{"id":66695,"date":"2026-05-17T05:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T09:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=66695"},"modified":"2026-05-16T17:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T21:21:51","slug":"patriots-news-05-17-and-patriots-schedule-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2026\/05\/17\/patriots-news-05-17-and-patriots-schedule-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 05-17, And Patriots\u2019 Schedule Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, and a happy Sunday, and here is your Patriots news for 05-17, along with this week’s NFL notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll discuss the 2026 regular-season schedule below, along with our thoughts on it. But first, the Patriots\u2019 three preseason games are also set, and they are:<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 1: Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7:30 p.m. ET, Thurs. Aug. 13<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 2: Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 7 p.m. ET, Sat. Aug. 22<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 3: Patriots at Cleveland Browns, 8 p.m. ET, Thurs. Aug. 27<\/span><\/p>\n

The opportunity for joint practices at Gillette Stadium will arise when the Colts and Eagles visit Foxborough for Preseason Weeks 1-2.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Especially, Philadelphia, that is, if the long-rumored trade for A.J. Brown, which is supposed to take place on June 2nd, as we\u2019ve heard\u2026 ad nauseam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Forged in Foxborough: <\/b>The Patriots released the first episode of Season 2 of the reality show on Friday. It starts with the immediate aftermath of the Super Bowl loss to Seattle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The show then shows the Scouting Department going down to the Senior Bowl, and comparing notes on players with the coaches and front office headed to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The episode then goes through the free agency period with nice snippets of the new players,\u00a0 Kevin Byard, Romeo Doubs, Reggie Gilliam, Julian Hill, K.J. Britt, and Alijah Vera-Tucker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The draft segment followed with some emotional moments with Caleb Lomu and Gabe Jacas. The team allowed Nancy Meier to make the call to fifth-round pick Karon Prounty, as the draft ended Meier\u2019s 50 years with the team. She joined the Patriots when she was just 19 years old and has since become an icon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopefully, they\u2019ll find a place for her inside the walls of the Hall. Another great job by the team\u2019s video department, the next episode will already be must-watch t.v.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jared Wilson: <\/b>The Patriots\u2019 second-year offensive lineman is switching back to his natural position at center this year, after playing left guard as a rookie. And he is very happy about the switch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When he was asked about it this week, his answer was clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery excited. Very excited,\u201d Wilson said, as quoted by the Herald\u2019s Doug Kyed. \u201cI\u2019ll keep it at that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, from guard to center, I mean, people say you gotta know all three positions on the interior offensive line. That is a very true statement, but it\u2019s very different,\u201d Wilson added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was there before, played it in college, so I\u2019m comfortable, but there are always things to learn, always new things to learn and things to tweak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wilson pointed out that being thrown right into the mix last season was both challenging and beneficial, despite struggling at times as a rookie.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJosh\u2019s (McDaniels) playbook is one of the \u2014 woo, it was tough last year,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cIt took the whole year to figure out that playbook, but getting thrown into the fire in Year 1 and having to just go, go, go definitely makes you grow, matures you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots’ offensive line looks to be improved in 2026. Wilson, moved to his natural position at center, and left tackle Will Campbell are both healthy and have a year in the team\u2019s strength and conditioning program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots added left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker during free agency, while right guard Mike Owenu and right tackle Morgan Moses return. The team drafted tackles Caleb Lomu (1st round) and Dametrious Crownover (6th round) in last month\u2019s 2026 NFL Draft. That improves the overall depth significantly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lomu is expected to be the heir apparent to Moses at right tackle, but will probably serve as a swing tackle this season, as he acclimates to the NFL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eli Raridon: <\/b>He is going to be a fascinating player to watch this summer. While he only had one year\u2019s worth of experience as a starter and was the ninth TE taken overall, the Patriots had him rated much higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And after watching the coaches and scouts rave about him in the latest \u201c<\/span>Forged in Foxborough\u201d <\/span><\/a>episode, they have a lot of optimism surrounding him. It may not be in 2026, as he\u2019ll probably play behind Hunter Henry and Julian Hill as the #3 tight end, but we should all keep a sharp eye peeled for him in training camp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quintayvious Hutchins: <\/b>The Patriots\u2019 seventh-round (247th overall) rookie edge player was arraigned on Wednesday in Newton court on an assault and battery charge against a family\/household member.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Boston College police, they were called to a dorm at the school after a dorm monitor reported seeing a man choke and push a woman in the hallway during a disturbance. Police officers questioned the woman, who told them nothing had happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins. We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information,” the Patriots said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots No Huddle Podcast:<\/b> Derek, Mike, and I\u00a0 recorded an episode this Friday on the 2026 schedule. We\u2019ll be back this afternoon on the <\/span>PatsFans.com<\/span><\/a> website. And we\u2019ll be looking at the team\u2019s Wide Receiver depth as of today. You can always check out our other podcasts on our YouTube channel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will continue to display this in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis\u2019 numbers stand up well against Casper\u2019s, yet he isn\u2019t even in the team\u2019s HOF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Analyzing The Patriots\u2019 2026 Schedule, A Tough Start:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots\u2019 2026 schedule was released on Thursday evening (with plenty of leaks beforehand), and the first impression was that the first month of the season will be a daunting one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And the team will play in five prime-time games this season, four of which are on the road, with a sixth possible if Week 17 with Denver, coming to Foxborough, is flexed to a later slot depending on each team’s situation, with playoff implications possibly on the line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first four games are all against 2025 playoff teams, with three of them on the road. In fact, seven of the Patriots\u2019 first 11 games are on the road. The season starts on Wednesday (?) September 9, in a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks in Seattle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why a Wednesday game to start the season? It makes as little sense as the \u201cThanksgiving Eve\u201d game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Reiss\u2019 bold prediction: <\/b>Reiss predicts that, \u201cUnlike Super Bowl LX, when the Patriots were handled with relative ease, the opener against the Seahawks will come down to the end of the fourth quarter with New England pulling off the upset … and the winning touchdown scored by a wide receiver not currently on the roster.\u201d\u00a0 (now, who could that WR be?)<\/span><\/p>\n

After a home tilt with the Steelers, the team goes on the road to Jacksonville and Buffalo. That is a daunting start to the season, with the Week 4 game against Buffalo a very big game. The teams split last season\u2019s series, with each team winning on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next four games begin with back-to-back home games against the Raiders and Jets, followed by a Thursday night game on the road against the Bears, then another road game against Miami.<\/p>\n

That Chicago game should be where we begin to get a feel of who and what the 2026 team will be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 9 features a home game against the Packers, followed by a road trip to Germany to face the Lions, with a 9:30 a.m. start. While the Patriots haven\u2019t fared well in Europe lately, this game\u2019s location is a bit of a break for the Patriots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technically, a road game, the Lions in Detroit is a tough matchup, and the Patriots have a very good following in Germany.\u00a0 Week 11 is a bye week, which is a good time for it. Then, another long road trip in Week 12 to the West Coast to face the LA Chargers on Sunday Night Football.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chargers game should be an intriguing one. The Patriots dominated the Bolts’ offense in the playoffs last season, holding them to three points. However, they should have both of their tackles back this year, and getting Mike McDaniel as the Offensive Coordinator will bear watching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t a great head coach, but he\u2019s a very good OC, so we\u2019ll see where the Chargers (and the Patriots) are at that point. Week 13 is a home game against the Bills, followed by a short week Thursday Night Football tilt against the Vikings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the team has a mini-bye (11 days) before they go to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Patrick Mahomes should be fully back in form by then, but the Chiefs are a question mark heading into 2026. Offensively, they weren\u2019t good last year, before Mahomes\u2019 injury, so all eyes will be on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The season ends with back-to-back games against Denver and Miami at home. The Patriots have to do a lot of flying this season, with two games on the West Coast and one in Germany. They\u2019ll travel 27,590 miles in 2026, the fifth-most in the NFL this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, \u2018Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we\u2019re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we\u2019re making<\/span><\/i>.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Mike Vrabel<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span><\/i><\/a>Listen to our<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>PatsFans.com<\/span><\/a> Patriots No Huddle <\/span><\/i><\/a>podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D\u2019Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Analyzing the Patriots’ challenging 2026 schedule, plus key player updates including Jared Wilson’s position switch and rookie 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