New England Patriots 2017 schedule release: Games, dates and times

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots 2017 schedule is official. Here’s a full docket for the reigning Super Bowl Champions. 

It should be an exciting season for the New England Patriots. Fans have Week 1 to look forward to, during which commissioner Roger Goodell might get booed out of Gillette Stadium (and rightfully so). The Patriots have a Super Bowl title to defend. They trail the Pittsburgh Steelers in total Super Bowl wins, so expect head coach Bill Belichick and company to be ultra motivated to match them.

The Pats will have a slightly different look going into 2017. They will no longer have Martellus Bennett. Instead, New England will have Brandin Cooks, who the Patriots acquired from the New Orleans Saints. They’ll also have Stephon Gilmore instead of Logan Ryan. Rex Burkhead is a solid addition to the Pats backfield and could be a versatile weapon for them.

Tom Brady will be returning to torture the rest of the AFC East. Julian Edelman will be returning as well. It’s rare to see New England active in the offseason, but they’re probably trying to win as many Super Bowls as they can since Brady won’t be around forever.

Here are the home and road opponents for New england this season:

HOME: Buffalo, Miami, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City, Houston, Atlanta, Carolina

ROAD: Buffalo, Miami, New York Jets, Oakland, Denver, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Tampa Bay

Upon release, we will update accordingly:

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Expect New England to once again rule in the AFC East. There’s no reason to think they won’t win the division once again. Assuming good health, the Patriots should be in excellent shape come playoff time. Anything less than a Super Bowl for them will be seen as a failure. But the Pats are used to living up to high expectations.