception the Jets make will be the first interception by the Jets with Aaron Glenn as head coach.

 

[Ross12]

Den-KC on week 1 MNF. A strange selection IMHO because of the questionable status of each QB, but w/e.

That officially narrows Seattle’s game 1 opponent to 4: NE, LAC (long shot), Chicago (I believe the only competition we have) and Arizona (no way, Jose).

It's the Stidham v. Fields showdown you've all been waiting for

 

[stcjones]

I could see the Jets being respectable this year unfortunately

 

[SlowGettingUp]

He gets it wrong here - says 12th hardest instead of 12th easiest:

 

[Real fan 02]

Den-KC on week 1 MNF. A strange selection IMHO because of the questionable status of each QB, but w/e.

That officially narrows Seattle’s game 1 opponent to 4: NE, LAC (long shot), Chicago (I believe the only competition we have) and Arizona (no way, Jose).

Patriots Reportedly Get Mouth-Watering Matchup For 2026 NFL Season Opener | NESN

Patriots fans are gonna love this.

nesn.com

 

[jdlboot14]

We play 2 harder divisions, more road games, more west coast games, more pressure (AFC champs & Vrabel).
Still a lot of young players, a lot of turnover on D.
I think we'll be where I thought we'd be last year at about 10-7
Make the playoffs as a wild card, but probably not much success 1-1